189 



statement must, however, be somewhat quahfied. Among the 

 Hawaiian women (and to lesser degree among the men), espe- 

 cially after middle age, the poi diet has frequently a very marked 

 fattening effect. This tendency towards obeseness is imques- 

 tionably due to the excessive starchiness of the diet, as well as 

 to other causes. The finest forms are to be found among the 

 young men and women. This statement also applies to Poly- 

 nesia in general. Not only has kalo gained wide repute because 

 of the healthful and easily-digested food derived from it, but at- 

 tention has also been attracted to its heavy yields per acre. A 

 few square rods, under proper cultural methods, will continuously 

 produce enough kalo to support a large famih^ It is due to 

 this great productivity that ancient Hawaii, despite its very lim- 

 ited area, was able to support a relatively dense population. Kalo 

 is prominent among the plants recently recommended by the 

 United States Department of Agriculture for planting in some of 

 the Southern States. 



Mr. T. F. Sedgwick reports that "taro holds about fourth place 

 among the products of Hawaii, at least in area of land devoted 

 to its cultivation, and probably also in total value of crop. The 

 investment in taro growing approximates from $450,000 to $500,- 

 000. It is practically all consumed in Hawaii, the export of taro 

 flour or "Taroena" amounting to but a very small percentage of 

 the total crop. 



"Taro cultivation is profitable, and land suited to its cultiva- 

 tion, provided it has water rights, brings a high annual rental. 

 The average annual rental per acre in the vicinity of Honolulu 

 for "taro land" ranges from $30 to $50. The average retail price 

 of poi in Honolulu ranges from 2y2 to 5 cents per pound. One 

 acre will generally produce from twelve to fifteen tons, which 

 sells for $1.75 to $2.50 per hundred pounds. '•' '^ * 



"The available irrigated taro land is about all occupied. The 

 opening up of new areas for its cultivation would be dependent, 

 either upon the discovery of sources of additional water supply, 

 or upon more careful use of the water now available. 



"Although taro has been the staple food of the Hawaiians 

 * * "^^ the probabilities are that the time will come within the 

 next one or two generations when a large share of the taro lands 

 now in cultivation will be planted to other crops." Considerable 

 areas formerly cultivated in kalo are now devoted to rice. 



Mr. Barrett, in a U. S. Department of Agriculture bulletin on 

 "Promising Root Crops for the South," writes : "The economic 

 aroids of the world have received very little attention outside of 

 a few tropical countries, yet some of them bid fair to become of 

 great commercial importance within a few years, for the follow- 

 ing reasons : They are adapted to soils which are too wet for 

 other root crops, such as sweet potatoes and cassava ; they grow 

 rapidly, if given a fairly rich soil and a fair amount of moisture ; 



