IXTRODrCED PLANTS AND AXLMAL8. 287 



slaue or pussl y ■*' of our gardens ; two species of pepper grass :^- a sensitive 

 plant ■'•^ witli tine leaves and small, roiind.i pinkish flower heads: the flea-bane,'** 

 the iliohe of the natives; the eocklebnr,*^ growing almost perennially and 

 occasionally attaining a diameter of three inches at the ground: the sand 

 burr;-"' the Jamestown weed ;*^ the ]flantain;'"* the wild geranium:^" and, 

 lastly, and perhaps worst of all from an agrieultiiral jioint of view, the nut 

 grass, coco grass or Japanese grass — a pest reproducing by nut-like l)ulbs and 

 by seed, and necessitating the utmost care to eradicate from cultivated fields, 

 lawns and gardens. Among the more common of the related species,"'^ often 

 called nut grass, is one that first appeared in Hawaii about the year 1850 and 

 has since spread to all cultivated lands. In this species the tubers of the root- 

 stock have a curious pungent taste. 



Livestock. 



This account of agriculture would be incomplete without at least a pass- 

 ing reference to the live stock of the islands. All of the domestic animals 

 have been introduced since the fir.st visit of Captain Cook. In many instances 

 live stock has had more to do with bringing about the altered conditions with 

 which the native fauna and flora have had to contend than all tlie other 

 agricultural pursuits put together, epoch-making as they have been. 



The fii'st cattle and sheep were introduced in 17!t4 by Vancouvei' and 

 landed at Kealakekua Bay, and in time became wild in the mountains on all 

 the islands. A large proportion of all the meat consumed in the islands is 

 home-grown. Formerly cattle were so abundant that they were slaughtered 

 for their hides and tallow, but that time has long since passed. Horses were 

 first brought to Hawaii in 1803. They were landed at Kawaihae and La- 

 haina and were the progenitors of the island .strain of horses. Pigs and goats 

 of English breeds were first introduced in 177S by Captain Cnok. Turkeys 

 were inti-odueed as eaj-ly as 181"). 



Wild cattle, sheep, hogs and goats were allowed to run at will in the 

 forests, with the result that the animals trampled down the undergrowth and 

 destroyed the bushes, even digging up the roots of many of the more nutritious 

 of the forest growths. Owing to the exposure of their roots and stems, many 

 of the larger trees died and soon after became infested with insects, which in 

 tui'ii nudtiplied in proportion to the increased supply of their favorite food. 



" Porlulaca oU-racea. '■ LeiJuUtim ViniiitU-iun .iiul Snwhv'fo diihima. " .i/imi.,«i jiiidira. 



" Eriyeyon Canadensis. *'' Xant.hium xtruiitariuin. ^" Cei,rlini.i echiiiatiis. ^~ Datura .Stramoniain. 



*^ Plaitlaffo major. *** Geranimn Carolinianuvi. 



^^ Kyllinga morioeephala, a species often confused with several species of the rtlated genera of Cypfrace<e. 



" Cuperus rotundus. 



