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grass, or coco grass, since it forms a dense mat and furnishes abundant 

 feed while at the same time holding the coco grass in check. It is 

 propagated readily by cuttings of the long creeping stems. It is 

 closely grazed, particularly by cattle, and is valued for maintenance 

 rather than for growth or fattening. It occupies considerable areas 

 on all of the islands, particularly on Kauai. It grows rather slowly 

 in extremely dry locations. It is crowded out by Hilo grass where 

 rainfall is excessive, which may be partly due to the grazing of the 

 one and not of the other. 



Chrysopogon aciculatus piipii, or pilipiliula (PI. I, 3), is a nearly 

 worthless grass which covers considerable areas. It has creeping 

 stems which root from the joints. It is mors aggressive than manienie 

 and will crowd out the latter grass. It is eaten by cattle, but is of 

 little value, and is especially objectionable for sheep because of the 

 penetrating awns. It is easily eradicated by plowing, and where it is 

 possible to do this better grasses may be substituted for it. Paspalum 

 compression crowds it out under the Hanalei conditions. Paspalum 

 dilatatum also would be able to crowd it more or less under reasonable 

 conditions of moisture. This grass is the principal grass upon the 

 Wahiawa plain of Oahu, but the small clover, Desmodium trijlorum, 

 occurring with it furnishes the major part of the grazing. 



Paspalum conjugatum, Hilo grass (PL II, 2), is a native of tropical 

 America. It appeared near Hilo about 1840 and spread rapidly, 

 crowding out many better grasses. The fact that it is less palatable 

 than other grasses enables it to crowd them out. In rainy regions or 

 seasons it makes a heavy growth. It is liked by stock only when kept 

 closely cropped. The larger growth during wet seasons is grazed, but 

 disturbs the digestion of cattle if eaten in quantity. During the dry 

 season more of the coarser growth is consumed, because of the shortage 

 of other food. On the Parker ranch there are over 50,000 acres of 

 Hilo grass. It is valuable in helping to tide over the period when 

 other feed is wanting. Better feed is obtained by burning off the old 

 growth whenever it is possible to do so. 



Under fair conditions Paspalum dilatatum and P. compressum will 

 slowly crowd out the Hilo grass. While Hilo grass is of value, P. 

 dilatatum is to be preferred and should be substituted for it whenever 

 the conditions will permit. Paspalum orbiculare (PL II, 3), rice 

 grass, mau-laiki, occupies large areas on windward slopes and also at 

 higher elevations on the lee side of the islands. It is not liked by 

 stock. The tender growth of young seedlings, of closely cropped 

 pastures, or after burning, is better relished. The grass occurs gen- 

 erally throughout the guava belt. It is gathered frequently for bed- 

 ding or packing purposes. It is known as cow grass in Queensland 

 and as ditch millet in other places. Cases of poisoning have been 

 known in India from eating the seed of this grass. Th© milk from 



