Incomplete Latin squares

A description is given of the statistical procedure appropriate for the analysis of a Latin square having missing the whole of one row, one column or one treatment, or one row and one column, or either and a treatment. These are the only types of incomplete Latin squares (except those which can be dealt with by the missing plot technique) for which a neat statistical analysis is possible. It is shown that incomplete Latin squares of these types give unbiased estimates of error and are therefore valid experimental arrangements. They are consequently likely to be of use when the experimental material is such as to preclude the use of a complete Latin square owing to the fact that the number in one or both of the natural groups is one less than the number of treatments to be tested.