VARIATION IN THE CANE AND CANE VARIETIES 37 



D 95. — A descendant of White Transparent. Stalk — Dark purple, 

 erect, average girth and length of joints. Eyes — Prominent and inclined 

 to sprout. Leaf — Light green, narrow, erect. Arrows profusely, matures 

 early. 



The above two canes are historical, as they were the first two sent out 

 by Harrison. In Demerara they have not become estabhshed, but in Louisi- 

 ana they have proved of exceptional value owing to their habit of early 

 maturity. D 74 is also grown to some extent in Mauritius. 



D 78. — Stalk — Greenish-red, erect. Leaf — Dark green. Arrows sparsely. 

 This cane, after a few years of promise, developed the habit of producing 

 only tops and leaves, with but little stalk, and forms an example of the 

 degeneracy associated with the newer varieties. 



D 109. — A descendant of White Transparent. Stalk — Dark purpte, 

 erect. Leaf — Dark green, narrow. This cane, like D yd), is also markedly 

 atavistic, but it continues in cultivation to some extent in " pegassy " soils, 

 i.e., soils with much vegetable detritus. 



D 117. — A descendant of White Transparent. Stalk — Yellow, erect. 

 Leaf — Narrow, light green. Arrows profusely. This cane does not appear 

 ever to have been selected for plantation work in Demerara. It has found 

 its way to Hawaii, where it has been received with some favour, particularly 

 at higher elevations. 



D 145. — A descendant of , Red Ribbon. Stalk — Greenish purple, erect, 

 stout, very brittle. Eyes — Prominent. Arrows sparsely. This cane con- 

 tinues in cultivation in Demerara on moderately heavy but friable soil. 



D 625. — A descendant of Dyer, a seedling of Mehgeli. This cane has been 

 the most extensively grown of all that Harrison has raised, and occupies 

 the largest individual area in Demerara. It is best suited for heavy and 

 moderately heavy lands, as on the friable soils its vegetative vigour unduly 

 prolongs its period of maturity. It is, however, of lower sugar content. 

 CowgilP^ thus describes this cane : — 



" D 625. — -Habit, erect. Length, medium to long. Diameter, large. Shape 

 of stalk, usually straight. Colour, light yellowish-green to yellow ; reddish-brown 

 rings at the upper limit of the nodes, especially on the upper portion of the stalk, 

 the portion of the node^below the leaf-scar glaucous. Intemodes, medium to long, 

 nearly round in cross-section ; the sides typically nearly straight, but sometimes 

 slightly constructed and sometimes a little tumid on the side opposite the bud, 

 sometimes a little staggered ; furrow, broad but shallow. Nodes, medium to large ; 

 the portion above the leaf-scar long, and usually as large, or larger, in diameter 

 than the internode above ; rudimentary roots rather far apart, in two or three 

 rows ; the depressed ring forming the portion below very shallow. Buds, large 

 and quite uniform in shape ; typically plump and broadly triangular to ovate 

 in outline ; margin, medium to narrow and conforming to the shape of the bud, 

 often bearded at the apex and barbellate on the sides of the margin. Foliage, 

 medium to scant ; colour, medium green. Leaf, medium width, medium length, 

 sub-erect, tapering into a fine point medium abruptly. Leaf-sheath, nearly round 

 at the throat ; auricles small ; ligula medium length, with the upper edge usually 

 rounded, but sometimes slightly pointed, and sometimes slightly depressed in the 

 centre. Vestiture of leaf sheath, many soft setae. Vestiture of throat of sheath, 

 medium fine hairs on the aiiricles and adjacent edges of the leaf, and sometimes 

 behind the ligula ; sometimes finely pubescent on the face of the base of the leaf. 

 Most important distinguishing characteristics, form and size of the intemodes and 

 buds, and the brown ring on the node." 



D 1135. — Stalk — Erect, red to purple, small girth. Leaf — Light green. 

 Eyes — Prominent. Very large number of canes in a stool. There appears 



