788 
Supplement to the " Tn}pical Agriculturist." [May 1, 1894. 
Few people realize the importnru part rice playri 
in the economic history of the world, and tliat 
]n'obably there does not exist any other product 
f)f the soil which forms the staple food of as 
g; (Mt a number of liiiman being.*, computed as 
three-fourths of the liuman race, liice is supposed 
to be of Asiatic origin, l)ut it is found grow- 
ing wild in several parts of the world, notably 
in Central America, Africa, and even Queensland. 
To India, however, belongs the credit of first 
utilizing it as a food, and by the cultivation of 
centuries altering the wild product to what it 
now is. The rice plant is to be found growing 
between the 45th parallel north, and tlie .'JOth 
parallel south. When it is mentioned that be- 
sides being extensively giown in India and the 
liast generally, it is also found cultivated in the 
south of Italy, Spain, Tortugual, the West Indies, 
Central America, the United States and Austra- 
lasia, it will be readily seen that tlie plant thrives 
under varying conditions of climate and soil, 
nice analysed contains : starch, 86"9 ; gluten, 7'5 ; 
fatty matter, 7 ; sugar and gum, '5 ; epidermis, 
S H; ash, '9. The general composition of rice from 
another analysis shows : water, I.'}'7 ; flesh-form- 
ing substances, 6'5 ; non-nitrogenous substances, 
79'4 ; ash, '4. Cooked rice is said to give up 88 
per cent of its bulk as nutriment. 
The advice given on the subject of seed is good: 
— Too much attention cannot be paid to selection 
of seed; only good seed from vigorous plants should 
be selected. Age has to be considered as well in 
selecting seed. Both new and old seeds have to 
be avoided. Seed about 12 months old is reckoned 
the best. New seed will come up soon, and grow 
rapidly, but will give a very light crop ; old seed 
will either not germinate or give a very straggly 
crop and weak plants. Good seed not only gives 
an increased yield per acre, but also produces a 
hardier plant — one less liable to parasitic and 
other diseases. Another matter not to be lost 
sight of in selecting seed is to see that it is pure, 
of one variety only, not mixed, otherwise an un- 
satisfactory crop is the result. Special mention 
is made of the variety known as Patna rice as 
a good kind for sowing on the ordinary 
swampy land. 
Then as regards cultivation, we are reminded 
that the roots of the rice plant are very delicate, 
and hence good tilth is absolutely necessary to 
enable the tender rootlets to push their way down. 
According to the Indian methods of culture 6 
inches is given as the lowest depth of tilth, and 
under this is a hard pad; hence the roots become 
shortened and travel laterally in search of food, 
and where no water is provided the plant does not 
survive. "It is certain," we are assured, and we 
do not doubt it, "that varieties of paddy imported 
from Bengal, and treated to scientific farming 
would develope good root growth, and in course 
of time, with careful seed selection, a variety 
could be produced which would really be a dry 
land crop — that is, entirely independent of added 
moisture, — and one not likely to fail with moderate ] 
drought, as, having longer roots, and good tilth j 
t,eing provided, the plant would receive nourish- i 
* Eice growing and its preparation for the market. 
A bulletin issued by the Depa>i:tizaeat of Agriculture, 
Briebane. 
ment from the subsoil, which in the drie«t of 
seasons has a sufficiency of moisture if get-at-ablf 
by the plant.'' Instances are mentioned of cc-rlaiu 
varieties of rice grown in tlie Bank iira district iu 
India, as well as in Biirmah, whicli require 
much less water than tlie ordinary kindis, 
while a variety grown on the Garo Hills in Assam 
and in Madagascar is practically a dry land crop. 
The idea of attempting to convert the aquatic 
rice plant into a dry land croj) may be practicable, 
and the result will no doubt do away with much 
of the risk of failure from insufHcieiicy of water, 
but it is generally believed that tlie extra dry 
varieties of "upland rice'' are not quite so nourish- 
ing as the swamp or wet rice, nor so palatable. 
The advantages of deep cultivation (except in 
exceptional cases) and fi ner tilth are undeniable, 
and if they be aimed at, and seed for sowing be 
carefully selected, the risks of rice or paddy 
cultivation would be minimised, and more 
uniform and better results insured. We hope 
to conclude our notice of this paper on rice 
in our next issue. 
ZOOLOGICAL NOTES FOR AGRICULTURAL 
STUDENTS. 
The first mentioned of the different orden- 
of birds, viz., 2satatores or swimming birds, are 
more or less adapted for an aquatic life, the body 
being boat-shaped, the legs short and placed be- 
hind the point of equilibrium of the body so a* 
to act as oars. The toes are more or less com- 
pletely webbed. Owing to the fact of their being 
exposed to great variations of temperature, the 
Natatores are furnished with particularly dense 
plumage which is kept well-oiled so as to be 
waterproof.* Among the swimming birds occur 
ducks, geese, swans, penguins, gulls and petrels. 
The first three form a well-marked group 
(ducks and geese being common domestic birds) 
distinguished by having the bill flattened, and 
covered by a soft ski;i, and its edges furnished 
with a series of plates, which form a kind of 
strainer, by means of which these birds sift the 
Mud in which they seek their food. The foot in 
this group is webbed, but the hinder toe is free. 
Penguins are the chief among the sea-fowl 
whose excrement forms the well-known fertilizer, 
guano. 
The Grallatorea or A\ ading biros mostly spend 
their time in shallow water, feeding upon small 
fish, shell-fish, worms and insects. Many, how- 
ever, live chiefly upon dry land, and are more or 
less exclusively vegetable feeders- They are dis- 
tinguished by the great length of their legs. The 
foot has three toes in front and one behind, but 
the toes are never completely webbed. The wings 
are short and the power of flight considerable, 
but the tail is short, and its function as a rudder 
is chiefly transferred to the lyng legs which are 
stretched out behind iu flight. The bill is almost 
always of considerable length, and usually more 
or less pointed. Among the more important 
wading birds may be mentioned the water-hens, 
herons, egrets, bitterns, the stork and adjutant, 
*A special oil-secreting gland is provided by nature 
aod placed in the porterior part of the body. It is 
a common sight to see ducks ovling their plumage 
qy means of tbeiv beaks. 
