STANDARD PRODUCTS OF CEYLON 



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7 to 8 inches high (or in 4 to 5 weeks from sowing), at distances 

 of 6 to 8 inches apart, allowing 2 to 3 plants to the hole. In 

 sowing, the ploughed muddy soil is first levelled with fiat boards ; 

 the grain is then broadcasted, and when the latter has sprouted 

 well the water is gradually turned on the field. The fields are 

 kept flooded until the flowers appear, when the supply of water 

 is reduced. When the grain is well formed, the water is turned 

 off so as to hasten ripening and facilitate harvesting. Harvesting 

 takes place in 3 to 7 months (according to variety) from the time 

 of sowing, the shorter the period the smaller the crop as a rule. 

 Two crops a year may be obtained in Ceylon, in the wet region: 

 <1) the " Maha" crop (the principal one), sown in July or August 

 iind harvested in January or February ; and (2) the " Yala" crop, 

 sown in April and May and reaped in August and September. 

 When the grain turns yellow, the crop is cut down with a sickle, 

 tied in sheaves, and dried in the sun. Threshing in Eastern 

 countries is often, if not usually, done by the trampling of bulls or 

 buffaloes, these being tied in teams and made to walk in a circle, 

 the rice being thrown under their feet. The grain is afterwards 

 winnowed in the wind, then stored ; hulling is done in wooden 

 mortars, as required for consumption. The yield of rice varies 

 considerably according to variety and mode of cultivation. The 

 .average return in Ceylon is about 25 to 35 bushels per acre, or about 

 15-fold. With good cultivation, however, 25 to 30-fold is easily 

 obtained. Two bushels of paddy when hulled gives only about 

 one bushel of clean rice. The whole production of rice in Ceylon, 

 which is entirely in the hands of the Natives, is about 4i million 

 bushels per annum, against an import of about 8 million bushels 

 (valued at over 50 million rupees) from India and Burma. 



VARIETIES. The Varieties of rice are almost innumerable, there being 

 about 200 in Ceylon alone. These are distinguished chiefly by size, form 

 and colour of grain, height of plant, also the period required to yield a crop. 

 The latter is an important character, some varieties producing a crop in 

 60 days, while others take 6 or 7 months. The medium between these is usually 

 preferred, as the earliest yielding varieties give but comparatively poor crops. 

 The following are some of the principal varieties grown in Ceylon : 



