330 REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE ON GENETICS. 
of new varieties of canes. The average returns on an estate of over 
5,500 acres show that seedling canes, tested over a period of five years on 
an area of over 2,000 acres, gave nearly 26 per cent. more sugar than the 
Bourbon cane under similar conditions. 
In an official report presented in May 1906 by Harrison on the 
sugar-cane experiments carried on under his direction in British Guiana, 
he states:—“Some measure of the success of the administration 
of the Imperial Grant-in-Aid for the West Indies may be found in the 
extension of the area occupied by new seedling varieties in the colony 
from about 550 acres in 1899 to 20,065 in 1906, and in that during the 
last five years we have recorded that new varieties of seedling canes have 
given, over large areas, mean results of 8, 10, 22, and 85 per cent. higher 
than the average of the returns obtained from the Bourbon during the 
same period.”’ 
Two Demerara seedlings have also shown their superiority in many 
respects to the home canes in Louisiana. 
Trindad.—In Trinidad experiments on a small scale have been 
carried on with seedling canes, and reports show that D. 95 has given an 
average return of 23°65 tons of cane per acre as against an average of 
21:38 tons per acre for White Transparent and 16°48 tons per acre for 
the Bourbon. 
By closely examining these results obtained throughout the different 
portions of the West Indies, it will be realised that seedling canes are 
likely to prove an important economic factor in the improvement of the 
sugar industry. Much has already been accomplished, but it is expected 
that in the future canes of still higher value will be raised. 
Hyprips In BARBADOS. 
The experimental work begun by Lewton-Brain in 1904 in artificial 
cross-pollination and self-fertilisation proved successful, and therefore 
in 1905 systematic attempts to raise new hybrids were commenced. 
Crossing was performed in two directions, the pollen parent in one 
cross being used as the seed parent in the other cross; in other words, 
one variety was utilised as the female parent in one cross and as the 
male parent in the other. 
“The arrow which was to become the seed parent was carefully 
selected on a cane free from disease, bagged before it began to emerge 
from the leaf-sheath, and allowed to remain until a length of at least 
6 inches presented itself in the air and to the rays of the sun. It was 
found that very young spikelets were affected seriously by the sun after 
they had been operated upon, but that, if they remained exposed until 
the glumes were beginning to turn slightly red, they stood the severe 
handling much better. Careful microscopic examination of the flowers 
at this stage revealed very little mature pollen in the anthers and the 
stigmata were not in a receptive condition, being still in the white, 
immature state, ‘'here could, therefore, be no danger of self-fertilisation. 
It was also found that if the spikelets happened to present a lateral 
view, the glumes could easily be separated, and the anthers removed 
without rupture.’ !° 
