Edible Products* 



140 



LMarcii 1907. 



Paddy Cultivation in Badulia, Ceylon 



Transplanting and Ordinary Sowing. 

 By D. H. Kotalawela. 



Paddy fields in the town and in its neighbourhood are usually cultivated 

 twice a year at the the "Maha" and "Yala" cultivations. The period of cul- 

 tivation between March and August is called the "Maha" cultivation, and that 

 between September and February the "Yala." The goiya is usually lucky in 

 his "Maha" cultivation, because during this period he gets no more rain 

 than is needed. But during the "Yala" cultivation great loss is often sus- 

 tained by the goiya, owing to the incessant rain ; and the crop produced by 

 this cultivation hardly repays the trouble and expense. An experiment was 

 made in transplanting during this season, which proved very successful and the crop 

 seems to suffer very little from the rain, as compared with the broad cast sowing. 

 It was suggested to many cultivators to adopt this method, but it was found 

 very difficult to convince them of its advantages over the ordinary broad 

 cast sowing, as they usually have a conservative prejudice against any new 

 ideas. In sowing broad cast an enormous waste of seed is incurred. Experiments 

 and experience clearly show that the out-turn of transplanted paddy is very much 

 greater than that obtained by sowing broad cast ; and the growth itself is not so 

 luxuriant as when transplanted. 



In cultivating a field there are several items of work to go through viz :— 

 manuring, cleaning of the elas, fencing, ploughing, sowing or transplanting, and 

 reaping. With regard to manuring, scientific manuring will of course be the best, 

 but considering the climate, the soil and the situation of the land, it could be 

 fertilised by ordinary manure. Bone dust which is used in the lowcountry not 

 known. to the goiya, and it is so difficult to procure it, particularly in a place like 

 Badulia, where the cost of transport from the metropolis is not within the reach 

 of the ordinary goiya. Farm yard manure is available here, and this too in not very 

 large quantities. Cattle dung is no doubt the best all round manure in Ceylon, and 

 is the most suitable for the rice plant. Garden rubbish and green manures have their 

 own value, but none of these are tried except by an enterprising goiya, and of such 

 a 10% is not found in the district. Unfortunately an experiment made with green 

 manures has proved a failure resulting in excessive foliage and less grain. Of all green 

 manures karande and wal-suriya leaves have proved to be the best, and especially 

 the former as it is effective in destroying worms and insects in the soil. Next to 

 manuring the cleaning of the elas should be attended to properly. After the elas are 

 cleared and the fields well watered the "puranhiya" or the first ploughing is done. 

 All that is needed is to loosen the soil thoroughly well. The rice plant does not 

 take root deep, so that the depth to which the soil is furrowed by the ordinary 

 native plough is all that is required. Besides, deep ploughing is said to be pre-judi- 

 cial to the goiya's interest, although he give no satisfactory explanation. About ten 

 or fifteen days after the first ploughing, the ketuma, or the turning over of the soil 

 is done. Then there is the made-heeya or the second ploughing, and the repairing of 

 the ridges, followed by the levelling of the soil called the ketageheme or goigame, 

 after which the sowing takes place. The seed paddy must be carefully selected, and 

 must be free from chaff. Very old or very new paddy should not be used. The 

 germination of the paddy must also be carefully attended to, and the safest course 

 is to get the services of an experienced goiya. 



In transplanting, the preparation of the nursery is exactly the same as that 

 for ordinary sowing. It is important that great attention should be paid to the 

 selection of the variety of paddy. There are a great many varieties of paddy suit- 



