18 
BULLETIN 57, HAWAII EXPERIMENT STATION 
This irregular nature of growth of the edible canna is again discussed 
in a later section (p. 31). 
Table 7 gives the yields of the different kinds of planting stock 
tested and the proportion failing to germinate. 
Table 7. — Yields and nongermination of different types of canna seed 
Plat 
No. 
Kind of seed 
Area of 
plat 
Propor- 
tion of 
seed fail- 
ing to 
germinate 
Number 
of hills 
har- 
vested 
Gross 
yield per 
acre 
Net yield 
per acre 
8 
Subsurface rootstock 
^4crc 
0.100 
.100 
.100 
.025 
.025 
.025 
.025 
.025 
Per cent 
8.5 
77.7 
2.7 
16.9 
15.4 
32.3 
9.2 
9.2 
217 
Tons 
41.6 
Tons 
37 3 
9 
Mature rootstock (no visible bud) 
12 
Immature rootstock (two buds) 
253 
53 
55 
47 
59 
58 
43. 6 1 39. 1 
43 7 ; 39 2 
» 13 
Immature rootstock (one bud). 
14 
Mature rootstack (dormant bud).. 
38.4 j 34.4 
15 
Detached spike 
34 1 30 5 
16 
17 
A t tached spike 
40 5 36 3 
Immature rootstock (secondary) 
32 6 
1 In most of this seed one bud had developed into a rootstock. 
It may be concluded from Table 7 that the large, immature root- 
stocks with two buds make the most desirable seed for planting. 
Large, immature rootstocks with one bud are equal in point of yield 
to those having two buds, but rather low in germination. Next in 
point of yield is the subsurface type, closely followed by the attached 
spike. With respect to germination these two types are decidedly 
superior to the immature rootstock with one bud. The mature 
rootstocks with dormant buds are somewhat less valuable in yield 
than the preceding types and rather low in germination. Detached 
spikes are too uncertain in germination and too low in yield to make 
desirable seed. Very small, immature rootstocks, although fair in 
germination, rank lowest in poin,t of yield. 
The rate of germination is dependent more upon the condition of 
the buds than on the type of seed. Buds on the subsurface type of 
rootstock usually are in good condition at the time of digging. A 
rootstock of this type bearing at least two buds is always preferable 
to a seed with one bud, because the buds at best are small, succulent, 
And easily damaged, and the percentage of germination tends to be 
low when only one bud is used. The buds of the immature type do 
not project from the parent seed sufficiently to be easily broken off, 
and, due to their freshness, they are seldom worm-eaten. The dor- 
mant buds on older rootstocks have been more or less exposed to 
worm and other injury and are not therefore as certain to germinate 
as are those of the types previously discussed. The attached spikes 
have many possibilities of germination. The terminal spike may 
(grow; frequently the two "top" buds, one on each side of the spike, 
develop. In addition, a bud on the parent seed may be capable of 
development. Usually this type of seed is fully equal in point of 
germination to the two primary buds. The detached spike usually 
has no visible buds and germination proceeds from the dormant top 
