V. A. BARBER 185 



taken as a general mlc. The relation between the width of root zone an/l the 

 length of bud is, however, more instructive. The i'ollowin.g are the proportional 

 figures — -root zone to bud : — ^Katha section 0*22" : 0*23", Mesangan section 

 0-25" : 0-27", Sunnabile group 0-34" : 0-27". In the latter group the buds appear 

 to be shorter than in the Saretha series as a whole and this appearance is 

 explained by their frequent failure to reach the growth ring in the lower parts 

 of the cane. The bud in the Sunnabile group is also lengthened by the addition 

 of the flanges, which often form a broad ring round the apex, which is not the 

 case in the Saretha series. In the Saretha group, the buds usually reach the 

 growth ring in the lower part of the cajie and exceed it in the upper. In the 

 Sunnabile series the bud often fails to reach the growth ring below, and com- 

 paratively rarely exceeds it above. 



(3) Form. In form the buds of the different members of the two groups 

 vary a good deal. On the whole those in. the Saretha group are more pointed 

 a)\d may often be described as ovate, whereas (partly because of the border 

 flanges) in the Sunn.abile series they are more oval. In both groups the buds 

 are occasionally truncate and in the Smmabile varieties sometimes even 

 emarginate at the apex. 



(4) Colour mark^-. The buds in both series are frequently marked by 

 dark brown colorations. These marks are found more frequently at the base 

 and along the edges of the scale in the Saretha group, whereas in the Smui.abile 

 varieties it is the flange surface which is usually browned and this causes the 

 colour marks to converge upwards like the head of an arrow. 



(5) . Place of origin. All the buds arise at the leaf scar, at any rate in the 

 lower part of the cane, and there is no trace of cushion. There is, however, 

 a steady tendency in, the Sun.nabile series for the upper buds to arise a httle 

 above the scai'. The Mesangan section is transitional in. this character to the 

 Katha section, w^here this higher origin of the bud has not been observed. It 

 will be remembered that the high origin of the buds and the appearance of a 

 cushion are characteristic of the Pansahi group of canes. 



(6) Flanges. There are marked differences between the two groups in the 

 flajiges of the lowest scale of the bud. In the Saretha group they are usually 

 narrow, their outline is not readily traced and is often obscured by bristles. 

 In the Sunnabile group they are, on the other hand, well seen, being fairly 

 broad and often free of bristles, and forming a broad border romid the apex 

 of the bud. 



(7) Bristles. Bristles are fairly well developed and sometimes abundant 

 in the Saretha group but are sparse, irregular or almost absent iji most of 

 the Sunnabile series 



