212 TIMEHRI. 
This entails searching through very great numbers of 
seedling canes to sele& the better individuals, but on the 
other hand the chances of ultimate success are far greater 
from the marked tendency to variation than they would 
be if the seedlings came true to their parentage. Hence 
every additional investigator adds appreciably to our 
chances of improving the cane plant, if he uses care, 
judgement and, above all, caution, in making his selec- 
tions. 
The points to be aimed at in making seleCtions of 
seedling kinds appear to me to be the following, in order 
of relative importance .— 
ist, High saccharine strength. 
2nd, Heavy yields per acre due to either 
(a) heavy tillering ; 
(6) large individual size; or preferably to 
both. 
grd, Resistent power to attacks of moth-borer and 
its concomitant ‘rind fungus.” 
4th, Upright habit of growth. 
5th, Absence of tendency of eyes to springing. 
6th, Resistant power to attacks of cane rust. 
qth, Light colour of stem and consequent light colour 
of juice which results in easier clarification 
during the manufaéture of yellow crystals. 
There are, of course, other points such as the presence 
or absence of cane itch, which will doubtless impress 
themselves on investigators. 
The Improvement of the Agricultural yield by means of 
Manures. 
Up to the present I have confined myself to the per- 
manent improvement of the sugar cane by various means, 
