Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1861-07-13
Rice Culture.


e We publish below at the request of some of
our readers, from the Polynesidn of Oath Decem-
Der, 1859, the following communication
To THE EDITOR OF THE PoLYNEsIAN SIR -
The difficulty in raising rice mainly exists in this
that there is in fact no difficulty at ALL or in other
words, persons unacquainted with the process of
raising rice, imagine that there must necessarily
exist some difficult management which in reality
does not exist. believe, of every grain or other
product grown, rice requires not only the least Ia
Dor, but is raised by the most simple process.
In regard to soil | would say, that any and all
kalo land long it contains at least six inches
of mud and the deeper the mud the better, is fit to
yield remunerative crops. Rice receives good
part of it's food from the water. Although some
writer's have stated that rice is an inexhausting
crop, receiving all its nutriment from the water,
rather doubt the statement, experience has
shown that there is vast difference in the yield
between the rice grown in rich, black mud and
that grown in kalo land where the red soil so well
known on our islands, predominated. In the one
place rice produced from 40 to 60 ears, while on
the other the stalks were slender. the ears sho
and not more than 5 or to the root. The runnin
water, which comes from a long distance, the nu
merous little streams which rush down our noun
tain valleys, and are enlarged by heavy rains and
enriched by the debris of igneous rocks, rotten
wood and decayed leaves, are by far preferable to
stagnant pools, as they bring to the rice-lands
constant supply of valuable manures, amongst
which silica is the most valuable to rice, other
grain requires as much. OF the preparation of
rice-land it is unnecessary to say much more than
that the principal object of the planter should be
to have his rice patch perfectly level that if the
water is let on, one inch will nearly cover the
face. This is at first somewhat difficult Job, but
when the level is obtained, it will answer for
years and years of after culture. The kalo patches
in this country such perfect rice fields that there
is no need to say anything about embankments and
the required bitches.
In regard to cultivation, would say that I have
tried this year four different methods. l. have
drilled the seed with seed-sower in the drill on
dry ground. 2. have drilled the seed with the
seed-sower upon the wet mud. 3. have sown
the seed broadcast upon the wet mud and 4. |
have pursued the Chinese method and transplanted
the rice from seed bed. For method one plowed
the ground frst narrowed well, made light burrows
with the corner of the hoe, about ten inches apart
about as near as man can 60 backwards with
out treading on the furrow-and dropped the seed
with the seed-sower and covered lightly with hoe
rake, and let the water on just enough to cover
the ground.
For method two, stirred the mud with hoe and
iron rakes to the consistency of poi just stiff enough
to Withstand the wheels of the seed-sower so much
as to turn them, and drilled the seed upon the
ground, letting the water on the uncovered seed.
For method three, l stirred the mud to the con-
sistency of thin poi and sowed the seed broadcast.
would here remark, that persons are apt to sow
too thick, which will ipjure the yield. The dis
tance at which the plants should stand apart from
each other, should be at least from to inches,
and if they should be II or l6 inches apart, the
plant will tiller so much that will hang on ear.
By all means avoid thick sowing. Before the seed
is sown it should be immersed in water, for the
double benefit, first, the water floats all empty and
worthless grain, and second, the grain when pre-
viousy soaked and then rolled in ashes to make
il freely slip through the fingers Of the sower, will
sink Immediately in the water or on the mud while
dry it would hoat long enough on the unavoidable
mud puddles to drift in q heap to one side. Rice
can be transplanted until it is in tight barrel
id. est, begins to form the ear-stem, and it is
easy matter to pull the plants where they are too
thick, and transfer them to places where too thin.
For method four, / sowed broadcast few hands