, 1892-03-26

state, and what the original wild form xas
like We can only conjecture, but if it was in.
ferlOr to the smaller forms We have prOduc-
ed, the existence of the Bourbon cans can"
only BE- regarded az an almost marvel us
evolution from SO Iowly a type. Two valie.
lies have been produced here with stalks not
longer nor much thicker than a stout lead
pencil, and weighing in one case 81 ozs.
each SIa'k, and III he other ii ozI. Oh the
other hand thr llr5rS variety is over TWEEN
~ feet high, with III cen feet of clelr cane
tn each mature stalk. each ul,. " ig1ing rs
many pounds. That IS 10 say each foot
length OF cane averages Il pound in weight
and the t0tal weight of canes a. present III
the stool is estimated al, at least 650 lbS.
The smaller inferior varieties seem tn throw
back moIe than the larger ones. giving. too.
much greater variety in colour aud SIz. is
the rclrogrtSSiou. But they throw forward
equally a> mach IN backward, and afford
even greater variety in these improved
forms. Against the variety Welding canes
OF I ozS. each We have one from the same
parent (Kard-ka-ra~a) yielding canes 8 lbs,
each. Indeed, III reaping the plot q short
ime ago the whole weight OF one plant,
without the top WAS only 6 OzS., while an
other, which formed the other extreme,
weighed rs los. AS the plants stand in the
plot i've feet by four apart there would be-
ATS to the acre, OIL which area the former
would produce 8l7 HIS, while the later
would yield nearly "A tOns-these extreme
varieties, 1t must be borne in mind, being
the offspring OF he same parentcanes in one
and the same season. Ii these little canes
were 10 throw back in the next generation
as much as they themselves have g0ne back
from their parent, We should have IN the
course 0t two generations only, IA cane with
barely any stems at all, resembling not so
much any form OF cane as a tuit of ordinary
low grass.
We have alluded TO controversial subjects
Hele is 4 passage. It il certainly very re-
malkable and pIOCf of the cdnrS |immutabi-
lily. tn which the writer's contetd, that no
val alton should have taken place in the
P@ouIlOn, Pun le aud White Transparent,
Red Ribbon, SelangoIe, Poa-olr and Mani
NInce the time when they first emeI se clear.
" into view III the earliest historical days Of
the sugar cane -
Those who believe that the great varia.
ton which the sugar cane displays has
wholly, or in any very appreciable degree,
arisen through bad variation, would on
first sight. find here apparent ample proof
OF theli belief. To such observers, at the
stage of development to which We arr allud-
ing, these particular seedlings would pre-
sent most decided and very abundant evil
deuce of bud variation, but it would only be
necessary to wait ill the growth was com.
plctPd, and the plants had taken on their
final form, TO be dlSabuSrd in mind Of such
an idea. 1t is a curious fact an regards this
theory, the bud variation il rarely asserted
by its advocates to have been detected
among the older well.kuown varieties with
which they are well acquainted. 1t is gene.
rally III some newly introduced variety.
whose normal variation in growth they have
not measured, that bud variation il claimed
to have revealed itself. No one has ever
asserted, much less proved, that bud varia-
ton occurs IN the Bourbon, the Purple or
White Transparent or any of the other we'll.
known aud widely circulated varieties. 8ut
with new and newly introduced varieties any
change assumed in the course of growth
land on the peTmanence of which there may
be no ground for reliance), is ascribed to
bud variation. No Instance is recOrd,d at
least with trustworthy proofof the genuine.
ness OF the discovery, in which shoots have
been taken of, and in subsequent %cultiva-
tlOn maintained their distinctivpneSS tyom
the parent plant. Our conviction in this
mattet1s based upon many Yeas experience
AMI close daily observation OF many varie.
ties OF the sugar cane cultivation. This ex.
perience has made us we'll acquainted with
the normal range of variation in the course
nj he ya9r'a prowfh thot nnourc ~, 49,,