ALFALFA IN HAWAII. 



Interesting information as to alfalfa on one of 

 our island possessions in the western seas comes thus 

 from E. V. Wilcox, special agent in charge of the 

 Hawaiian Experiment Station of the Department of 

 Agriculture at Honolulu : 



This station, has not published any bulletins on the cultivation 

 of alfalfa, but the matter has received considerable of our atten- 

 tion, and the crop is successfully grown in a number of localities. 

 It may be interesting to learn that during last season a fairly 

 good stand of alfalfa was obtained on the Parker Ranch, at an 

 altitude of 4,700 feet, with a total annual rainfall of only two 

 inches. The crop stood about 30 inches high when I last saw it 

 in December. 



Where alfalfa stubble is promptly irrigated after each cutting, 

 twelve crops per year are obtained, and in exceptional cases thir- 

 teen. On a large dairy farm near Honolulu, alfalfa reaches the 

 blooming stage and is cut every thirty days the year round. A 

 crop has been made in 26 days. Thus far little attention has 

 been given to the making of alfalfa hay, since alfalfa may be 

 obtained green the year round. 



The greatest difficulty experienced in our islands in growing 

 alfalfa is that furnished by cutworms. These pests eat off the 

 young plants when about two or three inches high. It has been 

 found best to plant new land to sorghum for a year or two, after 

 which the cutworm attacks are not serious enough to interfere 

 with the growth of alfalfa. 



In most localities in Hawaii alfalfa does not reach the height 

 which it attains in the Rocky Mountain region or in the eastern 

 states, but the stems are perhaps less woody, due to their rapid 

 growth, and are abundantly furnished with leaves almost to the 

 ground. The quality of the forage is therefore very good. Alfalfa 

 is raised here chiefly for soiling dairy cows, but is also fed to 

 pigs, horses and other stock. I have never known of a case of 

 bloating caused by the feeding on green alfalfa or from pastur- 

 ing on the young crop. It is not quite certain why we are free 

 from this trouble. 



The area devoted to alfalfa is being continually increased. On 

 the Parker Ranch one ton of seed was planted this spring and 

 various other ranches are increasing their areas as fast as they 

 are able to overcome the difficulties of getting the crop started. 



(473) 



