221 
Thirdly, we may obtain a cane containing both increased yield of 
cane and of sugar.” There are also other points to be taken 
into consideration in which selection may be of advantage, such 
as, capability for a particular soil or altitude, which will at once 
occur to the practical planter. 
After two or three unsuccessful attempts we succeeded in 
November, 1896, in obtaining from Mr. E. A. B. Brown of Prye 
Estate, Province Wellesley, a bundle of arrows of the Borneo 
cane containing good seeds from which were grown about three 
thousand plants. Owing to want of suitable ground in the nur- 
series of the Botanic Garden in which to grow on such a large 
number, the greater portion, when about a foot high, were 
handed over to Mr. Brown, who supplied the seeds, and to 
Mr. J. Turner, the manager of the Pinang Sugar Estates 
Company. 
Unfortunately the weather set in dry soon after Mr. Brown 
had planted his, and there being no facilities for watering, the 
greater portion died. Mr. Turner informs me that his are doing 
well, but I have not seen them for some time. Of those kept to 
plant in the Botanic Garden Nursery, about six hundred in all, 
the first portion of three hundred were planted on the 15th 
February, that is, when just three months and ten days old. 
These made rapid progress, and in August two thousand one 
hundred canes were taken from this lot by Messrs. Brown and 
Turner for further trial on their estates. Each cane would at 
this stage give three or four cuttings. 
Fifty stools, showing, as far as can at present be judged, the 
greatest promise and widest extent of variation, were allowed to 
stand for the purpose of obtaining seeds, but up to the present 
time, and they are now nearly a year old, and from ten to four- 
teen feet high, they show no signs of flowering. There is great- 
er variation in this batch of seedlings than would be obtained 
from accidental “sports,” or bud variation, on an estate of seve- 
ral thousand acres in many years. The “Borneo” is a purple 
cane, but the seedlings are of various colours, a good number 
being green ones. There is scarcely one that is exactly typical 
“Borneo,” although in the matter of foliage all bear evidence 
of their parentage. The second batch of three hundred were 
not planted until about six weeks after the first, and were not 
potted off, so they are not so far advanced, but otherwise look 
just as well in every way. I am told by the planters that the 
difference as regards height, and general appearance, between 
the first lot planted and a field planted in the ordinary way from 
cuttings at the time these seeds were sown, would be in favour 
of the cuttings by about two months only. Considering what 
delicate little things they are in the earlier stages, as will be 
seen by the accompanying sketches made at different times, the 
rapidity of growth is remarkable. 
The seeds were sown in light sandy soil on the 4th November, 
some in pots, and some on a bed protected from sun and rain. 
One portion of the soil was in each case sterilized by boiling to 
