38 
government land. This brings the number of established for- 
est reserves up to a total of 13 and the aggregate total area to 
397,187 acres. The new reserves are in the districts of Kau 
on Hawaii, Hana on Maui, Waianae on O'ahu, and Kona and 
Xa Pali on Kauai. (2) The completion of the field work lead- 
ing to the creation of three other reserves on Maui and Oahu, 
which together will have a total area of approximately 52,500 
acres. v^3) 1 ne ratification of an agreement between the gov- 
ernment and the Alexander and Baldwin plantations, on Maui, 
whereby the management of a large area of privately owned 
land, in one of the Maui forest reserves, is turned over to the 
government. This action is an important step and marks the 
beginning of a closer cooperation between the government and 
the large private interests directly benefited by the forest 
reserves. (4) The increasing number of applications received 
from corporations and individuals for advice and assistance 
in tree planting. Under an offer of cooperation the division 
of forestry sends an agent to examine the locality proposed 
to be planted. This agent draws up a plan of work and gives 
comprehensive directions of what, where, and how to plant in 
order to obtain the desired results. The response to this offer 
during the past year shows that the subject of providing for 
a future wood supply is becoming a vital question in manv 
parts of the Territory and one that is attracting the attention 
of men of foresight. (5) The enactment by the legislature of 
1907 of two amendments to the forest law of 1903, which sim- 
plify and strengthen that act. Under this same head may also 
be mentioned the appropriations for the coming biennial fiscal • 
period, which provide for the continuation by the Territory of 
its forest work. (6) Outside of the forest work carried on by 
the Territory itself, mention should be made of the progress 
during the past year toward the commercial utilization of koa 
and ohia lehua. Owing to unavoidable delays in getting the 
machinery for its mill the Hawaiian Mahogany Lumber Com- 
pany has not yet been able to put much koa on the mainland 
market, but the delay has led to the development of what 
promises to become an important industry, the logging of ohia 
for railroad ties. A shipment of over 13,000 ties was sent to 
California in June, and locally there is an increasing demand 
for ohia, both for ties and for piling. (7) In the somewhat 
allied field of rubber production experiments in tapping the 
groves of Ceara rubber trees on Kauai indicate that sufficient 
latex can be obtained to insure the success of the industry and 
make it highly profitable. 
Another departure that promises one day to become an in- 
dustry of some importance is the establishment in different 
parts of the Territory of several cocoanut groves for the pro- 
duction of copra and perhaps also of coir. 
Altogether the past year has been one of decided progress in 
