268 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE chap. 



The banks are pierced in convenient places for the purpose 

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



Terraces. 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 



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

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

 retains the water better. 



the land. 



Nurseries. CuLTlVATlON.~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 



Lime water. China this Sprinkling with lime water is considered to be a 



very important operation, and it is never neglected. When 



Trans- the scedlings are seven to eight inches high, they are trans- 



planting. , 1-11 , . , . , 



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. 



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



quIreT'to ^^ 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 arc close together the weeding will 



Weeding. 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 



Shutting 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. 



sow an acre 

 of land. 



oflf the 

 water. 



