75 



HIGH-LAND VERSUS LOW -LAND RICE. 



Where exclusively wet cultivation is employed, i.e., ploughing and 

 sowing in water on lowland, the rice is considerably inferior to that 

 produced upon soil well drained and thoroughly tilled. Rice follows 

 the l:iw so well estahlish for wheat, oat?, and other cereals, that 

 thorough cultivation not only increases the quantity produced per acre, 

 but improves the quality and flavour of the grain. It has been claimed 

 by some that rice, being a water plant, does no follow this rule. This 

 is an error. The rice of commerce is an improved variety, far superior 

 to wild rice, and the imprevement has come through better environ- 

 ment. We have not yet reached the limit of possible improvement in 

 rice by this means. 



The following statement by H. R. Williams, jr., of i.^anton, China, 

 shows the opinion of Chinese merchants as to the relative merits of 

 upland and low-land rice: 



Rice grown on high lands is better than that grown on low lands on about 

 a level with the river, and brings a higher price. Furthermore, there is 

 nutriment in the high-land rice, as the Chinese say they get as much satisfac- 

 tion from a catty of high-land rice as from 1 ca^tties of that grown on low 

 land. All of the high-land rice is irrigated from large ponds. Rice grown 

 upon low land is of course supplied with water from the rivers as they rise 

 and fall. The high-land rice is a smaller grain but is harder and heavier 

 than the low-land rice. 



In Japan the cultivation of rice is more thorough, the soils are bet- 

 ter drained during the winter than in most countries, and the product is 

 so superior in quality and flavour that imported rices can not be sold to 

 the Japanese in competition with their home product. 



Thorough winter drainage enables the planter to plough and sow 

 sufficiently early to harvest before the eqainoctial storms and to get 

 the benefit of the early market. 



o 



ADDITIONS AND C^ONTRIBUTiONS TO THBDE PARTMENT. 



LIBRARY, 



Europe. 



British Isles. 



Annals of Botany, Mar. [Purchased] 

 Botanical Magazine, Feb., March, Apr. [Purchased.] 

 British Trade Journal, Feb , March, April. [Editor.] 

 Bulletin, Kew Gardens, App. iv. 1898, [Director.] 



Chemist, and Druggist, Jan. 27, Feb. 8, 10, 17, 24, Apr., 7, 14. [Editor.] 

 Garden, Jan. 27, Feb. March Apr. 14. [Purchased.] 

 Gardeners' Chronicle, Jan. 27, Feb., March, Apr., 7, 14. [Purchased.] 

 Journal, Board of Agri., England, March. [Sec Board of Agri.] 

 Journal of Botany, Jan., Feb., March, April. [Purchased.] 

 Journal R. Colonial Institute, Feb. March, April. [Purchased.] 

 Journal R. Horticultural Society, Report for 1899-1900. Hybrid Confer- 

 ence Report. 



Nature, Jan. 25, Feb. April, 5, 12, 19. [Purchased.] 

 Pharmaceutical Journal, Jan., 27, Feb. April, 7, 14. [Editor.] 

 Produce World, Feb. March, April. [Editor.] 



