122 Foniaiidcr CoUcclion of Uaivaiiaii Folk-lore. 



AUGURIES IN AGRICULTURE. 



The occupation of a^Ticulture had its auguries. No fanner would ]jlant his seed 

 unless he ohserved the augui'ies of agriculture according to the order of priesthood. 

 A farmer could not even ])lant his seed unless he did so in the days suitahle for plant- 

 ing. Should a ])erson plant his seed in days known to he unfavorable, the more 

 experienced farmers would predict failure through their observance of the rites of the 

 order of ]iriesthood. 



TriK PLANTING OF POTATOES. 



In the cuIti\'ation of jjotatoes there were certain rules to be observed in their 

 planting, because a ])erson could not take one or another potato sprig at random, with- 

 out properly examining the condition of the leaves that would be productive. For 

 example: In plucking the potato sprigs that would bear fruit, the thriving condition 

 of the leaves must be seen to. If they were observed to be of a tine soft growth, or 

 perhaps somewhat light colored, those sprigs were selected as being adapted to plant- 

 ing. The ])lanter would then declare, "Those sprigs will not fail of yielding pota- 

 toes." But though the leaves were good and the day unfaxorable for planting, they 

 would not bear fruit ; nf)thing but the roots would be seen. 



ANOTHER METHOD OF SELECTING SPRIC.S. 



Another method of selecting the potato s]^rigs was similar to the a'foremen- 

 tioned, but the farmer must be very careful in the ])lucking of the same, thus : On 

 proceeding to select the i)otato leaves, let him first dig down the potato hills to ascer- 

 tain if they were full of potatoes, if so, then with assurance he could j^luck the sprigs 

 from its vine. The farmer would say: "These leaves will not fail to be i^rolific when 

 planted, because the hills are full of ])otatoes." 



52. EAVORAP.LE DAYS FOR THE FARMER TO PLANT HIS SEEDS. 



The days of a month were not all favorable for i)lanting potatoes, for one day 

 had its own benefits, and another its favors; in the same manner were the twelve months 

 of the year, they were not all favorable months for cultivation. The following were 

 the favorable days for the ])lanting of potatoes, melons and bananas : 



Hilo. — That was the first day of the month according to Hawaiian calculation. 

 That day was so named on account of the diminutive size of the moon, and mentioned 

 as being slender in appearance, and because of that fact in the aj^pearance of the moon 

 it was called "Hilo." It was a favorable day, and the potato, melon and banana seeds 

 ])lanted by the farmer on this day would bear well. 



Hooka. — That was the second day of the month, so named on account of the 

 similarity of the moon that night with the arch of a door." In likeness to the curved 

 lintel of a door so was the day named "Hoaka." Those who planted their seeds on that 

 day would find them yielding plentifully. The favors of this day were similar to those 

 of' Hilo. 



"This must have reference lo cerl:iiii nimleni sinuiures. as no doorway of a llauaii.iii lioiise was arelud. fliuikii 

 was one of the kul'ii days. 



