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. 
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