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ENEMIES OF RICE IN JAPAN. 



Ill an excellent article l)y P. Chumaturi Nicholas, which ap- 

 peared in the Tropical Agriculturist last year, on "Rice Culture," 

 the following brief excerpts are taken from the portion relating 

 to the enemies of the industry : 



Rice Birds. The first invaders are the rice birds (paddy 

 finches and swallows) which husk and devour the seeds sown 

 under "dry-sowing" in expectation of rain, before they spring 

 up. The loss from the above attacks is made good by trans- 

 planting. The expedients tried to drive away the birds are 

 primitive, viz., making a noise with dried olas, tins, etc., or shout- 

 ing. Carrying a gun in one's hand is "considered in Jaffna as 

 almost immoral." 



Tortoises and Crabs cause damage by cutting and nipping the 

 young plants. Crabs also may cause great damage by boring 

 holes in the ridges if the cultivator is not vigilant. 



Deer and Sanibiir browse upon the young plants, but are easily 

 frightened away. 



Grasshoppers cause much damage. 



Caterpillars and Worms are very destructive at times. Of 

 them Spodoptera maiiritia is the worst pest. Worms and in- 

 sects in some places are collected daily and burnt. 



Paddy Flies (Leptocorisa acuta- and Hispa oencscens) attack 

 the fields by myriads and sap the juice at flowering time. A 

 strong wind is the surest extricator of this pest. 



Rats and Mice cut and steal the ears. Numbers are killed in 

 their holes during harvesting. 



Pigs evade the most careful watch and eat and trample the ricr 

 ruthlessly, causing more damage by the latter than the former. 

 The wild pig is daring and wily and dangerous to the watcher. 



Elephants are occasional visitors. 



Stray Cattle and Buffaloes also occasionally break through 

 fences even when constructed with barbed wire. 



Cooly cultivators steal the seed paddy and by other nefarious 

 practices cause loss. On the other hand miserly land owners 

 inflict great hardship on their coolies by withdrawing food and 

 exacting heavy interest. 



