, 1890-01-15

often seen in the Bourbon cane when it
trails ON the damp surface of the ground,
but culms, or parts of culms of that variety
which are not resting on the ground never
at any time show it. The seedlings which
I speak of as exhibiting it are perfectly
erect, so that their possession of the fea-
ture cannot be attributed to the cause just
mentioned. A slight disposition to pro-
duce aerial roots is shown by some of the
old varieties l have got, but with these it is
not a very marked feature, nor is it always
constant, for in certain seasons and on Ger.
tain ground it does not appear atall. Whe-
Their it will always remain SO conspicuous,
undesirable, and Obtrusive a character OF
the seedlings of which | speak | cannot
forecast ; possibly time and conditions of
growth might modify it; but it is not an
attractive feature, and a cane possessing
If would have to excel in the characters
which pay-size, yield, and saccharine
ouality-very greatly indeed to become
generally cultivated for the love of beauty
ia operative with men even in tue selection
of canes, and has played hardly a second
arv part in the Bourbon becoming the uni
yersal favourite it is, over all its numerous
c0ngeners. Other varieties produce larger
individual canes, some more numerous
culms. others again a greater weight OF
cane per acre, several are richer IN sugar
contents, some are of more rapid CROWN
and mature earlier; but all these lack, at
least to the same full degree, the external
beauty-the rich warm colour and glow
which. added to its many good qualities,
kas. bv the universal, but independent
selection of sugar growing peoples MADE
the Bourbon first OF canes.
The single Seeding cane Mr.. Bowel was
good enough to send me last April 10y MIR.
Scard, as recorded in these columns OF that
date. which is now a plant OF relnarkh Ole
vigour, 10 feet high, growing at the Bnta-
nic Gardens, where it may be inspected ID
the nursery by any one Interested III me
subject, is one of the varieties Just de.
xcrihrd Which emits from the joints aerial
roots. Speaking OF this character |
NAV conclude by saying that 1t Is not
original in these new seedlings. l nave
mentioned that it is possessed IN a moalnro
degree by a few of the old, and preNuma'
biy old world varieties; but Mr.. Harrison,
who has now taken up his home and Ia
hours amongst us, as our GoVerllmehC
ANALYST. and who took advantage OF the
Opportunity Of his residence in Barbados,
boiling a like official position, to make a
speciai investigation of the history ot the
sngar cane seeding on that island, tells
me that it was a feature OF the seeding
canes raised there nearly thirty years ago.
Then. as now, unusual vigOur OF growth was
81 characteristic of the seedlings, and the
rank growth and emissions Of roofs from
che nodes (which latter feature seemed TO
portend trouble to the milD led planters
to destroy the plants; and so e1ectuaiIy
was this done that not one OF the Original
seedlings remains. Whether the better
reg varieties, which are devoid OF amy
Questionable features, will bear the test OF
time is vet to be seen. Two or three sea.
sons growth, and chemical analyses VIII
prove it, but, as l nave already intlmated
the cane that GUSTS the Bourbon from lts
nearly universal pre-eminence Will have
to be a very good cane indeed; aud to raise
such a cane would be reD0wn for any one.
AS mentioned above, Mr.. Harrison has
given ne cuttings of three or four OF the
very inferior varieties, as representing the
great variation which [ have described,
and also one of q Seeding of last years
growth. which seems to be al good, 1T not
superior. to some of the best varieties first
raised.
Mr. Bowel also sent me- a parcel, very
kindly conveyed and delivered by Mr.
Harrison, containing a quinine ounce bot
tie of cane seed, and a small phial OF germl-
mating seeds preserved in glycerine. BY
the same mail [ received a letter from a
botanist aud practical agri-hortlculturist,
holding an important position, saying that