89 
the Brix spindle, by which means all canes containing a medium amount 
of solids in the juice were discarded, leaving only the extremes of the rich 
an juice from these latter was taken into the 
laboratory for further analysis, and all canes of low per-centage of solids 
in the juice and baving a purity under eighty-five, were planted as 
representing the poorest canes to be found. In like manner the richest 
canes were selected from those ponia a high per-centage of solids 
and having a purity over eighty-five 
* Both extremes were taken in preference to one, because it was 
vital opposites instead of comparing only one woe with an average, 
which, to say the least, aen be very difficu io obtain. In fact, 
selecting the extremes was the only way a apenas could be made. 
If only the richest canes had been selected there would have been no 
standard by which to judge whether anything had been aceomplished. 
With the extremes if there is a difference in their Áo ti there must, 
also of necessity, be a difference between each of their offspring and the 
mean. We have, then, if we find that the richest canes which can be 
selected produce a cane richer than that from the poorest canes T 
proven that this resulting cane is also richer than the average of t 
lot of cane from which the selections were made would have produced, 
had the canes of medium sucrose content not been thrown out. 
* In reviewing also what continually is coming under our notice I 
cannot either see any reason why disbelief should exist as to some good 
being accomplished by this line of investigation. Rich and poor canes 
are continually coming to our notice from n the same part of afield and 
where the conditions for their development seem 2e be as favourable to 
one as to the other. Anyone who d made a great number of single 
is also evidenced by the almost total impessibility of getting samples 
a piece of standing cane w will accurately represent the whole 
plat. The wipe eei this variability can perhaps be better appreciated 
by comparing s cane with sorghum, a plant which has had a 
very unenviable ‘reputation as regards the vagaries of its individual 
stalks, 
2 There is is a belief among the Creole planters that the Ribbon cane as 
mmonly known in this State reverts to the Purple, though no scientific 
tine vations have been made to test the truth of the belief. Dr. Stubbs, 
at the Experiment Station, has had, I Plain some difficulty in securing 
a pure stock of these two varieties, but has not attributed his trouble 
to one cane changing to the otier. 1f edd is any truth in the belief, it 
would suggest the Ss that many of the existing varieties were 
derived in the same way instead of by sudden bud variation. If this 
safety at the present time. Why, then, can we not take advantage of 
this continual ne and train it to meet our wants? If ee cannot 
bring it to excel its original qualities, cannot we, at least, keep its 
standard up to "the quality of its present best individuals ? pdf three-tenths 
one per cent. would add 5 
* At Calumet 730 single gm were mem 424 of which were 
discarded by the Brix spindle work as being canes of medium richness, 
