CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF BLIGHTED SUGAR-CANES. 185 
near the middle of the cane. Many of the leaves were dead, 
others were brown and dry at the apex only ; but all near 
the base exhibited patches of rust-red colour, in places merg- 
ing into purple. 
No. II. ; the best cane in this stole, was only 88 in. in 
length, but averaged If in. in diameter, and presented a 
more glossy exterior than any other amongst the samples. 
It showed, however, a marked variation in the length of the 
internodes, the shortest, near the middle, being only If in., 
while near the root and head internodes measured respectively 
4f and 4J- in. There were several bored holes of various 
sizes in this cane. The leaves were green, but exhibited 
numerous spots, some transparent, and others in process of 
conversion into the red marks before referred to. The other 
two canes in this stole presented a most unhealthy appearance. 
No. III. sample bore a general resemblance to the stole 
No. I., but the longest cane only measured 4 ft. 8 in., and 
the other two not much more than half this length. The 
exterior of these canes was dull and wrinkled, and the leaves 
nearly all dead. 
The borer was found in most of the plants in different 
stages of metamorphosis, fragments of the borer butterfly 
being plentiful, the insect having apparently been attacked 
by ants. A careful microscopical examination of the canes 
was made for fungi. A white powdery substance resembling 
a fungus, small tufts of which were often met with on the 
upper surface of the leaf near the base, proved to be collec- 
tions of cane fibre and debris. A few threads of mycelium 
were perceived, but nothing of sufficient significance to 
account for the ill-health of the plant. A red colouring 
matter extensively affected the interior substance of the cane 
