70 TILLERING IN INDIAN SUGARCANES 



We find that there, is a considerable variation in different canes in this respect, 

 as can be readily demonstrated in comparing the Saretha and Sunnabile varieties 

 on the Cane-breeding Station (c/. Mem. Ill, p. 149). Muller von Czernicki 

 found in his shoot-counting experiments, that Cheribon reached its maximum 

 number of shoots at 60 days from planting, J. 100 at 90 days, while J. 247, 

 although having more canes at harvest than either of the others, was slower 

 and later in its early stages (c/. Pis. XIV and XV). In comparing the 

 maximum number of shoots formed in any variety, it is not safe, then, to 

 count the^number of shoots in the plots at any one time, but the rate of develop- 

 ment must^be held in view, so as to get a true maximum for each variety, and 

 from this to deduce the number of deaths occurring. For a time the numbers 

 of shoots formed exceed the deaths and the total numbers steadily rise in the 

 plots, but a period soon supervenes when there are many more deaths than new 

 formations and, once this period has been reached, there is a continuous and 

 great reduction in total numbers ; later on, a sort of equilibrium is reached, 

 when the activity of fresh formation wanes and the shoots are of sufficient 

 vigour and size to be able to maintain themselves and grow to maturity. 



4) Artificial interference with tillering. 



The great mortality of shoots during growth is obviously of serious import 

 from the crop point of view. Not only is the possible number of canes dimin- 

 ished, but the formation of such numbers of abortive shoots must be a serious 

 drain on the reserves of the plant. Attempts have accordingly been made 

 from time to time to limit the tillering of the sugarcane by artificial means. 

 It is the common practice with many crops to thin the plants out when they 

 have become established, thus assuring a full stand with plenty of room for 

 the development of each plant. This practice is hardly applicable to the 

 present case, which is more analogous to the thinning out of branches in 

 pruning and removing an excessive number of fruits or flowers for the better 

 development of those that remain. Rosenfeld conducted some experiments at 

 Tucuman on the effect of the thinning out of cane shoots on the crop, but found 

 that the results from this procedure were rather adverse than otherwise. ^ 

 These experiments, are however, open to serious criticism and cannot be 

 regarded as demonstrating the inadvisability of the practice of thinning. His 

 experiments were conducted on a single plot of canes, half of which was thinned 



1 Rosenfeld. A. H. Experiments in tliinning out suuareane rows. International Sugar 

 Jonrnal 1914. p. 220. and 1918. p. 20. 



