102 



STUDIES IN INDIAN SUGARCANE SEEDLINGS 



Taking the whole series of selected seedlings during the past three seasons 

 we see that the sucrose in the seedlings has steadily risen, as follows : — 



Sucrose in (he juice of selected seedlings. 



But it is a question whether the extremely high sucrose content attained 

 is altogether in accordance with the ultimate aim of the Cane-breeding Station. 

 Although high sucrose is an undoubted gain, the question as to w^hether the 

 canes giving this will succeed in North Indian conditions is altogether another 

 matter, and can only be determined after long series of experiments. On 

 the face of it, it does not appear likely that rich canes of exotic parentage will 

 be the best for North India, and it will, therefore, be even an advantage if the 

 general level of sucrose content be lowered, if this implies the greater infusion 

 of North Indian parentage. During the 1914-lG season every effort was made 

 to obtain seedlings of this character. But, of the multitude of crosses attenij)t- 

 cd, comparatively few have succeeded, owing to the sterility nv ill-timed 

 emergence of the North Indian arrow^s and, in their place, a large number of 

 seedlings have been raised from Saretha, Chin, Pansahi and othei- Indian j^arents, 

 pure and simple. This will mean the lowering of the genei'al average of sucrose 

 in the juice during the next season, but the results are, perha])S, more likely 

 to be of ultimate value than when, as in the IDlo-lu season, comparatively 

 few North Indian canes appeared among the list of parents. As stated else- 

 where, the aim which is steadily held in view is to secure crosses between the 

 best North Indian canes, such as Saretha, Pansahi, Munijo. Chin, and liclier, 

 thicker, tropical canes, and the allowing plots have been laid ilown with 

 this object in view. 



There is no doubt that, but for the timely assistance of the OovenniKMit 

 Agricultural Chemist, in lending the service of two of his assistants (hiring 

 crop time, progress would have been comparatively slow. Hut, even as it 



