EDIBLE CANNA IN HAWAII 5 
crop has grown to considerable size. The tubers should be dropped 
bv hand into furrows that are made by an animal-drawn plow. 
At the station, a plank drag has been effectively used to cover the 
tubers to the proper depth. 
CULTIVATION 
Edible canna readily responds to good cultivation. As soon as 
the plants are 6 inches high, the ground should be cultivated with 
a tooth harrow which is properly adjusted to cover the width of 
the rows. Heavier cultivators can be used to advantage with the 
increased growth of the crop. Cross-cultivation thoroughly stirs 
the soil and enables the tubers to make good growth. Hard, com- 
pact soil causes them to become stunted. At the station, the last 
cultivation is usually given about 4 months after planting. From 
this time on, cultivation is almost impossible because of the spread- 
ing growth of the clumps of stalks. Weed growth, however, is then 
effectually kept down and smothered out by the luxuriant foliage 
which shades the ground. 
FERTILIZERS 
Little is known regarding the fertilizer requirements of edible 
canna. In a preliminary experiment conducted by the station, 4 
fertilizers were found to have a marked effect upon yield. Of the 
fertilizers applied, ammonium sulphate, superphosphate, and potas- 
sium sulphate (250 pounds each) gave the highest yield. From 
10 to 15 tons of well-rotted manure should be applied per acre im- 
mediately after the first plowing, being thoroughly worked into the 
soil by disking. This will not only furnish plant food for the grow- 
ing crop, but will also greatly improve the texture of the generally 
compact and heavy soils of Hawaii. 
ROTATION 
Edible canna is well adapted to either long or short rotation 
periods. It is recommended, however, that the crop be treated as 
an 8-months' crop, although harvesting may be delayed for several 
months longer without seriously affecting either yield or quality. 
The crops recommended for rotation are (1) corn, followed by 
edible canna, peanuts, and cowpeas (plowed under) ; (2) alfalfa 
(2 or 3 years), followed by corn, cassava, pigeon peas (plowed under), 
and edible canna; and (3) beans, followed by corn, edible canna, 
peanuts, cowpeas, and sweet potatoes. It is important that the 
land be freed from nut grass, which is not only extremely aggressive 
but also very hard to combat in a stand of this plant. 
IRRIGATION 
The plant resists drought reasonably well, and will stand a great 
deal of moisture when the area on which it is grown is well-drained. 
Whenever the rainfall is insufficient to meet the full water require- 
ments of the crop irrigation should be practiced, the ground being 
thoroughly soaked twice a month. One heavy irrigation is worth 
ral light irrigations. 
* Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1918, p. 48. 
