EDIBLE CANNA IN HAWAII 11 
Effect of stage of maturity on the percentage composition of canna tops 
Water 
Protein 
Fat 
Carbohydrates 
Ash 
Stage of maturity 
Nitrogen- 
free 
extract 
Fiber 
Nutritive 
ratio 
Fresh material 
Old tops 
Per cent 
88.67 
Per cent 
1.07 
1.13 
1.12 
Per cent 
0.33 
.23 
.14 
Per cent 
5.83 
5.32 
3.20 
Per cent 
2.77 
2.46 
1.70 
Per cent 
1.33 
1.47 
1.37 
1 : 6. 14 
Mature tops 
89.39 
1 : 5. 17 
92.47 
1 : 3. 14 
Average 
90.18 
1.11 
.23 
4.78 
2.31 
1.39 
1 : 4. 81 
Ocen-dried material 
Old tops 
. 
9.47 
10.68 
14.94 
2.95 
2.14 
1.91 
51.40 
50.15 
42.44 
24.45 
23.15 
22.50 
11.73 
13.88 
18.21 
Mature tops... 
Immature tops 
Average 
11.70 
2.33 
48.00 
23.37 
14.60 
The above table shows that all the samples analyzed contained 
a high percentage of moisture which decreased with increasing matur- 
ity; and, likewise, that the percentage of fat, nitrogen-free extract, 
and fiber increased, while the ash and protein decreased, with in- 
creasing maturity. The nutritive ratio of the old tops was 100 per 
cent wider than in case of the immature group. 
COMPOSITION OF EDIBLE CANNA GROWN IN WAIMEA 
Waimea, Hawaii, gives promise of becoming an important canna- 
producing region. In this district, where the system of fanning 
resembles the grain and stock farms of the Mississippi Valley, the 
repeated failure of most of the staple crops has forced homesteaders 
to cultivate some crop wiiich can be depended upon as a source of 
feed. Edible canna has shown itself to be especially w r ell adapted 
to the high altitude and high winds of the region, and could be utilized 
both as a stock feed and as a commercial source of starch. It grows 
luxuriantly notwithstanding such adverse conditions as high winds, 
low temperature, and drought. With the return of favorable condi- 
tions new buds develop and growth proceeds without the stunting 
effect so manifest in most other crops. The soil at Waimea is ideal 
for canna culture, being of a porous nature, in striking contrast 
with most of the easily compacted soils of the islands. 
Three samples of canna were obtained from Waimea for analysis, 
one consisting of very old tubers, and the other tw T o corresponding 
to the mature and immature types described on page 8. The old 
tubers had been in the ground ior over two years and gave no evi- 
dence of decay except for a slight darkening of the tissue. The 
surfaces bore deep cracks, which, however, had healed without 
decay. The tops of the new growth had been repeatedly cut for 
feed, leaving the tubers partly exposed. The following table shows 
the effect of stage of maturity on the composition of canna tubers 
which were grown in Waimea. 
