93 
yond  it?  If  we  are  depleting  our  capital,  disaster  awaits  us  as 
surely  as  ruin  follows  extravagance  in  financial  matters.  Re- 
ferring to  the  magnificent  expanse  of  sugar  cane  westward  of 
Honolulu  Mr.  Carter  asked  what  guarantee  those  who  derived 
their  wealth  therefrom  possessed  that  the  water  supply  upon 
which  it  depended  was  indefinitely  assured.  Through  our  lack 
-of  knowledge,  we  may  not  be  availing  ourselves  of  the  full  supply 
of  artesian  water  which  may  with  safety  be  drawn  from  our  great 
subterranean  reservoir,  but  on  the  other  hand  we  may  be  over- 
drawing our  account  and  in  such  a case  it  will  some  day  be  ex- 
hausted. Very  few  present  would  care  to  await  the  forty  years 
which  might  be  required  to  reestablish  it.  If  the  women  of  Ha- 
waii would  make  a concerted  effort  in  the  manner  suggested  they 
would  have  begun  in  an  eminently  practical  way  and  would 
achieve  definite  and  tangible  good. 
REV.  D.  SCUDDER's  ADDRESS. 
Some  twenty-four  years  ago  it  was  my  privilege  to  visit  Korea 
soon  after  it  was  opened  to  foreigners.  The  most  impressive  fea- 
ture of  the  landscape  in  the  journey  from  Chemulpo  to  Seoul 
was  the  utter  nakedness  of  the  country.  No  trees  were  to  be 
seen  until  the  capital  was  reached,  the  peasants  having  stripped 
every  living  thing  even  to  the  grass  and  weeds  for  fuel.  Re- 
turning to  Japan  the  happiest  contrast  met  the  eye.  Here  was  a 
people  taught  through  centuries  so  to  love  and  conserve  every 
natural  resource  that  after  more  than  a thousand  years  of  cultiva- 
tion the  soil  was  as  rich  and  productive  as  ever.  Forest  culture 
was  well  advanced  and  the  affection  of  the  people  for  trees  was 
something  beautiful.  They  were  tended  with  care,  cut  under 
strict  government  supervision  and  entered  into  the  life  of  the 
people  as  great  and  cherished  friends. 
The  Japanese  have  learned  the  art  of  making  trees  do  their 
will  in  blossoming  and  in  bearing  transportation  for  transplant- 
ing, at  an  age  that  would  seem  impossible  to  us.  What  is  true 
of  trees  is  equaly  true  of  ornamental  shrubs  and  flowers,  as  well 
as  of  everything  else  useful  that  grows.  This  beautiful  affection 
for  growing  things  is  fostered  in  the  myriad  homes  of  the  na- 
tion and  is  intelligently  directed  in  the  government  schools.  But 
as  there  have  been  public  schools  only  a comparatively  short  time 
in  Japan  the  real  cause  of  the  love  of  all  the  people  for  nature 
and  the  consequent  intelligence  and  care  shown  in  husbanding 
natural  resources  must  be  sought  in  the  family  life.  That  which 
is  learned  from  the  cradle  is  never  forgotten.  It  is  therefore  an 
omen  of  great  moment  for  our  Nation  that  our  women  are  tak- 
ing up  this  question  of  the  conservation  of  our  natural  resources 
