t 227 i 



a week after. The bidia or bullock-rake is also passed and 

 one or two hand-weedings given afterwards. It is obvious 

 that this rough treatment is withstood only because such a 

 large quantity of seed is sown broadcast in an irregular 

 manner. 



289. The description of rice cultivation in the Sunder- 

 bans, given in Dr. Watt's Dictionary, is of considerable in- 

 terest, and should be studied by those who have any inten- 

 tion of taking up lands in the Sunderbans. 



290. Chemical Composition.- Rice is deficient in mineral 

 and nitrogenous matters. The average composition is 



Water ... ... ... 13% 



Ash ... ... i,, 



Fat ... i 



Nitrogenous matter treated as albuminoids 7 ,, 



Fibre ... ... ... i,, 



Starch ... ... ... 76 



Glutinous rice has not any more N than ordinary rice. 

 Rice contains a higher proportion of P2Os but a lower pro- 

 portion of K2O and N than wheat. The husk of rice contains a 

 great deal of SiC>2, and is of little feeding value- but the 

 kunrd or rice-dust is richer than rice in feeding value, the 

 average composition of this substance being 



Water ... ... ... 11% 



Ash ... ... 9,, 



Fat ... 14 



Nitrogenous matter treated as albuminoids 13,, 

 Fibre ... ... ... 8,, 



Starch ... 45,, 



Containing a high proportion of oil, kunrd gets rancid by 

 keeping and it should be therefore used as fresh as possible. 



The water in which the rice is boiled renders the cooked 

 rice still more deficient especially in ash constituents than 

 uncooked or steamed rice. 



