270 
Mr. Campbell said we may have to come down to lantana, 
as that is the best cultivator we have — it is a good reclaiming 
plant. The algaroba and the lantana might be taken to that 
Island and in twenty years might cover it. We want some- 
thing that will spread and reseed itself. A cover of vegetation 
is a question of time. 
Mr. Hosmer said it is very largely a question of expense; 
there are numbers of plants that could be used and that would 
do well were they once started. 
The Governor said that steps should be taken immediately, 
even before the present lease expires, to install suitable rain 
gages and to get gage records. It is even more important 
to get these now than it is for the first few years afterward. 
In response to a question by Mr. Gartley in regard to the 
number of sheep on the Island, the Governor answered that 
there are in the neighborhood of fifteen hundred, and about 
as many goats. 
The Governor instructed the Superintendent of Forestry 
to write to Mr. Newell and to Mr. Leighton to ascertain their 
ideas as to what should be done. 
Mr. Allan Herbert stated that in 1871 he traveled all over 
the Island in question and the vegetation was then abundant 
there. It was his idea that there was nothing better to plant 
than the lantana, as this grows excellently and helps the soil. 
‘‘Lantana was planted some forty years ago on the devastated 
portions of Ceylon, and today you will see kiawes growing 
and hundreds of animals browsing there. Lantana did it all. 
It digs its roots down and spreads rapidly. The decomposed 
rock makes the soil. It suggests itself to me that a wind- 
break is one of the principal things to have. I am sure that 
the work you are doing will live after you, and if I can assist 
you in any way, I shall be glad to do so without remuner- 
ation.” 
The Governor stated that this Island ought to bf set apart 
as recommended, and stated that he was ready to sign a 
proclamation to that effect. 
THE SETTING APART OF CERTAIN LANDS IN FOREST RESERVES ON 
HAWAII AND OAHU. 
With reference to the other matter in the call for the hear- 
ing, the setting apart of certain lands in the existing forest 
reserves on Hawaii and Oahu, Mr. Hosmer said that as the 
forest reserve law was originally enacted, in 1903, it provided 
that only lands could be set apart that were not under lease, 
or on which the lease had less than two years to run. A 
number of the forest reserves first to be created accordingly 
included government lands within their boundaries that could 
not be technically set apart. In 1907, the law was so amended 
