4 
I do not belittle commercial tree planting nor the results 
which would accrue therefrom, but I do believe that our grea^c>t 
problem, so far as the conservation of the resources of this c j; ui- 
try — water and land, can best be solved, is by the extensici^. of 
forest cover and that as rapidly as possible. 
Forest cover does not necessarily mean the tree. It may be 
grasses or shrubs or vegetable growth of any character which 
will hold the soils against erosion. 
There is some place in this world where there can be found a 
vegetable life of value that will grow with rapidity upon our 
higher levels, between the algaroba and our native forests, and 
within a much shorter period of time, than can possibly be ac- 
complished by commercial tree planting, recover our denuded 
areas. 
The two great natural resources of this country are land and 
water. To protect one and develop the other, the aid of for- 
estry must be invoked. In few agricultural countries is the 
duty of water for irrigation purposes as large per unit area as in 
this territory, especially in the production of sugar, and every 
effort should be made by the Government and our agricultural 
interests to extend our forest cover, preserve our soil and de- 
velop our water supply to the point of its greatest beneficial r.se. 
The Island of Kahoolawe presents one of the best illustra- 
tions as regards results from the destruction of forest cover. 
vSometime since, in company with Governor Frear and Mr. Fred- 
erick H. Newell, I made investigation of this island. Mr. 
Newell made the statement that in all his experience in the so- 
called arid West, he had never seen such desolation as was ap- 
parent on this island through the destruction of forest cover. 
The process of soil production is slow and takes countless 
ages, and nature to protect and hold the soils supplies a cover. 
In these islands, through carelessness and preventable causes, 
we have destroyed the vegetable cover over tremendous areas. 
These islands, rising as they do, abruptly from the deep sea, the 
material which is eroded by wind and water is carried to sea 
and lost forever, there being, as you are aware, no alluvial de- 
posits of any great extent on the islands. 
We have a tremendous responsibility, and there can be no 
division. The Government cannot bear the entire burden, and 
each individual and corporation must bear its respective share. 
Our Territorial Legislature should be extremely liberal in ap- 
propriations for the purpose of conservation, and I hope to see, 
within the near future, a most perfect coordination between the 
Federal and Territorial governments, the planters, the graziers 
and the individual for the conservation of our natural resources. 
