30 JOTTRNAL OF ACiRICULTFRE OF P. Ji. 



RESEJVIBLANCE OK SEEDLINGS TO PARENTS IX CANES KUOM t'KOSS- 



POELINATED TASSELS. 



Seedlings produced from tassels of ("rystallina cane, which had 

 been bagged and pollinated by D-IOH in 191ti, sliowcd n'scin})lanc('s 

 to both parent varieties. Some of them were almost identical in 

 appearance with the pollinating variety, while a few closely n-sciii- 

 bled Crystallina. BetAveen these two types many vai'iations couhl 

 be found. 



The method followed in crossing is described in the Fourth An- 

 nual Report of this p]xperiment Station.^ A bag of closely-woven 

 cheese-cloth is supported by means of a bamboo pole ovei- a tassel 

 of a variety which is, for practical purposes, pollen-sterile. Cut 

 tassels of the variety Avhich is to furnish the pollen arc tied in posi- 

 tion inside the bag, so that the wind Avill carry the pollen, as it is 

 shed, to the stigmas of the tassels of the other variety. This metliod 

 has proven very satisfactory for oui- purposes, as a large numbei- 

 of crossed seedlings are produced, and there is very little possibility 

 of any pollen fertilizing the ovaries of the female parent tassel ex- 

 cept that from the tassels introduced into the l)ags. or occasionally 

 that from its own anthers. If the variety used foi- a pollinator hap 

 pens to be a dark-colored cane and the other lighter coloi'ed. as was 

 the case in this cross, i1 is then possible to observe many seedlings 

 which show this character of the malt' jiai-ent. Thei-e is then little 

 possibility of doubt but that they are the result of cross-pollination. 

 Where the parents are not so distinctly different it is impossible to 

 be absolutely certain whethei- individual seedlings ai'e fi-om ci-oss- 

 poliination or from self-pollination of the variety intended foi- the 

 seed parent. The progeny taken as a whole, however, can be con- 

 sidered largely cross-pollinated seedlings. 



The canes resulting fi-om cross-pollination last year have gi-own 

 well and many of th'em appear promising foi- commercial culture. 

 Only one abnormal stool was found among them. This was a vei-y 

 small stool, the stalks being oidy about one-fourth inch to one-half 

 inch in diameter and proportionately short. The leaves were also 

 relatively small. Except for its size this can<' was quite like D-10!). 

 the variety used as a pollinator. 



The following types were observed among these seedlings: 



1. Typical D-l()9. 



2. Typical Crystallina. 



■■Fourth .Aiimiiil Kiporl, Board of Commissioners of Afrrii'ult\irc of Porto Rirn. pp. 22— 3S, 

 191 4-1.';. 



