Botany and Zoology. 95 



on the improvement of the cane. The estate is situated a short 

 distance from the harbor of Cienfuegos, on the coast of the 

 south-central part of Cuba. It was found that the estate, of 

 large size, was supplied with all modern appliances for the manu- 

 facture of sugar to the best advantage, and that facilities were 

 there presented for conducting investigations in regard to cane- 

 fertilization under favorable conditions. The services of the skilled 

 chemists at the factory on the estate were placed at our disposal, 

 for the determination of many questions arising with reference 

 to yield and sugar-content of the cane. The results of the pre- 

 liminary examination were so favorable that the work of crossing 

 was actively begun, and continued the next year. Mr. Robert 

 M. Grey, who had been very successful in hybridizing orchids, 

 was invited to make a careful examination of the conditions pre- 

 sented by the locality, and he gave a conservative report which 

 was decidedly encouraging. In 1902 we had also an inspection 

 of the place by Mr. C. G. Pringle, who is well known as a hybrid- 

 izer of cereals, and he likewise expressed the opinion that the 

 estate afforded good opportunities for fruitful crossing of varie- 

 ties. In the early part of the next year, Mr. Grey was made super- 

 intendent of the newly formed station, and began systematic 

 experimenting along the lines laid down by the sugar-cane 

 experts in Java. We were so fortunate as to have, also, the coun- 

 sel of Dr. John C. Willis, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens 

 of Ceylon, who made a careful investigation of the capabilities 

 of the station. His favorable report led to immediate extension 

 of the original plan, and the development has steadily progressed 

 with practially no interruptions except during the short period of 

 the late insurrection. At present, ten years after the first work 

 in crossing was done at this locality, the experiment may be 

 regarded as successful. At great cost we have secured from the 

 most remote localities, authentic specimens of the finest canes now 

 known, and the varieties have been carefully perpetuated under 

 the best conditions for each. Meanwhile we have added to the 

 station the principal economic plants of the warm and the hot 

 tropics, and have indicated the lines of research likely to prove 

 most satisfactory. The results which have been reached by Mr. 

 Grey have depended upon his skill both as a cultivator and as 

 a plant-breeder. His monthly reports exhibit a very wide range 

 of experimenting and wholly fruitful outcome. 



Fortunately, from the very first we have been able to maintain 

 agreeable relations with sister stations in Cuba and the West 

 India Islands, and have received constant #id from all officials. 

 Of course by reciprocity our results are placed at their disposal. 

 Some of the more striking of the results have been published in 

 the Boletin oficial (Cuba) and in the West India Bulletin. The 

 monthly reports from the station are now becoming of so much 

 interest that some of the particular features seem to require pre- 

 sentation in a regular publication. As to the form of this, no decis- 

 ion has yet been made. 



