C. A. BARBER 177 



canes of the Punjab and neighbouring parts of the United Provinces, whereas 

 the latter consist chiefly of the thicker canes of Bihar, Assam, and the Peninsula. 

 But, just as, in the Saretha and Sunnabile groups, prototypes were met with 

 in Katha and DIkiuIu of the Punjab, so here, a primitive, green cane of the 

 Saretha group is met with growing with these, namely, Mesangan. 



The brown canes of the Saretha series, which may be termed the Katha 

 section, are as follows, in the order of thickness : — Rakhra, Katha, Ramui 

 Lalri, Chin, Chunnee, Baraukha, Kamar, Chynia, Biirm Chunnee, Saretha. 

 Those of the Mesangan section are Mesangan, Saretha (often called Dhaur 

 Saretha), Jaganathia, Khari, Hullu Kabbu, Ganda Cheni, Kalkya. With the 

 exception of Memngan, the whole of its group are almost as thick or thicker 

 than the thickest of the Katha section. This division of the Saretha group 

 into two sections appears to be a real one, for, although united in. most characters 

 and opposed to the Sunnabile group in these, they differ in a number of charac- 

 ters, in that the Mesangan section often tends to occupy an intermediate posi- 

 tion between the Katha section and the Sunnabile grouj). 



In the following description of colour in the stem, it will be found con- 

 venient to consider the gro\\1;h ring and the root zone separately. The rest 

 of the joint will be studied, in succession, as to its general tone of colour, striping, 

 black incrustations (cell outgrowths), bloom, blackening (fungus on bloom), 

 and corky markings. The two sections of the Saretha group will, as far as 

 possible, bs taken together, differences between them being pointed out where 

 they have been observed. 



(1) General colour. Saretha group. Colour nuicli obscured in the lower 

 parts by weathered bloom, and usually dirty there. Brown,, bone yellow 

 green or grey, occasionally light purple (brown, covered by bloom) at the 

 base, passing upwards to yellow, glaucous green, green yellow or arev, and 

 finally to greyish or glaucous or whitish green or even white at the top owing 

 to excessive bloom. h\ the Mesangan section the browns are absent or 

 extremely rare and, consequently, the joints are rarely light purple. The brown 

 occurs as patches, or streaks or a general tone, and increases wth a»e. It is 

 therefore more marked in the lower parts of the mature cane. 



Sunnabile group, Browiush stone-coloured or glaucous yellow, occasion- 

 ally green, below, passing upwards to clear light stone or greenish yellow, with 

 distinct green patches at places where the cane is bent ; finally, to clear stone 

 yellow, occasionally greenish yellow or dull green, at the top. Patli Khajee 

 is a vivid grass green cane and Ketari has a general greenish tinge, when com- 

 pared with the rest, 



