CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF BLIGHTED SUGAR-CANES. 188 
19 th February, 187 9. 
William Miles, Esq., B.A., Vice-President, in the chair. 
Robert Gervase Bushe, B.A., and J. B. Hutton, were 
elected members. 
The following papers were read 
“On a Chemical Examination of Blighted Sugar-canes, 
AND OF THE SOIL IN WHICH THEY WERE GROWN.” By 
Ernest E. H. Francis, F.C.S., F.L.C, 
I have the honour to bring before the notice of the 
Association this evening some preliminary results of a 
chemical investigation into the nature of a disease affecting 
the sugar-cane in this island, with the object of promoting 
discussion on the important question of the cause and cure 
of the malady. 
The disease is a formidable one, since it affects whole fieMs, 
\vithout a single cane escaping, and results in a withering 
and atrophy of the plant. It is characterised by the pro- ' 
duction of rust-coloured spots, and bears some similarity to 
- — it may be even identical with— the cane “rust” which pre- 
vails in Australia and other islands of the southern hemisphere. 
So few facts are known respecting these constitutional 
diseases of cane, that the problem of their cause and cure is 
not - easy of solution. The ravages of insects, such as borers, 
aphes (or blast), pou blanc, ants, and jumper flies, are treated 
of in books devoted to cane culture, and trenchant remedies 
are in vogue, such as the application of caustic lime, carbolic 
acid, etc., which doubtless fulfil their purpose admirably ; 
but obscure maladies, such as the degeneracy or “ sickness 
of flacq,” which made such havoc amongst the crops of 
Mauritius, the cane “rust” in Australia, and the various 
