November, 1912.] 



317 



SEED IN PADDY CULTIVATION. 



The following observations by Agricultural Instructor N. Wickraina- 

 ratne on the paper read by Mr. W. A. de Silva at the meeting of 

 the Board of Agriculture on 10th September, 1912, will be found of 

 interest : — 



Selection by Sorting. 



This is essential not merely to separate the light from the heavy grain 

 but also to secure purity of seed. The sowing of mixed seed is a common 

 practice which is by no means economical, though the cultivator, by 

 grudging the time and trouble necessary for the elimination of the adulter- 

 ating grain, thinks he is gaining something. One frequently meets with 

 mixed paddy crops resulting from this carelessness in sowing, Recently 

 I had to procure a special variety of seed paddy which I found adulterat- 

 ed to the extent of 30 % with an inferior variety. 



Change of Seed- 

 Very careful consideration is necessary before deciding from what 

 districts seed should be introduced, For instance, seed of a variety which 

 is of one " age " in a district like Kurunegala will not mature within the 

 same period in the Ratuapura district (owing to the latter place being so 

 much wetter), and lice versa. Early or late maturity means a great deal 

 since it may result in attack by the paddy fly, or damage by cattle which 

 are generally let into the fields after the bulk of the crop is reaped. This 

 points to the necessity of making trials before recommending particular 

 changes of seed. 



The whole subject of varieties requires study and a classification to 

 work upon is needed. At present no definite information is available and 

 the experience of the goiyas is the only guide ; and there is often a differ- 

 ence of opinion even among them, 



Production of New and Better Varieties of Seed. 



A point that strikes me in this connection is whether, if the breeding 

 of special varieties of paddy is carried out, say at the Experiment 

 Station, Peradeniya, we could count upon the qualities being constant 

 under all conditions of soil, elevation and climate ; that is, whether the 

 seed will breed true to type in Jaffna, Mannar, Batticaloa, as well as 

 Nawalapitiya, Welimada and Ratnapura. This is a point upon which I 

 should like to have the views of experienced men. 



With a view to deciding many important points connected with this 

 question of seed in paddy cultivation, it is advisable that the Society 

 should establish its own paddy experiment stations in typical districts 

 with the object not only of trying different methods of lacd-preparatiou, 

 tillage, sowing, manuring, etc., but also of testing various kinds of paddy 

 likely to prove suitable to specific districts so as ultimately to be in a 

 position to establish seed-farms such as are to be found in India. 



