THE PIGEON PEA: CULTURE IN HAWAII. 7 
Sugar Planters' Association, and the seed given some years ago 
to the writer by H. L. Lyon; and (4) the Kauai type (which is 
similar to the Maui type, excepting that the seed is larger and lighter 
colored than the Maui type). 
CLIMATIC AND SOIL ADAPTATIONS. 
The pigeon pea is primarily a dry-land crop, especially when it is 
considered mainly for seed production. The heaviest yields of seed 
have been produced at Haiku during warm, dr}^ seasons. Where the 
soil is of reasonable depth and fertility and in fair tilth the plants 
thrive remarkably well even during protracted droughts such as pre- 
vailed in the Haiku district during 1918 and 1919. A fine crop 
planted March 15, 1919, and photographed October 15, 1919, devel- 
oped to perfect maturity on a total of less than 20 inches of rainfall. 
(PL II, fig. 1.) Only one cultivation was given the crop after the 
intercrop of corn was harvested in 'July. (PL II, fig. 2.) No other 
crop is known that would prove so successful under like conditions. 
Doubtless many people will recall having seen neglected pigeon pea 
plants thriving as well in dry, stony places as though they were being 
cultivated in a garden. Although suited to dry conditions, the pigeon 
pea adapts itself to many and varied conditions. Adequate moisture 
merely adds to the luxuriance of its growth and if, in addition, the 
soil is rich, the seeding period will merely be delayed to a time when 
the plant is unable to bear more foliage. Excessively wet districts, 
for example, Glenwood, on the island of Hawaii, and Nahiku, on the 
island of Maui, are, however, not adapted to the profitable culture of 
the pigeon pea, nor is the crop adapted to irrigation farming. As 
stated before, its great value rests upon its ability to produce abun- 
dantly and most economically a nutritious herbage under semiarid 
conditions. Such conditions at best would be adverse to most other 
forage crops. 
Its range of adaptability to the seasons, to varying altitudes, and 
to an almost unlimited variety of soil conditions is one of the striking 
characteristics of this unique field crop. At the Haiku demonstration 
and experiment farm spring and fall plantings have been equally 
successful. When planted in February, March, or April the plant 
begins to bear its first crop of seeds from August to October and con- 
tinues to flower and fruit well into midwinter, provided the pods are 
kept picked. No treatment other than that of keeping the maturing 
pods continually picked will cause heavy fruiting and large yields 
of seed. Spring is considered the most favorable time for planting 
pigeon peas, because the plants then start growth rapidly and branch 
rather freely. Furthermore, at this season of the year a wide selec- 
tion of crops is available for intercropping with the pigeon pea. 
