249 



& Robinson on the A'lakaweli "Ranch, the seed l^eing procured 

 from Mokuleia Ranch, where it was then growing, introduced 

 probably from AustraHa by the late Mr. Tom Gay, then manager 

 of that ranch. 



I procured' a few pounds of seed from California and in the 

 wet season of tqoo and 1901 spread it over the ranch. It is now 

 well established in several places on the dry salty land along the 

 coast, though it mav to some extent be eventually choked out 

 by the kiawe forest. Tt grows through the driest weather, fur- 

 nishing some feed in the dry months and ripens a great amount 

 of seed which is spread over the surface by the stock and the 

 rains, and grow freely. It only succeeded well on ^lolckai near 

 the sea. In Australia it is a valuable sheep feed and is a great 

 deterrant of worms in sheep and' lambs. Tt should be planted on 

 anv sheep ranches with salty land. The seed need only be strewn 

 on the bare surface during the dry season. 



Paspahiin dilalatiiui: This grass is, I think, worthy of first 

 j^lace. Though not the best drought-resister, it combines many 

 essential qualities needed for this country. ]\Iv attention was fir.st 

 drawn to it by mention in a New Zealand paper, and I tried it in 

 the latter part of 1903. I believe ]\Ir. F. G. Krauss. instructor of 

 agriculture at Kamehameha School, also made successful experi- 

 ments with it in the same vear. It has shown itself so well 

 adapted to the ranch that nearly 2,000 pounds of seed were im- 

 ported' and sown in the last two years. Its advantages are these : 

 It is a verv strong quick-growing grass in the warm months with 

 a reasonable amount of moisture. Tt is a heavy seeder and pro- 

 vides a tremendous amount of feed which is relished by horses, 

 sheep, cattle and hogs. Tt is good for milk production and for 

 fattening, and will stand any amount of stocking when growing. 

 In fact it cannot be eaten too closelv at that time. It will stand 

 as much and perhaps more drought than manieuic, and though 

 it is credited with taking up the land to the exclusion of other 

 grasses, this will not likely happen here, as on the d'rv country it 

 will no doubt be killed liack to some extent in the dry seasons. 

 On the moister lands it will be some time in overcoming such 

 grasses as manienie and bufifalo grass, and others less desirable, 

 and even if it takes up the middle country it will be more of an 

 advantage than anything else. Clovers, however, grow well with 

 it. which should enhance its value as a fattening: feed. The seed 

 of Paspalum dilatatum does not germinate readily, and requires a 

 certam amount of shade and' a continued term of moisture, so that 

 it can with advantage be sown ain.ongst other grasses. The seed 

 will not start till the renuisite amount of rain has fellen to insure 

 the growth of ihe seedlings. If summer showers start the easily 

 germinating seed, the plants die if the weather continues dry. 

 After sowing there may be little sign of the grass for a year or 

 more. 



