128 



it may be concluded from these experiments, which we can indorse, 

 that the resulting race will, for the time being, be richer in seed, and 

 that the roots grown therefrom will contain a sugar content, more regu- 

 lar, etc., than had existed in either." 



In regard to the effect of crossing varieties, it can be said that it 

 seems to increase the vigor of the plants sometimes in a wonderful 

 degree. The crossed canes are often much larger ar.d taller and often 

 have much heavier seed-heads than either parent form. A crossed 

 cane is sometimes earlier, often later, in maturing than either parent. 

 Some crosses breed true to the new type from the start, and show 

 no tendency to reversion, but usually the first season the crossed 

 seeds are planted some of the plants revert, some to one pnreiit 

 form, some to the other; some are intermediate forms. If, now, 

 seed of the type preferred is selected and planted again, the new plants 

 show less tendency to revert; by continuing the selection and throwing 

 out varying forms the new type is fixed and becomes a new variety. 

 There is greater tendency to reversion in " violent" crosses between 

 dissimilar forms than in crosses of allied forms. A cross may be slight 

 or complete; in fact there may be several crosses between two varieties. 

 For instance, a fixed cross between the Early Amber and the Orange 

 may resemble the Early Amber more. Another cross between the same 

 varieties may resemble the Orange more. Three canes taken from a 

 plot of this last cross showed by analysis a higher percentage of sugar 

 than any other in the season's work, with one exception. 



ADVANTAGES OF SORGHUM OVER SUGAR-CANE ON ACCOUNT OF THE 

 EASE WITH WHICH VARIATIONS ARE PRODUCED IN THE FORMER. 



Dr. Morris, formerly director of the Jamaica Botanical Gardens, 

 where an experimental plantation of sixty to seventy varieties of the 

 sugar cane is maintained, in an address before the London Chamber of 

 Commerce said : 



"It is well known that the sugar cano does not produce seed, and hence it is im- 

 possible to improve it by any processes of hybridizing and crossing found so beueii- 

 cial to other plants. New varieties amongst sugar canes arise generally in the form 

 of bud variation. These occur very seldom, and possibly amougst thousands of acres 

 not one cane will be detected which exhibits any well-marked characteristics. Plant- 

 ers, however, should be keen to notice any canes that show a departure from the 

 types, and should cultivate them separately. If the sugar cane were capable of bo- 

 ing improved purely by cultivation and experimental processes like those which 

 have improved the beet, this would be one of the most eifective means of benefiting 

 the industry." 



GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON SPORTS OR SPONTANEOUS VARIATIONS. 



It is well known that new varieties sometimes suddenly and spon- 

 taneously appear in plants. They are created by bud variation. A 

 peach tree suddenly produces a branch which yields nectarines ; a 

 plum tree which had yielded yellow plums for forty years produced a 

 single bud which produced a nc\v and valuable permanent variety, the 

 Ked Magnum Bonum plum. 



