1 Dec., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 563 
Northern Queensland about January) either broadcast or with a sowing drill, 
preferably with the latter both for evenness and economy. 
When the seed (paddy) has germinated and grown to the height of 
6 inches it is weeded out by hand. The number of weedings required to keep 
the crop free from weeds depends upon the nature of the soil and on the 
fertiliser used; but ordinarily two to three weedings are sufficient. This 
variety attains maturity in about ninety days. 
The fields must always be kept very moist, if not covered with water, 
standing, say, to a depth of 2 to 3 inches all the time of growth; but when the 
crop begins to ripen the water should be all drained away. 
The late variety is worked slightly different to the early crop. This is 
sown thickly broadcast in beds prepared as in a nursery, the ground prepared 
being kept very moist. When the seedlings have attained the height of about 
9 inches, they are transplanted to a well-manured and carefully prepared plot 
with water covering it to a depth of about 3 inches, the land having been 
previously prepared from its natural state by several ploughings until the soil 
is worked into a fine muddy paste. 
The seedlings are then planted in the mud by hand, two or three seedlings 
together, about 6 or 9 inches apart. On the third day after transplanting, the 
surface water is drained off the field, and on the eighth day it is again filled 
with water to a depth of 2 inches or so. A hand weeding will be necessary 
after about a month’s time. The soil should always be kept moist, by irriga- 
tion if necessary, and it is advisable that from time to time water should stand 
in the field to the depth of a few inches. 
This variety attains maturity about six month after sowing. 
I have to thank the commissioner for his kind gift of seeds of both 
varieties here mentioned. J have obtained further information which is of 
great value, and also seeds of various kinds of rice from His Excellency the 
British Resident at Penang Straits Settlements, who kindly forwarded seven 
varieties of rice seed new to this State, and I have arranged with Mr. OC. Harch, 
of Alberton district, and Mr. Wm. Heck, of Pimpama Island, Logan district, 
to give a practical test of their growth and suitability, and also to test the 
climatic conditions of Queensland as being suitable for these tropical varieties. 
I also sent twenty-six varieties of rice to the Acclimatisation Society, that they 
may be properly tested and reported on fully for future reference. Altogether 
I have secured, so far, for experimental purposes this season twenty-five 
varieties. A list of these is hereto appended, with their native and botanical 
names so far as I have been able to obtain them. The tests are being 
conducted by practical farmers, and the results will be published, with illustra- 
tions, if possible, of the growth and seeding of the crop of each variety. 
What I should like to see tried is a patch of the “Sugamomi” (Japan seed 
rice, Aman variety) in our Western districts, utilising the overflow water from 
one of our numerous bores for irrigating a few acres with this variety. I am 
sure that, either cut for hay or made into ensilage for times of drought, it 
would prove itself a standby of great importance to our pastoralists and cattle- 
men oF the Western lands. The green crop is estimated at from 8 to 10 tons 
per acre. Surely this is worth a trial! 
TWENTY-FIVE VARIETIES OF SEED Rick rrom tHE Srrarrs SErrnEMEnrs, 
Java, Japan, anp Traty. 
Straits Settlements Rice Seeds— 
No. 
1. Paddy Pulet Santan 
2. »  Puchok Nipah 
3. » Radin | Per favour of His Excellency the British 
4, » Sejamput \ Resident, Penang Straits Settle- 
5. »,  Limbot ment. 
6. »  Sroub | 
the »  Pulet Sutra J 
