C. A. BARBER 115 



An examination of the figures shows that a c has died early in the smaller 

 plant and that from its stump 2ds and le arise. If this death had not occurred, 

 the formula would have been a + 46 + 2c or perhaps a + ib + '2c + d, and the 

 unusual e would certainly not have been developed. And manv similar 

 examples could be given, where the death of an a, b or c, causes an abnormal 

 lengthening of formula. 



Lastly, the congestion at the base in such forms as Chin and Kaghze 

 introduces numerous irregularities which interfere with the formulse and the 

 measurements taken, it apparently being the merest chance whether suppression 

 occurs or meagre shoots survive for a time, or a cane forces its way through 

 and ultimately matures, often showing marks of its struggle for existence. 

 All of these and other factors have their influence on the regiilarity and 

 symmetry of the branching system, and have made the preparation of charac- 

 teristic formulge more difficult. 



Appended is a summary list of the formulse of canes at crop time for each 

 group of varieties dissected. In this hst, fractions are treated in the usual 

 way, in that halves and fractions below a half are ignored, while fractions over 

 one-half are counted as equal to one. In some cases there is only one variety 

 in the formula, as in Saccharum arundinaceum. and the Red Mauritius cane, 

 dissected at Nellikuppam. The six unclassified indigenous Indian varieties 

 do not of course form a group, but have been taken together in this hst. In 

 SaccJiarum spontaneum there are three varieties, which differ among them- 

 selves even more than the ordinary varieties of a group, but they have been 

 taken together for convenience. There are six varieties each in the Saretha, 

 Pansahi, Nargori, Mungo, Sunnabile and Thick cane groups. To these are 

 added four Rogues from thick cane plots and two Crosses between a thick 

 cane and Saccharum spontaneum. The group formulse are prepared in two 

 different ways. At first the formula was obtained for each variety, and these 

 formulae were averaged for the group to which they belonged. But it was 

 thought possible that a better average would be obtained if all the plants- 

 in each group were added together and averaged, and this was accordingly done 

 The two sets of figures are distinguished by the words " varieties " and "plants" 

 in column No. 2. Besides these formulae of canes at crop time, a summary 

 has been made of all the stems and branches, with their shoots and buds 

 whether living or dead. These will, it is thought, give a general idea of the 

 branching capacity of the whole plant, but these combined formulae are less 

 symmetrical and instructive than those of canes at crop time. The latter may 

 be regarded, in some sort, as the total output of the plant, analogous to the 



