that a Eucalyptus plantation or a windbreak of these trees will 

 sap the moisture from the ground and prevent the growth of 

 agricultural crops or grass in the immediate vicinity. There is 

 no denying that the ground cover in the immediate proximity of 

 a Eucalyptus grove or windbreak is not as luxuriant as it is 

 some distance away from the trees, but observation will show 

 that the damage done is greatly exaggerated. Furthermore, the 

 benefit derived from the tree plantation, either as a windbreak 

 or in other ways, more than compensates for the injury. 



To reduce the damage from superficially spreading roots, a 

 scheme has been recommended for California which may be of 

 equal value in this Territory. As soon as it is noticed that the 

 roots are spreading too widely, a trench is run 3 or 4 feet deep, 

 parallel to the row of trees, and about 10 feet away from it. 

 This cuts the surface roots. The trench is then immediately 

 refilled to prevent the roots from making their way under the 

 trench. Every two or three years thereafter the trench is re- 

 opened, the surface roots cut and the trench refilled. In this 

 way it is possible, at a small expense, to keep the surface roots 

 of the trees as limited in extent as desired. 



Another charge that is sometimes brought against Eucalyptus 

 plantations is that the trees pump so much water from the 

 ground as to interfere with springs and small streams by lower- 

 ing the general water table of the soil. This may be true in 

 certain cases, especially in situations where the air is dry. On 

 the other hand, the condensation of air moisture in the humid 

 atmosphere by the tall eucalypts is more than enough to com- 

 pensate for the water used by the tree in its growth. In the fog 

 belt of California where eucalypts are planted the trees are al- 

 most constantly dripping with moisture. At upper Paauhau, on 

 the Island of Hawaii, at an elevation of about 3,000 feet, a grove 

 of blue gum condenses so much moisture from the air that 

 troughs have been placed under the trees to catch the water for 

 domestic purposes. 



Reproduction. 



The eucalypts reproduce prolifically both from seed and from 

 sprouts. The trees begin to bear flowers and seed at a very 

 early age, but the first few crops of seed are not fertile. At 

 Umikoa, on the Kukaiau Ranch, on the Island of Hawaii, at an 

 elevation of 3,700 feet, a line of blue gum trees eight years old 

 has naturally seeded up a dry, rocky piece of land. At Olinda, 

 on the Island of Maui, at an elevation of 4,000 feet, a planted 



