27 



sea level to nearly 5,000 feet, although it thrives best below about 

 1,500 feet, 



It formerly covered larger areas than at present, but has been 

 destroyed or crowded out by overstocking and by the encroaching of 

 Hilo, manienie, pihpiliula, and other grasses. The old Hawaiians 

 utilized this grass in making their grass houses. There are extensive 

 areas of it on western Molokai, on Lanai, in the valleys of Maui, and 

 on leeward Hawaii. Over large areas in other regions the pili has 

 been nearly eradicated and it is only in the inaccessible places along 

 the sides of steep gulches that occasional clumps may be seen. The 

 grass makes a rapid growth, starting up with the first good showers, 

 but after seeding it becomes dry and brown. It may seed at irregu- 

 lar intervals, depending upon the distribution and amount of rainfall. 

 The green growth is tender and palatable, but the brown stems are 

 coarse and tough, and can be recommended only as maintenance feed 

 for mature animals, although the disappearance of the grass as noted 

 is due to grazing of the old plants as well as of the fresh growth. 

 There is said to be a comparatively small shrinkage in cattle fattened 

 on pili grass. Although the grass is perennial it is necessary to insure 

 reseeding by removal of the stock, since many clumps are uprooted 

 or injured by the stock. Pili seems to be " coming back' 7 upon cer- 

 tain lower areas of the Molokai ranch, where careful management is 

 being exercised. 



On dry lands at lower elevations an effort should be made to retain 

 pili by never overstocking, and by allowing rest at intervals. The 

 seeds are quite difficult to collect and it would be tedious work to 

 make new seedlings over extensive areas. With imperfect stands of 

 pili about 15 acres per head of cattle are required. 



Leptochloa virgata, Judd grass, is another grass that may be of value 

 for hay or pasture. At the experiment station and at Haleakala 

 ranch it promises well. The grass was introduced only recently 

 from Bermuda, but is worthy of trial. No grazing tests have been 

 made. 



Andropogon halepensis or Sorghum lialepense, Johnson grass, also 

 known as evergreen millet, is considered a pest in the cotton and corn 

 lands of the South. The grass spreads rapidly by seed and by an 

 underground rootstock and when once started is already out of con- 

 trol. The hay crop upon Johnson grass infested land, however, has 

 often been sold for more than the corn or cotton that would have been 

 produced at the additional expense of fighting the grass, and there- 

 fore, much of the infested land has been set aside as meadow land. 

 Although the grass is primarily a hay grass, producing but little when 

 continually grazed, yet it is not entirely satisfactory for hay, since 

 the growth is uneven. It is easily cured and makes a valuable feed. 

 The best quality of hay is obtained when cut before the stems become 



