268 



TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



CHAP. 



Terraces. 



Puddling 

 the land. 



The banks are pierced in convenient places for the purpose 

 of letting in the water and allowing it to run out again. On 

 the terraces the water in the upper fields being allowed after 

 a time to flow over the lower ones. When the banks have 

 been built up, the land inside is weeded and ploughed, or 

 turned over with the spade or hoe. The water is then let in, 

 and the soil is worked up into a puddle in which state it 

 retains the water better. 



Nurseries. 



Lime water. 



Trans- 

 planting. 



Quantity of 

 seed re- 

 quired to 

 sow an acre 

 of land. 



Weeding. 



Shutting 

 off the 

 water. 



CULTIVATION. The land being prepared, the seed which 

 should be steeped in water for twenty-four hours is sown in 

 a corner of the field so as to form a nursery. When the 

 young plants spring up, it is usual to water them with a solu- 

 tion of lime so as to prevent the depredations of insects. In 

 China this sprinkling with lime water is considered to be a 

 very important operation, and it is never neglected. When 

 the seedlings are seven to eight inches high, they are trans- 

 planted quickly so as to prevent their roots being exposed 

 for any length of time. They may be planted singly or in 

 bunches of two or three at distances of from six to nine 

 inches from each other, either irregularly over the fields or in 

 lines. Some cultivators sow the seed broadcast and then 

 thin the plants out if they grow up too thickly the surplus 

 seedlings when pulled out serving to supply vacant patches. 

 It is considered, however, that the nursery system is the best, 

 and that it yields larger returns. About a bushel and a half 

 of paddy is usually sufficient to sow an acre of land. In the 

 early stage of growth the rice will have to be kept free of 

 weeds, and as the plants are close together the weeding will 

 have to be done by hand. The weeds can be buried in the 

 mud, and in this way they will nourish the soil, as they will 

 soon decay. The fields are kept flooded with water until 

 the flower appear, and then they may be irrigated at intervals 

 of three or four days in dry weather. When the heads of 

 grain are well formed, the water should be shut off so as to 

 hasten the ripening process. 



