252 



Of the above stations, the foUovvino^ are clock register or con- 

 tinuous record stations: Kauai, 12; Oahu, 15; Maui, 20; Ha- 

 waii. 1. Total 48. 



Very respectfully, 



G. K. Larrison. 



Superintendent. 



ALFALFA— A PROMISING FORAGE CROP FOR 

 HA WAIL 



By William H. Meinecke, Class of 1913. 

 (Concluded. ) 



SUMMARY. 



Alfalfa is not only an excellent fodder plant, but it is very good 

 as a rotation crop with corn and sorghum. It will grow well on 

 almost any soil provided it is well drained and free from acids. 



The usual amount of seed sown broadcast is 20 to 30 pounds 

 per acre, but 15 pounds of prime seed should be sufficient. If 

 drilled, less seed is needed. 



Weeds are first of all the worst enemies of the young alfalfa 

 seedlings, but by judicious methods of preparing the land, their 

 growth can be reduced to a minimum. 



Cut worms are the worst and so far the only important enemies 

 of the Hawaiian alfalfa crop, but they may be controlled by 

 drowning and poisoning. 



Weeds and cut worms are no longer troublesome alter the crop 

 has once become well established. 



The field requires little care after the first few months and will 

 continue to ])roduce high yields of fodder once in three to five 

 weeks, according to the variety and season. 



While the cost of production for the first year is very high, sub- 

 sequent crops which continue maturing every month for several 

 years will more than make up for it and produce large profits. 



Of the varieties under test at the College of Hawaii, the I 'tab 

 strain of the Chilean ])n)vc'd to 1)0 by far the best, with the Kansas 

 variety a good second. 



The Arabian variety did not yield as well as the others, but it 

 matures in from 17 to 21 days, and is very succulent and tender. 

 Where there is ample ni^)isture and a desire for fre(|uent harvests, 

 tliis variety will prove to be very desirable, especially for feeding 

 hogs and chickens, (^n the other hand, this variety is very sus- 

 ceptil)le to a fungous root rot .iiid it is not recomniomled where 

 this disease is likely to be present. 



One acre should produce eight to 10 tons of green foddir p«.r 



