Sugar-Cane in the West Indies . 403 
rainfall on the field during this experiment is given in the 
following table. 
Rainfall from December , 1901, to July, 1902. 
1901 
1902 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Mar. 
Apr. 
May 
June 
July 
Inches 
of rain. 
4.86 
•93 
.72 
•97 
•58 
3-93 
5.80 
5-36 
In the former case the conditions of growth were distinctly 
favourable, in the latter unfavourable. The canes planted in 
December were able to develop rapidly and to establish 
themselves on their own roots before the dry season. They 
were able to resist the fungus, although the latter maintained 
itself on the lower parts of the stem. In the case of the 
cuttings planted in February, the fungus proved too strong 
for the canes. 
The above results clearly show that the toadstool fungus 
is a parasite, and that there is a genetic connexion between 
it and the white mycelium found on the leaf-sheaths of the 
canes attacked by this root disease. Moreover they serve to 
complete the life-history of the fungus. 
3. Some relations between the host and the parasite. 
Having established the parasitic nature of the fungus, it 
became possible to understand the course of the disease 
more clearly. As already mentioned, the malady, although 
occurring in first-crop canes, is a much more serious pest 
among rattoons, especially on the black soils of the lowland 
districts. 
It is a general custom in Barbados to select plant-material 
from rattoon canes, generally from those of the second crop. 
The cuttings consist either of the upper part of the stem 
containing the main growing-point (Hops’) or of the next 
portion, and are generally about a foot in length. The 
selection of plant-material from this source seems to be based 
partly on economic considerations, as such rattoons are poor 
