THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SUGAR-CANE BY HYBRIDISATION 311 
varieties ; (8) Hybridisation between native varieties; (4) Hybridisation 
between native and introduced varieties. 
The first two methods will be dealt with very briefly, as these methods 
were carefully described at the Hybridisation Conference held in New 
York in 1902.' (See References, p. 335.) 
SELECTION. 
The chief variations to be looked for amongst existing races of cane 
may conveniently be classed under three heads: (@) variations in habit 
and vigour of growth ; (b) bud variations; (c) variations in sugar-contents 
of individual canes. 
Variations in Habit and Vigour of Growth (a).—Amongst a large 
area of canes of any single variety, there were always to be seen some 
canes distinguishable by greater size and vigour. Planters were advised to 
select and cultivate such canes, as their greater vigour seemed to indicate 
a greater power of resisting attacks of disease. This method has been 
tested practically under scientific supervision in the West Indies, and it 
has been found that many of the canes thus selected were capable of 
producing larger yields of sugar. Investigation of the more vigorous 
canes showed that they frequently varied to a considerable extent from 
the main crop, and therefore itis quite probable that many of them, instead 
of being variations of the mother type, were really seedlings which had 
come up in the fields, and had become cultivated in the next crop. Some 
of these variations could not be accounted for in any other way, and it 
was this peculiar appearance of new varieties of canes that subsequently 
led to the discovery of canes growing from seed. 
Bud Variations (b).—Bud varieties or sports are not uncommon in the 
sugar-cane. In fact, in 1886 a communication was addressed from the 
Royal Gardens, Kew, to all the sugar-producing colonies to stimulate 
inquiry into the advisability of searching for and cultivating these sports 
on a large scale, as it was probable that some of these varieties would 
prove hardier and give a greater amount of sugar than the original stock. 
In the summary of the observations on bud varieties of the sugar- 
cane up to 1901, given in the “ West Indian Bulletin,” vol. ii. pp. 
216-238, instances of such variations were recorded from widely separated 
countries, viz. Mauritius, Louisiana, West Indies and Queensland. 
Since then, other bud varieties have been noticed in the West Indies, 
and quite recently two interesting accounts of such sports have come to 
hand from Madras and Queensland. 
In Queensland, one of the seedling canes has produced a sport which 
gave an analysis of 19°72 per cent. saccharose as against 19-03 per cent. 
saccharose of the parent cane, and 18°97 per cent. of the next best 
seedling. It would appear that sports generally arise from striped or 
ribbon canes, and usually keep true to a whole colour, but instances 
have recently occurred in Barbados in which a green cane has given 
rise to a green and white-striped sport. Clark, Queensland, holds that 
“yellow sports have a tendency to grow sweeter than the coloured 
canes of the kindred variety.” This is not borne out by the instance 
lately recorded from Madras, for a striped cane has been found to sport 
