282 USEFUL PLANTS OF GUAM. 



tifid, the margin often hispid when young, upper leaves nearly sessile, linear- 

 lanceolate; flowers bright yellow, small; pods slender, 1 or 2 inches long, beak 

 about one-third the length of the pod. This plant is largely cultivated in trop- 

 ical countries and takes the place of black mustard. In Bengal the seed is of 

 commercial importance as a source of oil used for food. Mustard should be 

 planted at the beginning of the dry season (November). 



Okra. Grows fairly well in Guam. It should be planted at the beginning of the 

 rainy season. The green mucilaginous pods are used in soups and are also cut 

 into slices and fried. 



Onions. The onions grown by the natives are small and rank. Attempts to 

 introduce varieties grown in the United States have not been successful. Seed 

 kept for any length of time should be thoroughly dried and protected from 

 moisture in air-tight jars. It will not retain its vitality long; seeds brought to 

 Guam from San Francisco and kept for three months were found to be quite 

 dead. Onions should be obtained from visiting ships and planted for seed at 

 the end of the rainy season. When the seed matures it should be gathered, 

 dried, and stored in bottles sealed with paraffin, to be planted the following 

 October, November, or December. If trouble is experienced when planting the 

 seed in the garden, sow it in seed pans and transplant. The introduction of 

 Bermuda onions is recommended. 



Parsley. The natives of Guam esteem parsley very highly and often have a few 

 plants growing in pots, like flowers, pinching off a few leaves from time to time 

 as they may be needed. It does not succeed well when sown in the garden. It 

 should be planted in seed pans, sheltered from the sun and heavy rains, and 

 planted out in a shaded bed when about 3 inches high. The transplanting 

 should take place immediately after a good rain, and the plants should be watered 

 frequently until they are well established. 



Parsnips. Will not grow. 



Peas (guisantes). Grow with difficulty; seldom mature. They should be 

 planted at the beginning of the dry season. 



Peanuts (kakhuates. ). Common in gardens; grow well and need little care. 



Pepper, black. Will grow, but is not cultivated by the natives; grew in my gar- 

 den by the side of the betel pepper, which it closely resembles. 



Pepper, red. Several kinds cultivated in the gardens; called by the vernacular 

 name "doni." The favorite variety, a large "bell-pepper," often stuffed with 

 meat and roasted; a smaller variety with pungent pods used for seasoning. All 

 of them flourish and grow with little care; sometimes found in waste places. 



Potatoes, Irish. Will not grow. 



Potatoes, sweet. Several varieties are cultivated. They grow well. The natives 

 seldom eat them, but sell them to passing ships, contenting themselves with 

 yams and taro. 



Pumpkins and squashes (calamasa, kalamasa, kalabasa). Several kinds 

 of Cucurbita are grown, including varieties of C. maxima and C. pepo. Benincasa 

 cerifera, often called the " wax gourd," and known in Guam as "kondot," is one 

 of the principal cucurbitaceous plants. All should be planted after the begin- 

 ning of the dry season and watered if necessary. 



Radishes. Grow pretty well; best varieties from Japanese seed; some of them 

 grow quite large. 



Rhubarb. Will not grow on the island. 



Sesame. Grows well. 



Spinach. Does not grow on the island; but its place is taken in a measure by 

 CJienopodium album, which is eaten as golae or greens. A species of Amaranthus is 

 also eaten in the same way. The tender young leaves of taro are also cooked 

 like spinach. 



Sweet corn. Can not be cultivated. 



Taro. Grown extensively in marshy places, on dry hillsides, and on newly- 

 cleared land. See Caladium colocasia and Alocasia macrorrhiza. 



Tomatoes. Two varieties of small size grow with little or no cultivation. Seed 

 from the United States planted in my garden grew well, but the fruit decayed 

 before it reached maturity and was attacked by the larva of some lepidopterous 

 insect. Tomatoes should be planted at the beginning of the dry season. 



Turnips. Do not grow on the island. 



Velvet beans. May be grown to renovate the soil. They should be fed green 

 to cattle. 



Watermelons. These should be planted at the end of the rainy season. Too 

 much moisture is apt to make the fruit decay before ripening, and the vines may 

 be killed outright by a heavy rain which floods the surface of the garden. 



