EDIBLE CANNA IN HAWAII 
Effect of stage of maturity of harvesting on the percentage composition of edible canna 
tubers — Continued 
Water 
Protein 
Fat 
Carbohydrates 
Age 
Nitrogen- 
free 
extract 
Crude 
fiber 
Ash 
Fresh material— Continued 
Eleven months: 
Old 
Per cent 
67 
66.77 
70.25 
Per cent 
0.93 
1.07 
1.00 
Per cent 
0.12 
6.12 
.13 
Per cent 
29.65 
30.06 
26.49 
Per cent 
0.88 
0.55 
.61 
• Per cent 
1.42 
Mature 
1.43 
Immature 
1.52 
A verage. . . 
68.01 
1.00 
.12 
28.73 
.68 
1.46 
Twelve months: 
Old 
71.92 
75.41 
81.68 
.87 
1.01 
1.2 
.10 
.09 
.07 
25.18 
21.5 
15.09 
.73 
.51 
.57 
1.20 
Mature. 
1.48 
Immature 
1.39 
Average.. 
76.33 
1.03 
.09 
20.59 
.60 
1.36 
Oven-dried material 
Six months. 
4.83 
3.14 
2.33 
.36 
.34 
.37 
86.08 
88.8 
90.43 
2.08 
1.75 
1.69 
6.65 
Seven months . 
5.97 
Eight months 
5. 18 
Nine months: 
Mature fc 
2.58 
4.13 
.35 
.34 
90.6 
86.8 
2.25 
2.27 
4.22 
Immature.. . 
6.46 
Average 
3.36 
.34 
88.7 
2.26 
5.34 
Ten months: 
Old 
2.87 
3.21 
5.23 
.43 
.39 
.44 
88.76 
90.51 
85.86 
2.86 
1.64 
2.02 
5.08 
4.25 
Immature 
6 45 
Average 
3.77 
.42 
88.38 
2.17 
5 26 
Eleven months: 
Old 
2.8 
3.21 
3.34 
.37 
.35 
.44 
89.85 
90.51 
89.06 
2.67 
1.64 
2.04 
4 31 
Mature 
4.29 
Immature 
5.12 
Average . .. 
3.12 
.39 
89.8 
2.12 
4.57 
Twelve months: 
Old 
3.09 
4.15 
6.61 
.35 
.35 
.38 
89.71 
87.42 
82.33 
2.58 
2.07 
3.1 
4 27 
Mature .. 
6.01 
Immature 
7.58 
A verage 
4.62 
.36 
86.49 
2.58 
5.95 
*> Sample includes both old and mature tubers. 
The transition from immaturity to maturity and thence to post- 
maturity is a very gradual one, and it is impossible to select from 
monthly harvests tubers that have reached the same stage of maturity, 
because of the short life cycle of the plant. Obviously, some of the 
variations given in the preceding table are due to faulty sampling. 
In general, however, the above data show that, with respect to 
variations among the three groups of tubers, the moisture content is 
always the greatest in the immature tubers. Apparently it decreases 
until the tubers reach the mature stage, after which it remains fairly 
constant. In several instances there are slight increases in the 
moisture content of the old tubers over the mature ones. 
Kxpressed as percentages of dry weight, the protein and ash show 
a considerable decrease in the transition of tin tubers from immaturity 
to maturity, while the crude fiber of the mature tubers is in each 
instance less than in case of the old tubers. The nitrogen-free 
