12 
BULLETIN 54, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
Effect of stage of maturity on the percentage corn-position of edible canna grown at 
Waimea 
Water 
Protein 
Fat 
Carbohydrates 
Stage of maturity 
Nitrogen- 
free 
extract 
Crude 
fiber 
Ash 
Fresh material 
Old . . 
Per cent 
75.85 
74.68 
82.63 
Per cent 
0.66 
1.41 
1.17 
L08~ 
Per cent 
0.10 
.11 
.07 
Per cent 
21.59 
22.19 
14.43 
Per cent 
0.69 
.53 
.52 
Per cent 
1. 11 
1.08 
1.18 
Immature 
Average 1 
77.72 
.09 
19.40 
.58 
1.13 
Oven-dried material 
Old 
2.72 
5.56 
6.76 
.41 
.44 
.40 
89.43 
87.66 
83.05 
2.86 
2.08 
2.98 
4.58 
Mature. .. ... . 
4.26 
Immature 
6.81 
5.01 
.42 
86.71 I 
5.22 
In general, the above table shows that canna from Waimea has 
the same composition as that grown at the central station. It also 
shows similar variations in composition among the three types of 
tubers. As a result of remaining in the soil for two years, the old 
tubers showed a smaller proportion of protein, but a slightly larger 
proportion of water, than did the mature tubers. 
FEEDING VALUE 
At the present time both tubers and tops are used largely as stock 
feed. The tubers may be fed raw, but are usually shredded and 
cooked first. Goff " reported that the tops were fed by hog raisers 
on Hawaii with no other preparation than cutting them into 6-inch 
lengths. When fed with soured rice bran, the tops caused the animals 
to gain steadily in weight. 
Although the station has conducted no extensive feeding tests 
with canna tops for horses and mules, its four work mules have been 
observed to eat them readily and sometimes to leave their grain 
for the tops. 
The following table compares the composition and feeding value 
of edible canna and other forage and starch crops: 
Comparison of the percentage composition and feeding value of edible canna and 
other starch and forage crops 
Crop 
Part of 
plant 
Water 
Protein 
Fat 
Carbohydrates 
Nitro- 
gen-free 
extract 
Crude 
fiber 
Ash 
Nutritive 
ratio 
Edible canna. 
Taroo 
Sweet potato «. 
Cassava a 
Potato 6.. 
Napier grass c . 
Para grass <*... 
Per cent 
/Tubers... 
\Tops 
/Tubers... 
\Tops 
/Tubers... 
\Tops 
Tubers... 
Tubers... 
Per cent 
72.62 
90.18 
60.55 
84.56 
68.89 
87.67 
64.17 
78.30 
61.81 
74.60 
Per 
cent 
0.98 
1.11 
1.10 
1.86 
2.12 
2.93 
.77 
2.20 
2.92 
2.28 
Per cent 
0.11 
.23 
.13 
.49 
1.26 
.36 
1.59 
.10 
.29 
.29 
Per cent 
24.28 
4.78 
36.91 
10.29 
27.02 
6.08 
31.42 
18.00 
17.29 
10.92 
Per cent , 
0.61 
2.31 ; 
.58 i 
1.42 
.81 ! 
1.69 
1.19 ' 
.40 
14.77 ; 
9.10 
Per cent 
1.40 
1.39 
.73 
1.38 
.90 
1.27 | 
.86 
1.00 
2.92 
2.81 I 
1 : 25.0 
1:4.8 
1:33.8 
1:6.1 
1:14.1 
1:2.4 
1 : 45.4 
1:8.3 
1:6.1 
1:5.1 
o Hawaii Sta. Press Bui. No. 53, pp. 8. 9, and 10: Composition and digestibility of feeding stuffs grown 
in Hawaii. . . 
b U. S. Dept. Agr. , Office of Experiment Station Bui. No. 28 (revised) , p. 68. The chemical composition 
of American food materials. 
c Philippine Islands Jour. Prog. Agr., v. IV, no. 9, p. 27: Napier grass. 
<* Hawaii Sta. Bui. No. 13, p. 8: The composition of some Hawaiian feeding stuffs. 
ii Hawaii Sta. Rpt. 1919, p. 71. 
