xiv COMMON RICE 267 



the land from streams and rivers, owing to their low level, 

 it is pumped up by various devices, some of them being very 

 rude and requiring much labour. In certain dry places in 

 India large tanks and artificial lakes have been constructed, 

 simply for the purpose of storing water for the irrigation 

 of rice lands ; and, in other districts, the water is obtained 



A single Spikelet of Flowers. 



RICE. Oryza saliva. 



from wells, being drawn up in buckets worked usually by 

 bullocks. 



The surface of the land is marked out and levelled into Fields and 

 small fields which are surrounded by banks two feet high to banks< 

 keep in the water. On sloping land terraces are formed, and 

 these are also divided into compartments by earthen walls. 



