RICE, 



301 



In 1840. In 1841. 



Extent of land in fallow in ^^7/^?^5, &c. . . 105,726 84,561 

 Produce in piculs of fields cultivated by the popu- 

 lation on its own account . . ' . 21,273,278 23,810,573 

 Arerage produce of a hahv. . . . 16i 17 

 Gross amount of the land tax of 1840 . . 8,502,1 02 fl. 9,030,761 fl. 

 Extent of rice fields newly cultivated in 5a7«^* . 10,328 13,561 



This comparative summary shows that the culture of rice increases 

 yearly, and that the average produce of the fields is also con- 

 tinually increasing. These results have been obtained by the at- 

 tention paid to the proper irrigation of the soil fit for this culture ; 

 and to the hydraulic works which the Grovernment executes on 

 its own account in the parts of the island where rice fields can be 

 established, and where they are required to feed a population whose 

 number is still increasing yearly. 



I have seen, continues ]Mr. Crawfurd, lands which have pro- 

 duced, from time beyond the memory of any living person, 

 two yearly crops of rice. AYhen this practice is pursued, it is 

 always the five-months grain which is grown. The rapid growth 

 of this variety, has, indeed, enabled the Javanese husbandman, in 

 a few happy situations, to urge the culture to the amount of six 

 crops in two years and a half. Eice cultivated in a virgin soil, 

 where the wood lias been burnt off", will, under favorable circum- 

 stances, give a return of twenty-five and thirty fold. Of mountain 

 rice, cultivated in ordinary upland, arable lands, fifteen fold may 

 be looked upon as a good return. In fertile soils, when one crop 

 only is taken in the year, marsh rice will yield a return of twenty- 

 five seeds. When a double crop is taken, not more than fifteen or 

 sixteen can be expected. In the fine province of Kadu, an 

 Enghsh acre of good land, yielding annually one green crop and 

 a crop of rice, was found to produce of the latter 6^1 lbs. of clean 

 grain. In the light sandy, but well watered lands of the province 

 of Mataram, Avhere it is the common practice to exact two crops 

 of rice yearly without any fallow, an acre was found to yield no 

 more than 285 lbs. of clean rice, or an annual produce of 570 lbs. 

 — ("History of the Indian Archipelago.") 



The low estimation of Java rice is not attributable to any real 

 inferiority in the grain, but to the mode of preparing it for the 

 market. In husking it, it is, for the want of proper machinery, 

 much broken, and, from carelessness in drying, subject to decay 

 from the attack of insects and v. orms. A\1ien in the progi^ess 

 of improvement more intelligent methods are pursued in pre- 

 paring the grain for the market, it will equal the grain of any 

 other country. Machinery must be employed for husking the 

 grain, and some degree of kiln drying will be necessary to en- 

 sure its preservation in a long voyage. 



I know nowhere that rice is so cheap as in Java, except in 

 Siam, whence it is exported at one-third less cost. A great deal 

 of rice is exported from Siam to China by the junks, and also 

 occasionally a little from Java. 



