768 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Improvement of the sugar cane by selection and cross fertilization, D. 

 Morris (Hort. Soc. New York Mem., 1 {1902), pp. 79-87, fig. J). — This paper points 

 out the objects sought and the methods employed in the improvement of sugar 

 cane, and reviews the principal results obtained. In the lines of work discussed an 

 increase in the yield of sugar is accomplished by increasing the weight of cane pro- 

 duced per acre, by increasing the quantity of sucrose in the juice with a reduction 

 in the percentage of impurities, and by obtaining canes free from the attacks of dis- 

 eases and insect enemies. 



The methods of securing improved varieties include the introduction and experi- 

 mental cultivation of selected canes from other countries, the experimental cultiva- 

 tion of canes arising from bud variation, the chemical selection of tops from 

 individual canes or from stools high in sugar content, and the production of new 

 varieties by cross fertilization and selection. 



The characters which largely determine the ultimate industrial value of a variety 

 are given as follows: " Field characters — sprouting power of bud and ability of cane 

 to establish itself soon after planting; behavior and adaptability under extreme con- 

 ditions of dryness and moisture; habit of cane, whether upright or recumbent; 

 power of resisting the attacks of insect or fungoid pests; early maturity; productive 

 power, estimated by the number of tons of cane yielded per acre; weight and 

 character of tops for fodder purposes; readiness to produce successive crops from the 

 same stools — that is, ' rattooning ' power. Factory characters — the milling qualities of 

 the cane, whether tough or brittle, when presented for crushing; fuel-producing 

 properties; the relative percentage of expressible juice; the richness of the juice in 

 sucrose; the purity of the juice — that is, the absence of glucose, etc." 



Varieties of cane, C. F. Eckart (Hatcaiian Sugar Planters' Sta. Rpt. 1904, pp. 

 81-35). — The work with varieties of sugarcane at the experiment station and labora- 

 tories of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, previously reported (E. S. R., 

 14, p. .565), is here reviewed as a press bulletin. The deterioration of varieties is 

 discussed and the results obtained with newly-introduced canes are noted. 



During 1902-3, 17 varieties were harvested and their sugar production per acre 

 compared. The yield of sugar ranged from 12,307 to 26,540 lbs. per acre, the lead- 

 ing canes in the order mentioned being Demerara No. 117, Cavengerie, Striped Singa- 

 pore, Queensland No. 1, Yellow Caledonia, Louisiana Purple, and Queensland No. 7, 

 all of which yielded over 21,000 lbs. of sugar per acre. The analysis of the juice of 

 these varieties is given in a table. 



Recent experiments with saline irrigation, C. F. Eckart {Hawaiian Sugar 

 Planters' Sta. Rpt. 1904, pp. 37-41). — Previous results along this line have been noted 

 (E. S. R., 15, p. 960). The experiments are described and the results given in tables. 

 It is concluded from the observations that lime is potent in modifying the delete- 

 rious effect of saline irrigation on the growth of cane. 



The use of ground coral and gypsum in quantities furnishing 2 tons of lime per 

 acre resulted in a gain of sugar amounting to 46 per cent where the irrigation water 

 contained 200 grains of salt per gallon. A gain of 88.1 per cent of sugar is reported 

 as being obtained by a 5-in. irrigation every eighth watering, and it is believed that 

 77 per cent of this gain is attributable to the leaching of salt accumulations from the 

 soil by this heavy application of water. 



Tobacco investigations — preliminary report, E. P. Sandsten ( Wisconsin Sta. 

 Rpt. 1904, pp. 243-251, Jigs. 3). — A report is given on work in the improvement of 

 Wisconsin tobacco seed and on fertilizer experiments. In order to improve the 

 quality and yielding capacity, and to obtain early maturity, a strain of Wisconsin- 

 grown Connecticut Havana seed-leaf was selected and an acre was planted for seed 

 production. Only the plants presenting the highest type were allowed to mature, 

 and the seed obtained was distributed to growers with satisfactory results. This 

 season the result of the previous year's selection was shown on 2 acres of tobacco 



