296 



KICE, 



descend out of the reach of its influence. The seed is for the 

 most part thrown broadcast into about four or five inches of 

 water, which depth is endeavoured to be maintained. Difference 

 of practice exists as to watering, but it seems generally agreed 

 that rice can scarcely have too much water, provided it be not 

 submerged, except for a few days before it ripens, when a dried 

 state IS supposed to hasten and to perfect the maturity, whilst 

 it improves the quality of the grain. In general the culture of 

 rice is attended with little expense, although dearer in Kashmir 

 than Hindostan, from its being customary in the former countr}'' 

 to manure the rice-lands, which is never done in the latter. This 

 manure, for the most part, consists of rice straw rejected by the 

 cattle, and mixed with cowdung. It is conveyed from the home- 

 stead to the fields by women, in small wicher baskets, and is set 

 on the land with more liberality than might have been expected 

 from the distance it is carried. Many of the rice lands are 

 situated much higher than might be thought convenient in 

 Hindostan, and are rather pressed into this species of culture 

 than naturally inciting, but still yield good crops, through the 

 facility with which water is brought upon them from the streams 

 which fall down the face of the neighbouring hiEs. In common 

 seasons the return of grain is from thirty to forty for one, on 

 an average, besides the straw. 



The rice of Bengal, by the exercise of some care and skill, has re- 

 cently been so far improved as nearly to equal that of the Carolinas. 

 Dr. ralconer has introduced into India the numerous and fine 

 varieties of rice cultivated in the Himalayas ; of these some of the 

 best sorts were at his suggestion distributed to cultivators along 

 the Doab canal. 



A species of hill rice grows on the edge of the Himalaya moun- 

 tains. The mountain rices of India are grown without irrigation, 

 at elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 feet on the Himalaya, where the 

 dampness of the summer months compensates for the want of 

 artificial moisture. The small reddish Assamese rices, which be- 

 come gelatinous in boiling, and the large, flat-grained, soft, 

 purple-black Ketana rice, of Java and Malacca, shown at the 

 Great Exhibition, were curious. 



The fertility of the province of Arracan is very great, its soil being 

 fit for the culture of nearly all tropical productions ; rice, however, 

 is alone cultivated to any great extent ; the low alluvial soil which 

 extends over the whole country, from the foot of the mountains to 

 the sea, being admirably suited for its growth. About 115 square 

 miles are under culture with rice. The export trade in rice of the 

 district, is seen by the following statistical return ; and it gives 

 employment to from 400 to 700 vessels, aggregating 60,000 to 

 80,000 tons. 



