i66 Pomander Collection of Hawaiian Polk-lore. 



Planting- time durin,^' a month is particularly chosen and not made at random. 

 Hiia'^ is a planting day, and so are Akua, Mahealani, Kulu, the three Laaus and the 

 three Oles. Here is an interpretation of the planting days. Hua : Every plant will 

 bear, with one defect, the fruit will be small. Akua: The bearing will be unnatural, a 

 continuous production. Mahealani: Bearing plentiful and large; the fruit of the day, 

 however, questions," "Give me a place?" Kulu:" Fruitful, and the bunch of bananas 

 hang low in bearing, till it reaches the ground. Laau: The fruit is very much desired. 

 Ole: Fruitful, it is true, for it means your banana has an abundant yield.'" 



OF THE SUGAR-CANE. 



When planting sugar-cane the upper portion nearest the middle i^art is the best 

 to plant. If the top end only was to be planted the sugar-cane will be tasteless when 

 eaten, not sweet. If the middle portion also is used in planting the sugar-cane will be 

 good eating. Its name is seed-cane when broken off from the whole cane for ])lanting, 

 and there are eyes on two of its sides. Sugar-cane is good to eat; it has a saccharine 

 juice. Sugar-cane is planted on the outskirts of cultivated fields, or on the side and 

 border between two fields. It is the custom in Kohala to this day, and is called boundary 

 cane. 



OF THE WATER MELON. 



When planting the seeds let it be in the afternoon of the day, when the sun is 

 about to set, so that the melon may be scarlet colored when ripe. If planted at noon 

 [the melon] will be yellowish and pale, not very red. There is a certain principle in 

 planting: if the fingers are doubled up the melon will be dwarfish. 



OF THE CALABASH AND WATER-GOURD. 



This is the bitter-gourd, and its seeds are bitter also. When planted and the 

 seeds have sprouted, branched out and yielded fruit, great care must be observed of the 

 vine and the calabash lest they become withered. If a water-gourd is desired, then 

 make a wooden support. Place three sticks for support so that the fruit hangs be- 

 tween them, with grass spread underneath. The reason for supporting it thus is that 

 the neck of the gourd may be straight and not crooked. The same care is given for 

 the calabash. The ground underneath is cleared and the dirt adjusted nicely, throwing 

 aside the stones so that the calabash may not be imperfect and crooked. Calabashes 

 cared for in this way are very well formed. 



Greatest care is given to all bitter-gourd plants, for fear of mischievous treat- 

 ment, lest the pubes are rubbed over, withering the calabash; or the skin pinched, 

 cracking the gourd; or on account of jealousy the gourd is broken oft". 



There are various names given the calabash and the water gourd. Here are 



'"The thirteenth day of the lunar month. Hua, among "Kulu, the seventeenth of the lunar month, signifies 



other things means seed, fruit, prolific, etc. It was ap- to drop — as liquid — not to lean over and drop to the 



propriate in name therefore to select the day for open- ground from its weight. 



ing the planting season, though experience fails to prove '''This is a fortunate contradiction of the day of plant- 

 its truth. ing, ole meaning nothing. 



"Mulicahiiii, the name of the day carries the question 

 of place, muhca, not the product of the day. 



