754 Fluctuations 



main, a distinct relation between organic 

 strength and the development of single qual- 

 ities. This correlation has not escaped obser- 

 vation in the case of the sugar-cane, and it is 

 known that the best grown stocks are generally 

 the richest in sugar. Now it is evident that 

 the best grown and richest stems will have the 

 greater chance of transmitting these qualities 

 to the lateral-buds. This at once gives a 

 basis for vegetative selection, upon which it is 

 not necessary to choose a small number of very 

 excellent stems, but simply to avoid the plant- 

 ing of all those that are below the average. By 

 this means the yield of the cultures has often 

 noticeably been enhanced. 



As far as experience goes, this sort of selec- 

 tion, however profitable, does not conduce to the 

 production of improved races. Only temporary 

 ameliorations are obtained, and the selection 

 must be made in the same manner every year. 

 Moreover the improvement is very limited and 

 does not give any promise of further increase. 

 In order to reach this, one has to recur to the in- 

 dividual fluctuability, and therefore to seed. 



Nearly half a century ago Parris discovered, 

 on the island of Barbados, that seeds might 

 occasionally be gathered from the canes, and 

 that they yielded only grass-like plants of 

 no real value. The same observation was made 



