104 Memoirs Hcniicc /'. Jiisliof^ Miisciiiii 



tioiK-d is a variable species, which is found in other forms, under various condi- 

 tions, from tlic moist spray of Rainbow Falls to the upi)er slopes of Alauna Kea. 



AGUICLI.TLUAI. CKASSKS. 



The most imixirlant grass grown in the Hawaiian islands is the sugar cane, 

 Saccliaruiii officinanim. Corn, Zca mays, is grown in considerable quantity on the 

 Parker Ranch, Hawaii. Rice, Oryza sativa. is a commercial ])roduct t)f importance. 

 The small grains, wheat, oats, barley, and rye, have been grown by the United 

 States Agricultural I'.xperiment Station Imt are not commercially established. 



Next to sugar, the most important industry on the Hawaiian Islands is 

 stock-raising. This is carried on chiefly on the islands of tlawaii, Molokai (see 

 PI. XXXIII, B), Maui, and Lanai, and more particularly on the dry lee side of the 

 islands. The growing of forage grasses has interested ihe planters here in recent 

 years, for the native forage has become depleted to such an extent that it is neces- 

 sarv to consider su])i)lementary cultivated forage. 



Several of the meadow grasses of Europe and the United States have been 

 tried on the ranches, and at medium altitudes give promise of success. Specimens 

 of the following w-ere found growing at altitudes of 3000 to 6000 feet on the 

 Kukaiau Ranch'and Parker Ranch on Hawaii, the Molokai Ranch on Molokai, the 

 Haleakala Ranch on East Maui, and the Lanai Ranch: orchard grass (Pactylis 

 glomcrata) ; rescue grass (Broiniis unioloidcs) : blue grass (Poa pratcitsis) ; Italian 

 rye grass {Lolium midtiflonim) \ velvet grass (Notlwlcus laiiatiis); tall oat grass 

 {Arrhcnathcntm clatius): redtop (.-^Igrostis stolonifcm) ; sweet vernal grass {An- 

 tho.vaiitliuiii odoratum). 



Of these the orchard grass, rescue grass, and the rye grass are most likely 

 to prove satisfactory. 



Paspaliim dilatatiim is becoming established in the same region. Air. G. C. 

 Munro, manager of the Lanai Ranch, states that this is the. most satisfactory 

 pasture grass he has tried. He takes pains to scatter the seed from mature plants 

 whenever he has the opportunity. There was a fine field of this at the United 

 States Agricultural Substation at Haiku, Maui (Plate XXX I\', ./). 



Two tropical forage grasses may give satisfactory results at the lower alti- 

 tudes. These are I'ara grass {Paniciim barbiiwdc) and Guinea grass (P. maxi- 

 mum). They would not thrive at the higher altitudes, as they are strictly tropical 

 .and will not withstand frost. I'ara grass rc(|uires i)Icnly of moisture and would 

 not thrive in the dry areas. 



The two grasses that have ])roved satisfactory for hay in the dry regions are 

 Rhodes grass {Chloris gayana) and Xatal grass, or Xatal redtop {Tricholacna 

 rosea). There is a fine field of the first on the ranch of Mr. Robert Hind at Puu 

 W'aawaa. and of the second on the Molokai Ranch at Mr. G.eorge Cooke's place. 



Rermuda grass is common throughout the Islands in dry open ground. It is 

 an excellent pasture grass and also the best lawn grass for the region. 



[6] 



