220 
Supplement to the "Tropical Agriculturist:' [September 2, 1889 
struggle begins, presently the pupa-skin bursts open, 
and from the reut issues the insect, now fully forme J. 
It will prow no more, both its internal as well as 
external structure being complete, a art it is now 
known as the imago or perfect insect. Ia the perfect 
state injects usually are of two sexes, male and female, 
but in some intt'auces as with the while ant, wasps, 
&c, tbeie are partly develope ! females known as 
"neuters" or '• workers." This stage usually lasts 
only a short time — in some instances a few days or 
even hours is the extent; in others the insects find 
some shelter to pass the winter and reappear with 
the return of warmth and sunshine. During this 
perfect state the insect has only to support life. 
Pairiug soon takes place and the mule dies, but the 
female is very tenacious of life until her eggs are laid. 
(To be continued.) 
+ 
PADDY CULTIVATION AND TRANS- 
PLANTING. 
(Continued.) 
By W. A. De. Silva. 
Choice of Seed is as important as choice of variety. 
Little if any attention is paid to this by paddy culti- 
vators in the island, and this neglect may be set down 
as one of tbe causes of the decreasing yield of grain. 
A great deal of importance is attached to this matter 
both in Europe and America, and there are special 
Acts passed in France to regulate a supply of gooJ seed- 
grain. Only good seed from vigorous plants should 
be selected, and when this rule is observed, a seed of 
excel 'en t seed stock will be eventually got. Again, by 
a sskction of seed certain characters could be developed, 
and often from one ear of paddy a selection of seed 
may be made to produce different qualities of grain 
To prove the important influence of good seed 
paddy on the yield of the crop, I quote the following 
account of an experiment with seed grain, by Pro- 
fessor Tanner: — "Two crops were grown on eimilir 
land under like circumstances as regards climate &c; 
in one case good and suitable seed was used, and in the 
other ci30 selection and improvement of seed had 
been neglected. The results were 1 012 lb. of grain from 
the plants where good seed was used, and only 307^ lb. 
from mftrior seed." In this instance the good seed 
caused a:i increase in three times a.s great as the former 
yield. But not only do the crops from good seed 
increase iu yield, but they are also less liable to the 
attacks of injurious insects and fungi, and are better 
able to withstand extremes of weather. In selecting 
good seed age must be considered, fo? both new and 
very old seed have to be avoided. The former though 
they come up soon, grow rapidly, and produce v^ry 
early crop, but do not give a full yield; while the 
latter either will not come up at all, or produce weak 
plants. One year old seeds are best fit for the nursery. 
A change of seed is often attended with very great 
benefit. The continual growing of seed grown in the 
same field or district tends to decrease the yiel! gradu- 
ally, and a change of seed from another district of 
diffeiont. soil and surroundings produces beUer results. 
Some experiments were carried on recent y by Mr. 
William Jansz of Galle and gave most encouraging 
results. Frt.m a report sent by him to the Tropical 
Agriculturist we find that both the crop itself and the 
produce of rice were increased. For 8 bushels obtained 
with the old seed, 11 bushels were obtained with im- 
ported seed ,<rain, and this in spite of much damage to 
the oro>>. This means an increase of 37J per cent. And 
in .sking the oaddy obtained from the imported seed 
yiel : 16' eers ayamxt 14 yi jlrW by that grown from 
local seed, an increase of 12£ per cent. These results 
are very encouraging, and if Mr. Jansz as stated, is 
folluwn.g up his experiments, we may hope for turther 
infoi matiou. 
It ie important too that the seed should bo pure, 
as a mixture of seeds would mar tbe success of the 
erop. 
/'reparation of the Nursery. — The seed-bad of the 
nursery 'hould be as caret ully prepared as possible. 
The land after being thoroughly du,; up, bhould be 
well exposed to sun and air, and the weeds t.rtectually 
destroyed iu this manner, or in the irrigation, or by 
both means. After letting on water the land should 
be again cross-p;onghed or puddled or dug and brought 
into a very fiue state. As the space required tor a 
nursery is comparatively small, this should bo tnorouihlv 
done, and some manure should if possible be aided. 
The great object of all this is to get as vigorous and 
promising plants as possible. Before s wing, tbe seed 
should be steeped in wa'.er to assist germination. Dif- 
ferent {methods of germinating the seed are followed in 
different districts. The following is f„q elaborate 
though useful process. The ssed paddy, after being 
soaked in water for a night, is laid ou the tbor to 
forma bed six inches deep, cohered over with leaves 
and mats, and weighted do *n. After remaining thus 
for from 3 to 5 days, it is again steeped in water, and 
this time bedded a foot deep on the floor covered with 
leaves, but without weights, so as not to injure the 
sprouting seeds. After two nights the seed ie rea ly for 
sowing. This is a time-honoured custom among Some of 
the goiyas, the result of practical experience, an! 
attended with advantages tney cannot explain the 
reason of. The pity of it is they do not all adopt it, 
and that they should be too slo w to adopt means whereby 
their food-supply will be increased. Auotujr pecu- 
liarity among the goijas is that ju^t those who are less 
favoured in the richness of th>»ir lan I and the supply 
of their water are tha more careless, while th jse who 
have the advantages of agjod soil ani an unfailing 
water supply are the industrious class. 
When germinated seed, which has been sown in the 
prepared nursery is up about 2 or 3 inches iu height, 
water should be turned into it at intervals. (The sub- 
ject of irrigation, however, I shall deal with more 
fully on another occasion.) 
The nursery can be prepared with success on a piece 
of high land, if there is any fear of r&ia interfering 
with its success in the low ground. In that case the 
plot after being prepared and sowed with ungerminated 
seed, should be watered twice daily until the plants 
are ready for rooting up. 
Plants obtained from 8 seers of the ordinary kinds of 
paddy would be sufficient to transplant into an acre 
of laud, while as much as 2J bushels would be necessary 
for broadcasting. In practice it is always advisable 
to put down at least 12 seers of paddy,and selectthe best 
plants only for transplanting. 
(To be continued.) 
NOTES FROM AGRICULTURAL STATIONS. 
Keqalla, 14th August 1889. 
A part of the experimental garden is under cotton* 
thH va defies being Egyptian, Americm, Sea Island, 
and Peruvian, in rows three to six feet apart. The 
young plants are thriving well. Between tbe rows of 
cotton I have some Indian corn growing, s.ud observe 
with satisfaction that they appear to thrive better 
than in most of the chena lands. I have also planted 
some arrowrooc and tobaooo on a small scale, both 
of which give good promise. At present I am getting 
a plot ready for dholl. The weather during July has 
been generally wet, and p irticularly so during the 
latter part of the month. 
J. W. P. SaMAitASEKERB. 
Akmimana, 4th August 1889. 
These gardens are situated about 6 mi led iro n Galle. 
Akmimana is a pretty large village, the inhabitants 
of which depend on paddy cultivation for a. living. 
The paddy fields are fertile, and irrigated by a stream 
running across the traot. 
At preseut there are plots of arrowrojt and dholl. 
Last mouth was occupied in clearing aad cleaning 
land for cotton and other crops. Tuis aew laud, to 
which I intend shortly removing, wi 1 wlmit of cul- 
tivation on a larger scale than ha< hitherto been 
carried on by me. The paddy crop u io » quite ready 
for cutting, and will be harvested early in August. 
P. Samaraxayhkb. 
