310 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUGAR-CANE BY 
SELECTION AND HYBRIDISATION. 
By Sir Daytet Morris, K.C.M.G., M.A., D.C.L., D.Se., F.L.8., V.M.H., 
Imperial Commissioner of Agriculture for the West Indies, and 
F. A. Srockpaue, B.A. (Cantab.), Mycologist and Lecturer in 
Agriculture on the Staff of the Imperial Department of Agriculture 
for the West Indies. 
THE discovery that the sugar-cane produces fertile seed, from which can 
be raised seedlings possessing varied characteristics as well as increased 
richness of juice, has placed cane-growers in a position to endeavour to 
improve their varieties, so as to place the cane in an equally favourable 
position with the beet. 
The attacks of various diseases and the general fall in the price of 
sugar made it necessary for all cane-growing countries to establish local 
departments to inquire into the best means of combating these disasters. 
Owing to the great influence of soil and climatic conditions on the yield 
of sugar, highly improved: methods of cultivation and the use of modern 
appliances in manufacture received considerable attention, as being the 
most direct method of accomplishing a cheaper production. It was, how- 
ever, found that a hardier race of plants, which would give a greater tonnage 
of canes to the acre, was the first requisite, the quality of the juice being 
taken up for improvement later. 
Although most of the older varieties of canes were found to suffer 
from the ravages of insects and disease, and in consequence a considerable 
loss of sugar was experienced, yet no serious steps were taken to inquire 
into the methods of preventing this loss until in some instances total crops 
had been almost entirely destroyed. Then the minds of a few began to 
turn to methods of obtaining improved varieties of canes. It became 
absolutely necessary to produce canes which were more resistant to 
disease, and at the same time, if possible, varieties which would give a 
larger yield of sugar per acre. This increased yield of sugar could be 
obtained in three ways, the combination of all three being the goal aimed 
at. These were: (a) by an increased tonnage of canes per acre; (b) by 
an increased yield of saccharose in the juice with a higher ratio of purity ; 
(c) by a freedom from rotten canes. . 
The differences apparent in existing varieties made it obvious that it 
was possible to produce new and improved types superior to those already 
under cultivation ; but, like all plants propagated mainly by cuttings, it 
was extremely difficult to notice slight variations amongst individual canes. 
Striking examples of seminal and bud variations had been noticed, and. 
some of these had proved of value. The following four methods were 
those by which variations were utilised to improve the quality of the 
crops: (1) Selection amongst native varieties ; (2) Introduction of foreign 
