MAIZE. RICE. 251 



old : it comes to maturity within four or four and a half months.. 

 During the wet season the plant is bent, so that the ripe ear 

 hangs downwards, and thus the filtration of rain-water within the 

 husk is obviated. The maize of Trinidad is different from that 

 cultivated in the United States and Europe ; it grows here from 

 ten to twelve feet high, the grain is smaller, less flat, and of a 

 deep yellow hue. As an article of food, it is preferred both by 

 man and animals, the latter seeming to fatten much more solidly 

 and readily on it. With all these advantages, maize is but 

 sparingly cultivated in the island, and both the grain and meal 

 are imported annually from the United States of America and 

 Venezuela, to the amount of 19,623 bushels, and 8,325 barrels, 

 value 9,700 sterling. The price of United States' corn varies 

 from 1 dollar 80 cents to 3 dollars per bag of two bushels, and 

 that of meal from 4 dollars to 6 dollars per barrel. 



In the present position of the colony, and with a very 

 scanty agricultural population, it cannot be expected that corn 

 should be cultivated for exportation ; but it certainly might and 

 ought to be produced in a sufficient quantity for home con- 

 sumption. 



Rice (Onjza sativa). This grain grows very well in Trinidad, 

 and yields from six to seven barrels per acre. The culture of rice, 

 as conducted here, does not require any great amount of labour or 

 care ; whereas, the land should be well and thoroughly prepared 

 before the seed is committed to the soil. Rice is either sown or 

 planted : when sown, it yields a more abundant crop, but its 

 reaping is more tedious, as each stalk is generally cut separately 

 and made up into small sheaves. When planted, it does not yield 

 so largely, but the stalks of ears forming each stool may be reaped 

 at one grasp. It is planted at intervals of six inches, from four to 

 five grains being put into each hole : when sown, the field is hoed 

 superficially, so as to cover the seeds. Rice is always sown or 

 planted at the beginning of the wet season, and does not require 

 irrigation. It is grown either in high or low lands. In fact, two 

 very distinct varieties of rice are cultivated here. The one (nelou 

 kar, Ind.) is of a reddish colour, and small in size ; it seems to be 

 hardier than the other sort, but is not so prolific, and grows in the 

 worst soil, provided the latter has been thoroughly burned. The 

 other species (nelou samba) is more vigorous, but requires a better 

 soil, and thrives in low lands, where it shoots up, at times, to the 



