C. A. BARBER 71 



and the other left intact. There was no control or duplicate plot. He repeated 

 the thinning operation each year on the same plot, where the canes were grown, 

 to first, second, third and fourth ratoons. It would be a mistake to assume 

 that these successive experiments on the same plot were in any way a substi- 

 tute for proper control plots, in that any fault in the original selection would 

 but be repeated each year. Besides this, it is quite possible that ratoons may 

 behave differently to plant canes in this matter, and also among themselves, 

 whether first ratoons or those of a higher order. No hints are given as to the 

 character of the season in each year, although there are intrinsic evidences 

 that these differed, and it is quite reasonable to suppose that the thinning 

 would have a different value according to the season, and consequent general 

 health and growth of the plants. Lastly, no preliminary experiments appear 

 to have been made at the correct time of thinning. The plot was planted 

 in June, it was thinned in March " where it was thought necessary,''^ " by removing 

 suckers and small canes where there was an abundance of larger better grown 

 stalks," and the crop was reaped in July. It would seem natural that this 

 late removal of small canes would act prejudicially on the weight of the crop 

 at harvest, and the canes were also naturally, on the average, thicker as 

 well as fewer in the thinned plots. For a decisive result on the effect of 

 thus artificially restraining tillering, the thinning should be carried out 

 systematically throughout the plots, separate plots should be thinned at 

 different periods of growth, and a reasonable number of controls should 

 be introduced. 



In Louisiana, profuse tillering is a matter of some moment because of the 

 shortness of the season. For the best results to be obtained, it should be 

 great in the earlier part and small or absent at the end of the season. This has 

 been very clearly explained by Stubbs,^ and a further danger in late tillering 

 has been pointed out by him. Shoots developed after July 1 are not likely 

 in Louisiana usually to mature before the cold weather sets in. Furthermore, 

 late tillering and shooting of the aerial buds destroys the evenness of the stand 

 in the ratoons of the following year, as these are (presumably) killed during 

 the cold weather. 8tubbs therefore paid very marked attention to the matter 

 for several years, and adopted various methods which, he thought, might 

 regulate the branching of the cane at different periods of growth, his desire 

 being to stimulate the early and restrain late formation of branches. His 

 general conclusions are summed up in the statement that tillering is a natural 

 property of the cane and cannot be prevented. As the result of his experiments 



1 Stubbs, W. C. Sugarcane, Vol. I, Chapter XIV, Suckering of oano. 



