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rice than the main crop ; and in Java, where for one pla<;e this 

 is done, the embankments are peeled of their turf that it may be 

 thrown under the plough, or in Travancore, bi*anch-wood is collected 

 for the same purpose, or in Japan, special crops of the Leguminosm 

 are raised, all of which practices point unmistakably to the need 

 of the green manure which weeds ^iye in this Peninsula. In 

 Travancore the system of cutting branch- wood became a danger 

 to the State, for the hills were being completeh' denuded ; and 

 control had to be enforced. Under control it would be possible to 

 permit it in Malaya. 



Two rice crops per annum means the broiidcasting of one : 

 and broadcasting is very inferior to transplanting-. Ti-ansplanting 

 of rice, twice repeated, is even beneficial, just as it is to some of 

 our garden annuals. But the second rice crop must forego the trans- 

 planting ; and it is also the less profitable on account of the larger 

 amount of seed that has to be used. 



Crops, other than rice, which are used in the place of the fallow 

 are, in Java, generally beans, chillies, ground-nuts, sweet potatoes 

 yam-beans and yams : and each givae a certain amount of stems 

 useful for green manure. More rarely do the Javanese plant maize, 

 sorghum or the smaller millets. Maize is used as a rotation ci-op 

 in the Philippine Islands. Trials of some of these might be made 

 in the Malay Peninsula, demonstration following success ; but to 

 bring about any genei-al use seems most unlikely. 



The American farmer cheapens his rice crop by the extensive 

 use of machinery, both for sowing and for reaping : and he is forced 

 to avoid the valuable transplanting. He has firm subsoil which 

 carries the machinery and moreover he is protected by tariffs. 



All through the East scientific officers are investigating the 

 races of rice for their Governments, seeking for the most profitable, 

 and finding out the conditions demanded by them. But the work to 

 be done is enormous. There is an Indian proverb Avhich says that of 

 the races of rice and of Rajputs thei-e is no end. And Nature 

 appears to intend to have none : for she crosses rices gi'own intermixed 

 to a small extent. Miller's machinery, however, demands large 

 uniform gi*ain ; and as the mill is by so much a more economical 

 institution than domestic husking, so it is to be encouraged : and 

 the growing of few races within the area served by a mill becomes 

 desirable. We have before us then the harmonising of the two needs, 

 the grower's of a prolific return, and the miller's of a suitable grain. 

 I do not know whether we have two hundred or three hundred races 

 of rice within our borders, — we certainly have many ; but I am 

 sure of this that the Malay's methods of cultivation are not 

 consistent enough to tell us which of the i-aces known to him are 

 the best : so that I think we have his races to test, as well as the 

 larger number that might be brought in from outside. 



