314 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS, 
4. “ Heavy plants gave rise to heavy offspring.” 
5. “The descendants of plants rich in sugar were richer in sugar and 
ae than unselected plants.” 
6. ‘‘Simple selection of cuttings of heavy are did not lead to 
the Pred ton of forms markedly rich in sugar, though the resulting 
plants were in general richer in sugar. Indeed heavy plants poor in 
sugar seemed to have a worse effect on the amount of sugar in the 
progeny than did light plants poor in sugar.” 
7. “xtreme care had to be exercised in the selection of the ground 
on which the experiments were made; for even in apparently uniform 
soil great differences were apt to appear in the individual plants merely in 
Tae of local variations in the soil.” 
“Increased vigour as reflected in larger yield of sugar was 
Sane by greater immunity from ‘ sereh’ disease.” 
This report is valuable as it confirms some results obtained elsewhere, 
and at the same time presents many facts of great importance to those 
interested in raising seedling canes. 
INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN VARIETIES FOR FIELD Crops. 
The introduction and trial of standard varieties of sugar-cane from 
other countries is of considerable interest to planters, as probably this was 
the principal means by which the sugar-cane was distributed throughout 
the tropics. 
Kvidence, on the whole, seems to point to India and Polynesia as 
the original home of the sugar-cane, but it is now cultivated in various 
localities on both sides of the Equator ranging from the south of Spain, 
37 deg. north, to New Zealand, 37 deg. south. 
Of the older varieties of cane there appear to have been three or four 
which were extensively cultivated. In those countries where these are 
still free from disease, very few others have as yet taken their place; but 
where their cultivation has become impossible on account of the ravages 
of disease, others have been introduced to take their place. 
In the West Indies, the Bourbon and Otaheite canes have almost 
entirely been replaced by other improved and hardier varieties. 
In Java, the introduction of the Kast Indian cane “ Chunnee”’ was 
rendered necessary owing to the home cane being very liable to the 
“ sereh ’’ disease. 
Within the range of cultivation of the sugar-cane there are yet many 
countries where it might be largely grown if only the prevailing low 
prices should improve. 
With the introduction of imported varieties it should be realised that 
there is always a danger of introducing new diseases and pests. It is 
important, therefore, that all imported plants be carefully fumigated and 
disinfected before being allowed to enter any country. Throughout the 
West Indies, laws of fumigation and disinfection of all imported cane 
cuttings are generally enforced, and, now that seedling canes are 
beginning to play such an important part in the improvement of the - 
sugar-cane, and their introduction into new lands is becoming universal, 
it cannot be too strongly urged that all cane-growing countries should 
adopt means to prevent the introduction of new pests and diseases. 
