Rice Cultiuation in British Guiana.* 
By A. R. Gilzean. 
OME twenty-two years ago an East Indian 
immigrant on Plantation Leonora, cultivated 
about twenty acres of the front lands of that 
estate for the growth of rice. He used a bullock- plough 
for the preparation of the land, and, as far as I can re- 
member, he succeeded in raising good crops. After 
working for a couple of years he abandoned it, but for 
what reason I do not know. I do know, however, that 
the proportion of the crop which he gave the estate, in 
the shape of paddy, as rent for the land, was not cleaned 
for use. Labour was so dear then that it did not pay to 
clean the rice. About the same time an experiment was 
made in rice-growing on a large scale at Plantation 
Vive-la-Force. It failed owing to the difficulty and 
expense of the cleaning operation. A machine was 
imported for the purpose, but like all the small rice- 
cleaning machines of which I have ever heard, it was 
not a success. 
The East Indian and Chinese immigrants in various 
parts of the colony, have from time to time planted rice 
in the estate's navigation trenches and the open savan- 
nahs, but with varying success, meeting with great 
discouragement through the loss of crops from floods and 
drought. 
* The following paper on one of the most promising industries of the 
colony, forms a most useful and valuable supplement to a former paper, 
by Mr. Russell, on the same subject, published in Titnehri. vol. v. pt. i, 
1886.— Ed. 
