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is no time to lose if it is to be saved. I strongly believe, and I so 

 recommended to several of the owners, that, at least surrounding 

 the water holes and swampy places, blocks of forest ought to be 

 permanently maintained, sufficient in size to insure the continu- 

 ance of both trees and undergrowth in healthy condition. 



Kona is at best but very deficient in water supply. Every source 

 is important. It ill behooves any landowner to let slip any oppor- 

 tunity, through protecting the native forest and through tree- 

 planting, to conserve what sources of supply there are, and there 

 is no question that the time for such action is now. 



Tree-planting is also going on successfully on the other side of 

 Hawaii. As a result of my visit in April to the Kukaiau ranch in 

 Hamakua, I drew up early in May a statistical report on that 

 project, for the information of the board and for future reference. 



I am glad, in this connection of tree-planting, to call attention 

 to several good-sized orders for seedling trees that have recently 

 been placed with the Division of Forestry by sugar plantation 

 companies. Details in regard to these orders will be found in the 

 report of the forest nurseryman, which as usual is transmitted 

 herewith. 



FOREST RESERVES. 



Several matters connected wtih the delimitation and administra- 

 tion of forest reserves have received attention during the month, 

 more particularly on the islands of Hawaii and Oahu, together 

 with about the usual amount of routine and retail. At a meeting 

 of the commissioners held on May 8, two volunteer forest rangers 

 were appointed, respectively for Manoa Valley, Honolulu, and 

 for the Honolulu Watershed forest reserve in general, Messrs. E. 

 H. Hippie and Charles L. Beal. Through the cooperation of 

 these non-salaried officials it is hoped to secure better protection 

 for the government land in this important forest reserve. 



EXPERIMENTAL TREE-PLANTING. 



Consignments of tree seed from foreign countries continue to 

 be received from time to time by the Division of^ Forestry. Much 

 of the seed now coming in is the result of requests made by Mr. 

 J. F. Rock during visits to various botanic gardens in the Orient 

 last winter. The seeds are being propagated and cared for at the 

 government nursery and at the Makiki station. 



Very respectfully, 



Ralph S. Hosmer, 

 Superintendent of Forestry. 



