82 
Lane, it would often be the case that the low-hanging, moisture- 
laden clouds, almost at the point of precipitation, would on pass- 
ing over the cool surface of the forest belt be influenced just 
enough, the other factors controlling precipitation being present, 
to cause their contents to be precipitated, to the benefit of the 
dwellers on the plains beyond and also of those in the district be- 
low, for, it is argued, if the clouds were held over the forest a 
bank would be formed and backed up sufficiently far out over 
the lower lands to affect the rainfall even on the area below the 
lower edge of the existing forest. 
Except perhaps as to the extent to which the lower lands would 
be affected this reasoning is sound in theory, for it is an axiom 
in physics that other conditions being the same condensation (and 
as a corollary, precipitation) will occur over a cool, moist sur- 
face (such as a forest) rather than over a hot, dry one (such as 
an open plain). 
From a careful study of the subject I am inclined to believe 
that whatever may be true elsewhere, here in Hawaii, under our 
insular conditions, there are certain localities — of which Hama- 
kua is one — where it not infrequently happens that the many 
factors controlling precipitation are so delicately balanced that a 
very small thing will turn the scale one way or the other. If 
this is actually the case it seems reasonable to believe that were 
an area of forest of sufficient size present, its influence could be 
counted on to weight the balance in favor of precipitation. 
Further than this I am not willing now to go, for unfortunate- 
ly there are no figures now available with which to support the 
assertion made. Incidentally I may say that it is my hope that 
in time some data may be got which will at least throw further 
light on this most interesting subject. 
Xienie and Kamoku. 
Now the practical bearing of the foregoing theorizing is this: 
Granted that the theory is correct, would sufficient benefit be 
derived from the increased precipitation, to justify devoting land 
that is in demand for other purposes, including (in due time) 
homesteads, to the purposes of a forest reserve, on which — the 
original forest having been destroyed — a new forest must be 
planted at considerable expense? This was the problem that con- 
fronted the Government in 1906 when the question of leasing the 
lands of Xienie and Kamoku came up for settlement. It was 
then decided, that under the existing conditions and in view of 
the demands of the future for other uses of the land, the Gov- 
ernment would not be justified in attempting to create such a 
reserve ; or to express it in another way, the benefits which might 
be derived from such a forest would not justify the necessary 
outlay and the loss of the land for other uses. 
In favor of the forest reserve two further points came into 
