30 
of this seed will be distributed through the schools. What 
remains will be given out to those who may apply for the 
same. 
During the past three weeks certain improvements have 
been made in the office building at the Nursery, consisting in 
the re-arrangement of the windows in several of the offices 
so that more light and air can be secured. A new seed test- 
ing house is also being erected in the Nursery to facilitate the 
experimental planting of exotic and other seeds received by 
this Division. 
The improvement of the Nursery grounds goes on slowly 
but steadily, the portion of the grounds nearest the building 
having now been got into presentable shape. 
A number of new books have recently been received by the 
general library and by each of the Divisions. The work of 
preparing a card catalogue of the library is also progressing. 
MEETINGS. 
The Honolulu Improvement Advisory Board met in the 
Library room of the Board on January 8 ; the Hawaiian Poul- 
try Association on January 14 and February 11, 1908; and 
the Kaimuki, Palolo and Waialae Improvement Club on Feb- 
ruary 10, 1908. 
Very respectfully, 
RALPH S. HOSMER, 
Superintendent of Forestry. 
The Ceylon Tropical Agriculturist for October last contains 
much instructive advice relative to the frequency of tapping 
rubber trees. The chief questions which the rubber producer 
is asking are : How soon can the renewed bark be tapped as 
vigorously as the first bark, how well does it yield, how soon 
can the second renewed bark be tapped ? The present system 
of tapping now in vogue has also to be investigated in order 
to determine whether it is, all things considered, the most 
beneficial. So far as is known the renewed bark is little use 
under two years, so that the first tapping must be made to last 
as long as that time at least, whether by tapping on one side 
of the tree only, by allowing periods of rest or by tapping first 
at the bottom and then above. A careful study of the article 
referred to is recommended to Hawaiian growers. Among 
suggested experiments which planters should themselves try 
and that give good results, are tapping to left and right re- 
spectively, tapping in big V's at the base, and tapping renewed 
bark at different ages. 
