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the question, (i) that a planted' forest would probably have more 
or less commercial value, and (2) that in the matter of direct 
condensation considerable water could be caught and put to use. 
Particularly is this true with the Eucalyptus, as is evidenced at 
one of the Parker Ranch dairies where the drip from the leaves 
from several tall Blue Gums, condensed from the drifting trade 
wind clouds, supplies the water for a good sized tank. 
On the other hand stood* the demand for homesteads. Con- 
sidering the relatively small area of land suitable for agriculture 
that yet remains in the control of the Government — another fact 
that is often wholly lost sight of in "small farmer" discussions — 
it is certain that with increasing facilities of transportation, such 
as the construction of the Hilo-Kohala Railroad, there will be 
great demand for the land between Waimea and the Hamakua 
homesteads. And it will be a just demand, for this area is 
certainly as suitable for homesteading, were the means of trans- 
portation available, as is any yet opened on the Island of Hawaii. 
Whether or not the decision not to provide for a reserve was 
a wise one time alone can tell. It was the one that seemed 
wisest at the time and I see no reason now to change the opinion 
I held two years ago. 
In this connection it may be said that the opportunity still re- 
mains, should it appear feasible to carry out such a plan, of re- 
serving a belt of land across Nienie, Kamoku and Puukapu 
when these tracts come to be opened for homesteads, on which 
could be planted a shelter belt of woods that would serve both as 
a general wind break for the more exposed homesteads and also, 
were proper provision made, as a source of water through con- 
densation. Compared with the area needed' for a forest large 
enough to assist in influencing precipitation the area required for 
such a shelter belt would be small. 
An Opportunity Lost. 
At this point I would put on record that it is my belief that 
had such action been taken twenty or even ten years ago, the 
Government would then have been justified in reserving a block 
of forest across Hamakua, between say the 2100 foot contour 
line and a line drawn fairly straight from Puu Loa to the upper 
fence of the Kukuihaele Private Forest Reserve at Mud Lane. 
The limits named, of course, include what is now the upper tier 
of lots in several of the homestead tracts as well as most of the 
area burned over in 1901. The forest, though in part open, was 
then in such condition that had it been properly protected it 
would have again speedily closed in. Such a reserve would 
have enabled the Government to profit by whatever influence the 
forest of former times might have had on the stream flow and 
on the climate of Hamakua. To have made this reserve would, 
