RICE 613 



matter in the epidermis, which obscures the color of the 

 chlorophyll. In a few rice varieties the spikelet is said 

 to contain 2 or more ovaries (var. plena, Prain). A few 

 varieties in the tropics are called cold weather rices; 

 for example, Geemsal, a variety in the Sironcha tahsil 

 of Chanda, in India, is sown in January and ripens in 

 March. 



686. World distribution of rice. It is estimated that 

 there are at least 5000 distinct varieties of rice in the world. 

 Watt (1891, p. 529) expressed the opinion that there are 

 close to 10,000 named varieties in India alone. Many 

 of these may be synonyms or represent mere strains. A 

 Chinese authority concludes there are over 3000 distinct 

 varieties in China, and Kikkawa (1912) studied and 

 classified 971 varieties from Burma. The Bureau of 

 Agriculture of the Philippine Islands has studied over 

 1000 varieties, and has filed 3500 varietal names. 



Rice is grown in practically all tropical and subtropical 

 countries. The chief production is in India, China, 

 Japan, Siam, Cochin China, Ceylon, Malay Peninsula, 

 Burma, East Indies, and the Philippine Islands. It is 

 grown to a less extent in the warm regions of North and 

 South America, Africa, and southern Europe. 



The most widely distributed rices are the large white 

 and yellow kerneled varieties. The small rices are grown 

 in oriental countries and the East Indies, particularly in 

 China. Glutinous rices are grown in India, Burma, 

 Siam, Java, China, and Japan. Scented rices are found 

 in oriental tropical countries and Japan. Long-glumed 

 rices are cultivated in Japan and China. The curious 

 violet rices, having the entire plant colored, are found in 

 various parts of the oriental tropics and in Japan and 

 China. 



