4 BULLETIN 72, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
in appearance, the leaves are wider, and the stalks are softer and 
thicker than those of the Merker variety. 
CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS 
Napier grass is truly a tropical species, but it is very adaptable in 
nature and can be grown successfully in the subtropics and even in 
Figure 1.— Napier grass 6 feet in height 60 days after cutting. 
the warmer sections of the Temperate Zone. The yields of grass will 
vary with the length of the growing season. One or two cuttings may 
be made per season in the cooler sections where it is grown, while 5 
to 7 cuttings are common in the tropical regions. In Hawaii it is 
adapted to the climatic conditions found at elevations of from sea 
level up to about 4,000 feet. At the higher limit of these elevations 
the growth is much slower and the plants are much smaller, ideal 
conditions being found only below 2,500 feet. According to Bews 
