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The old time practice of denuding the native forest areas in 
proximity to sugar mills, in order to secure fuel for the fac- 
tories, has practically ceased, but there are many sections on 
some of the islands where the native forests are still used as a 
source of fuel supplies, regardless of the disturbance and subse- 
quent harm it does to them. 
The modern practice of planting, with introduced trees for 
fuel and fence post purposes, areas in close proximity to agri- 
cultural and grazing estates is to be highly commended. * Much 
has been done in such work by private individuals or eorpora- 
tions, as well as under the duspices of the Board of Agriculture 
and Forestry. The time is past for our indigenous forests to be 
used for such wholesale slaughter as once prevailed. Local agri- 
culturists and others are now alive to the fact that it is far 
more reasonable, and better for their own interests, to plant 
bare areas with large copses of Eucalyptus and other quick 
growing and fuel-producing’ timber trees, rather than to make 
further unwarranted onslaughts on the native forests. 
For plantings in copses, wind breaks and fence rows such 
introduced trees as the Silk Oak, various species of Eucalyptus 
and many others are admirably adapted in this tropical climate. 
The practice however of reforesting or regenerating our indi- 
genous forests with such trees as these is not to be recommended. 
Their habits and our requirements from such forests are inimi- 
eal. What we require in forests intended for water conservation, 
or in those which are adjacent and contributary to them, are 
plantings, when necessary, of either some of our quick growing 
indigenous trees, such as Koa, or else of other trees which are 
closely associated allies in other tropical countries, which will 
admit of a thick, indigenous forest undergrowth to cover and 
protect the soil from erosion, as well as to retain the free per- 
colating qualities which the constant moisture under such con- 
ditions brings about. 
Introduced trees from temperate climates will not admit of 
such qualities and even those from tropical countries unless 
carefully selected are liable to be worse than useless. .\s far as 
Euealyptus are concerned they are as previously stated, admir- 
able for certain purposes but not for those of water conserva- 
tion. Their roots are great ‘feeders of moisture and but little 
undergrowth will mature where numbers of these are planted. 
Neither of these characters are suitable for the special condi. 
tions required in indigenous forest areas, and the practice of 
using them for such purpose should, if possible be deprecated. 
