141 



somewhat impairs it for the production of seed the next year, although 

 the originators and those practicing the method claim it does not. Cer- 

 tainly the analysis of the entire portion of the plant which is used for 

 sugar-making purposes, as is possible in sorghum, is greatly superior. 

 The sugar-cane is at a tremendous disadvantage in this respect, and 

 this is undoubtedly one reason why it has fallen behind the beet in the 

 struggle for supremacy as a sugar-producing plant. Being propagated 

 by eyes, or suckers, there is no way of obtaining an analysis of the cane 

 without injuring it for seed purposes.* The result has been that the 

 plant has deteriorated rather than improved, while the sugar-beet has 

 steadily advanced in quality. 



Surely it would be criminal folly on our part if we failed to avail our- 

 selves in the sorghum industry of the advantages naturally possessed 

 by the plant, and of the lessons taught us by the experience of others 

 with the beet and the cane. 



METHOD OF WORK EMPLOYED AT THE STERLING EXPERIMENT 



STATION. 



Owing to the pressure of work at this station the past campaign, and 

 the attention given the crosses, the selection of seed from the best in- 

 dividual canes of the established varieties was not instituted until late 

 in the season, and could not be carried out on the earlier varieties. The 

 selection should properly be made, of course, at the maximum of ma- 

 turity of the cane. The plan of work was as follows: A large number 

 of canes were selected from the plot, care being taken that those selected 

 should show no outward faults of form, and should be average canes in 

 size, of good healthy appearance. A large number of such canes were 

 brought in to the station barn and laid out in serial order, the heads 

 cut off, a label with number attached to each, and a corresponding num- 

 ber placed on a receptacle to contain the juice. Two men were kept 

 busy turning the hand-mill, while a third kept the juices in proper 

 order. As soon as the juices were obtained they were poured into hy- 

 drometer jars, and when they had stood long enough to permit of the 

 escape of the air bubbles, their density was taken roughly with a 

 spindle. If the reading did not come up to a certain standard the juices 

 and corresponding seed-heads were rejected. The standard used de- 

 pended upon the richness of the variety of cane from which the selec- 

 tions were made, being placed at 20 or even 21 Brix for very rich 



* Professor Stubbs has proposed to split the cane, using one-half lor analysis, and 

 the other for planting. Of course there would be considerable difficulty in preserving 

 the split cane, and there is no record of its ever having been attempted. It would 

 seem more feasible to cut a short section, containing one eye, from a stalk for plant- 

 ing, and make the analysis on the remaining portion of the stalk. 



The success of Professor Harrison in the Barbadoes in producing sugar-canes from 

 seed (Royal Gardens, Kew, Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, 188H, No. -Jl. p. 

 294), would seem to give hopes for the improvement of the plant in tl * way of new 

 varieties, and the present method of propagating the plant from any kind of individ- 

 uals that may be most convenient should receive equal attention; it is simply bar- 

 barous. 



