400 KKI'nKT (tK olIKi: n|.' KX I'KIUMKNT STATIONS. 



I'i'ol'cssdi' Spill 111:111 sii|)|)li('il I lie still ion w i 111 ;i (•<»ii>iilt'r;il)lc ijiiaiit il \- (if 

 si'cd of iilnnit :i (l()/.(Mi of tilt- l)('s( o-passcs of (lie wcstci'ii plains. 'Ilic, 

 s(M'<ls were >()\vii on tlir raiifli of tlic A iim ricaii Suuar ( "oinpany . on 

 wcstiM'n MoloUai. liccansc of (lie delay in llif transportation of liicsi; 

 s(mh1s. tlicy liid not rracli tlic islands in ^ood tinir to secure tlie l»e,st 

 i(\sults. l'\)rtliat reason only a portion of tliesee(| was sown. Tlie 

 (Mitire wo.st ond ol" Molokai is extremely thy. The laml is o-eiitiy 

 I'ollini'' :iiid in tlie main without ileep ia\ ines or ••ulehes. The iiiujiest 

 point on this pjirtof" th(^ ishind is ahout -J,<K»0 feet. There is an entire 

 hick of sprines or ruiinini;" sU'ciiin.s. NcvortheU'ss, on tliis portion of 

 the isliind :il)oiit ;").()( M» sheep and scn^ei'al thousand head of cattlo are 

 I'anu'cd throughout tlic year. Tlic soil is c.xticniely fcM-tile. The 

 \(\iiottitiou is (|uit(' scant}^ oxc('])t for a few weeks in early spring, 

 after the winter rains liave o<\rniinated the seeds of tlie annual yi'asses 

 aii<l weeds. 'I'he best of the pasturage does not last wry long. This 

 land was chosen as being about the best on \\hi<'li to try an experi- 

 ment with the introduction of drydaiul grasses from other countries. 

 The land chosen for the experiment was hai'roweil w ith a straight- 

 toothed harrow, aiul the seed sow n directl}' afterwards. This was done 

 after oiu^ of the late rains of the s})ring of l!t(>;>. but there l>eiiig no 

 heavy rain sul)se(juent to this time the r(\sults haw not l)een very 

 satisfactory. However, a start has been made and a good nianj' 

 plants of several of these new grasses have l)een obtained. These will 

 Uiidoul)tcdly in time pi'o(hice se<>d and sei'xc as a center for the distribu- 

 tion of seeds over the rest of the range. Because of the lateness of 

 the season only part of the s(>ed received from Washington was used, 

 and th(^, ])alancc will l)e sown about the 1st of October during the 

 coming 3'ear, as from that time on the regular rains may ])c expected. 

 Circular letters were sent to all the mem])ers of the Stockman's Asso- 

 ciation, requesting them to send in to the station samples of the native 

 grasses and forage plants for determination. It is intended to publish 

 a list of the native and introduced forage plants of the islands as soon 

 as sufhcient data in regard to their existence or cultivation throughout 

 the islands are secured. Practically all of the beef sold in the local 

 markets is from animals which have been fatteni'd on the open range. 

 Very little has been done in the way of feeding stock oti alfalfa, 

 (!orn, etc., except on one of the ranches of Kauai, where the cattle are 

 fattened on the waste from a starch manufactory. Some experiments 

 have been made with alfalfa. It grows very well fioni tlu^ sea level 

 up to 2,500 to 3,000 feet elevation. Most of the alfalfa grown is 

 irrigated, Init there have been several very successful experiments on 

 a small scale in growing this forage crop without irrigation, especially 

 at a higher elevation where the rainfall is more abundant. Plans 

 are being made to undertake work along the lines of the economical 

 fattening of cattle for market. 



