11 
originated. Looking at the fact that the raising of sugar-canes from 
seed has long been a parently unknown, the conclusion seems most 
кы ЛА that these varieties ane slowly developed by the selection of 
known as bud variati That is, a cultivator has noticed a 
are 
cane in a clump which ama de exhibit some advan 
In 1886 a correspondence e took place between Kew and the Colonial 
Office as to the measures жек n ight be taken to мирге the sugar- 
cane, as undoubtedly the sugar best had been improved, by persistent 
analysis and selection. As to the desirability of the attempt, and the 
importance of the results which would flow from it if successful, there 
could be no matter of doubt. But an institution such as Kew can onl 
advise according to the materials that exist for its scientific judgment. 
In the case of the sugar beet, the cultivator dealt with a plant which 
could run through its life in a comparatively short space of time, and 
could again and again be reproduced from seed. gine advantage of 
the well-known principle of “seminal variation” yea 
appreciable advance could be УДА towards the desired oe But in the 
he sugar-cane, there was nothing to indicate at the time, that 
anything of the kind could be done. All the evidence pointed to the 
fact that the sugar-cane had lost the power of producing seed. Under 
the circumstances, there was nothing but what is called “ bud 
variation ” to work upon. The advice given to the Colonial Office in 
this sense seems to have been transmitted to the several sugar-growing 
colonies, and to have beeu embodied in official notices. The following 
appeared in “The Darbadoes Agricultural Gazette” for August 
1886 :— 
Roysat GARDENS, Kew, to COLONIAL OFFICE. 
[ Extract. ] 
"T ns, Kew, May 13, 1886. 
* Mr. Thiselton Dyer deems it advisable to direct’ the attention, not 
only of professional эйр, but also of planters, to the fact that new 
varieties in sugar-can e to be sought in bud variation appearing 
ems announcements ides to at communications — received 
at Kew with reference to the supposed seeding of ar-cane 
Thus, in 1887, a correspondent in Fiji sent what he кз believed 
to be the true thing, but which turned out to be Guinea cork (богойат 
vulgare). 
The most important communication was, however, one from Mr. J. 
B. Harrison, the Island n i Chem mistry and Agrieultural 
Science at Barbados. This was d September 17, 1888, and was 
published in the * Kew Bulletin ” for December of the same year. For 
reasons which will appear in the sequel it is now reprinted. 
Prof. Harrison to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
—— Laboratory, Barbados, 
7th September, 1888. 
On certain of the higher districts of ses island from time to time 
growths of sugar cane resemblin ng fine grass have been noticed, but in 
most cases no attempts have been made to cultivate them. Mr. Parris 
some years ago succeeded in raising a few canes from the cane arrow or 
