75 



tops were cut fifty pieces each piece containing one bud; from the 

 steins were also cut fifty pieces each containing one bud. The buds 

 from tops and steins were planted in separate boxes. After three 

 months it was found that 33 % of the buds from tops had sprouted 

 while only 2^ of the buds from the stems had sprouted. 



Experiment N. 2. This was carried on as in Experiment N. 1 

 except that the canes used were only 14 months old. 92 % of the buds 

 from tops sprouted, and 78 % of the buds from stems. 



This would seem to indicate that it would not be advisable to use 

 the lower portion of tho stems for seed-cane in Peru; at least unless 

 the cane were especially grown for seed and cut prior to maturity. 

 This is still more evident when it is remembered that a given length 

 of top contains more buds than the same length of stem. 



The experiments could not of course give any idea of the relative 

 strength of the plants grown from top and stem buds. 



Tops of canes were split in half length wise and planted; they have 

 given good plants and are still growing in the Experimental plot. 



WASHING ALKALI SOILS. 



In order to show the effectiveness of washing alkali soils, soil was 

 taken from an alkali spot on which cane would not grow and placed 

 in two tubs. The soil in one tub was flooded with water and thor- 

 oughly drained; this was repeated several times. Cane was planted 

 in the tubs. The seed-cane planted in the washed soil sprouted and 

 grew well (cane N? 1 in illustration), while that in the tub ot unwash- 

 ed soil did not even sprout (cnne N. 2). Such a soil after being 

 washed would become very productive and would require little 

 fertilizer. 



DETERIORATION OF CANE. 



Experiments were made to determine the keeping quality of some 

 Peruvian canes yfter cutting. 



Ten canes were selected from the conductor for the experiment. 

 They were so cut, arranged, and sampled that each lot of cane 

 reserved for analysis contained tops, butts, and middles, of the stems. 



The result of the first experiment showed the total loss of sucrose 

 in 120 hours to be 8.2 % of the sucrose contained in the cane. 



Figures relating to the repeated experiment are given below, the 

 total loss in 96 hours amounting to about 10 % of the sucrose con- 

 tained in the cane. 



