E. J. BUTLER T 



fields. In the more recent parts of tLe delta it is common to grow a mixed 

 crop of aus and aman (called hajal in Noakhali), both being broadcasted 

 together early in the season, the aus ripening in July or early in August and 

 the aman in November-December. Very early maturing aus is also 

 broadcasted pure on faiily low land in this district, and after harvest in July 

 is followed by transplanted aman, the water being then only a few inches 

 deep. Ufra occurs frequently in both these kinds of aus, in Noakhali and 

 Backergunge, but not in that which occupies higher land or which is 

 transplanted. In Dacca District aus is rarely (if at all) attacked. 



The boro paddy is much less important than the others, occupying only 

 about one-fiftieth of the rice area. It is almost unknown in some districts, 

 such as Noakhali, but in others, such as Dacca, there is a good deal. It is 

 found in the lowest land, where water can be held by embankments during the 

 dry season. As this dries out, irrigation is required, the water being lifted 

 from the permanent channels which form a network throughout the district. 

 The boro fields are thus confined to the margins of the latter. It is always 

 transplanted, except on the mud flats of the main channels where it is some- 

 times broadcasted. It is not attacked by ufra so far as has been ascertained 

 up to date, though there is an unconfirmed report from Gobindapur (Dacca 

 District) that occasional signs of attack have been seen in January, 



Thus, in general, the paddy grown on high and relatively high land, 

 including the whole of the transplanted kinds, escapes ufra ; while of those 

 kinds grown on the lower land, only such as are harvested during the mcister 

 half of the year, from July to December, suft'er. The explanation of this most 

 important phenomenon is connected with the life-habits of the worm and 

 will be reserved for a subsequent section. 



Date of appearance of the disease. 



Ufra has been observed in aus paddy in Noakhali District in the first 

 half of June. This is the earliest attack hitherto recorded in the field, the 

 crop having been about 2 months old, broadcasted unmixed aus, growing in 

 about a foot of water and therefore on quite low land. In July and August, 

 as the aus ripens in the southern part of the infected area, the attacks are more 

 frequent. The aman h most severely injured from October to harvest time, 

 but cultivators have pointed out to the writer what they detected as early 

 stages of the disease at the end of July and subsequent dissection has confirmed 

 the diagnosis though the external symptoms were obscure. The second 

 growth which appears in very wet aman fields from December to Februar/ 



