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On every island forestry reserves have been set apart on paper, 
but scarce anywhere has there been anything but the most limited 
attempt at re-foresting. 
Under normal conditions, protection from live stock would be 
sufficient, as the forests would reseed themselves. 
For several reasons this does not take place in most locations in 
Hawaii. The multitudinous insects which devour the forests and 
a root fungus which is killing the natural woods by thousands of 
acres in a number of localities and the heavy growth of the Hilo 
grass and other coarse grasses which so cover the ground that 
seeds cannot germinate, are rapidly destroying forests in regions 
where water conservation is most needed. 
Whether or not the entomologists can introduce parasites which 
will neutralize the deadly effect on forests of insects and fungus 
growths is now being made a subject of study by the Planters' 
Experiment Station. It will probably be far more difficult to 
obtain results than it has been to meet the ravages of insects 
directly attacking the cane ; but the incidental effect upon the 
sugar plantations is so great that no effort should be spared to 
obtain results in this direction. 
ARTIFICIAL REFORESTING. 
Irrespective of the arrest of the decay of the forest?, re-foresting 
should be actively taken up at an early date, on a large scale, both 
by the government and by private interests, or the flow of water 
on a number of the watersheds is liable to be seriously diminished. 
The watershed most urgently in need of rescue and reforesting 
is that of the Kohala mountain, on Hawaii. A large portion of 
this, under private ownership, is still being overrun by cattle, 
resulting in the continued recession of the woods. A considerable 
area of private lands should be secured by exchange or purchase 
and replanted at the earliest possible date, or diminution of the 
water flow will certainly follow. 
Next to Kohala the watershed area which, in my opinion, most 
seriously needs attention is that of the Ewa basin and the district 
of Waialua, on the island of Oahu. 
The amount of water flowing or being pumped from the supply 
furnished by this small watershed is something enormous, amount- 
ing to several hundreds of millions of gallons per day. Droughts 
affect the quantity of the artesian supply, and no possible step 
should be left untaken to protect, conserve and increase the prod- 
uct of this watershed. 
A paper line of forestry reservation has been located and par- 
tially fenced, but systematic tree planting to further conserve the 
water flow and prevent its running off in storms, should be 
systematically taken hold of by the plantations, which depend 
upon this supply for their irrigation. The government owns but 
little land in the district and cannot be expected to do much. So far 
