ENCLOSURE TO PART III. 147
The question of measurement of plants was discussed in detail.
Clerical Side of Keeping Records.
Mr. DUCKER said that he could only keep a few records of
strains not retained, owing to the labour involved.
The Section was generally of opinion
That it was impossible to keep records of all strains and that
it would be possible only to keep records of strains retained.
2. NOMENCLATURE OF NEW STRAINS.
Mr. DUCKER said that in Nyasaland each strain was given a
letter and sub-strains were differentiated by numbers. All strains
adopted in Nyasaland were commercial varieties which had been
imported.
Mr. NYE said that in Uganda a number was used for the strain
and another number for the sub-strain.
THE CHAIRMAN (Mr. Milligan) considered that possibly the
best way o: nomenclature might be to use the name of the station for
all strains, followed by a number.
After some discussion on this question, the Section agreed
That the best method of nomenclature would be to designate
strains by the names of the stations at which they were produced,
in some cases with the addition of letters, each individual strain
being differentiated by a number. They further drew attention
to the fact that the registration of the stations and numbers
adopted would be desirable.
3. GENERAL TECHNIQUE AT PLANT BREEDING STATIONS.
Mr. CAMERON asked for information on the general procedure at
other plant breeding stations as regards testing of yields. The size of
plot he used for variety trials wus one-twentieth of an acre. New
strains were grown under observation and these were then expanded
nto variety trials; plant diagrams were made on each variety. A
large number of replications appeared to be necessary to obtain
accurate results.
Mr. NYE said that in Uganda he used square plots of onetwentieth
 of an acre and replicated five times.
Mr. WOOD suggested 12 x 20 as a good size; he used four plots.
Mr. DUCKER said he divided his variety work into two sections :
(a) Observation.
(b) Field experiments laid out on the Latin square principle.
He used the same number of replicates as the number of variants.
The main endeavour was to get down to as few strains as possible.
Mr. CAMERON asked what degree of accuracy was found by this
method.
Mr. PARNELL said so far no accurate trials had been necessary
in his work, as, in its present stage, he had to a large extent to rely
on observations and judgment. He further stated that in South
Africa a series of tests had been conducted over the Union; five
varieties were grown by farmers under the supervision of a local
officer; plots of tour rows, 75 vards and upwards. repiicated four times.