The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-11-03
Rice Cultivation in Trinidad.


to-day: indeed it cannot now be re-
garded as much more than a eaten
crop. The reasons are simple, 1t
can only be grown on lands on which
more profitable crops can be cultivat-
ed: 1t gives smaller return than
swamp rice, and there being usually
but one invitation to the birds of the
neighborhood they all accept it, and
feast at the expense of the cultivator.
The cultivation of swamp rice has
grown rapidly in recent years. The
first favorite is a long grained rice
called by the East Indians "JOyiya,
which seems identical with "Nigra'
rice. 1t is usual to plant all swamp
rice in nurseries early in June, and to
plant out into the field early in July.
But this variety has a tendency in
good land TO grow very tall and SUI
fer from lodging. To prevent this, it
is sown more widely in the nursery
and kept longer there before replant
ing. This dwarfS the straw and thus
prevents loss of crop by lodging.
The next favOrite is called Mutt
muriy a" which is short grained like
"Chitigong." 1t is less prolific than
"Nagra." These two are rpaped in
October and spoken of as five-months'
rice. A third variety ("Jarahar"1
takes six months to mature. This has
a longer grain than "Nagra." 1t is
very prolific; but the top leaf almost
surrounds the heavy ear which itbelps
to support, and being necessarily cut
along with it, gives trouble in clean
ing the rice. Other varieties are sweet
rice, which smells sweet in the field in
the bag and on the table: black rice,
red rice 1.-TWO varieties), large upland
rice, twelve weeks rice and bearded
rice. this last has a long avn. some
what like bearded barley, which is
very useful in defending the grain
from the attacks of birds. Thirty
barrels of "Nagra" rice in the huSk
per acre may be taken as good crop;
twenty-fOur of "Chitigong" and fifteen
of upland rice, which is equal to about
half that number of bags when cleaned.
In Trinidad native rice is generally
sold in the husk. The price at pres
ent is s. 90 per barrel. but it varies
with the price of imported rice. Mill
ing has been tried and in one instance.
on the CarOni Savanna, with both
skill and capital, but the effort is at
present in allegiance. The reasons are
not far to seek. Rice keeps best in
the huSk. From October to December
bad roads and the moist atmosphere
make both transport to the mill and
milling difficult. a very large pro-
portion of the cultivators do not live
90 their rice fields on the Savanna
and cannot store their rice there till
the dry season to be milled. The fam
lily Of the East Indian can clean the
rice as it is needed. or others can be
hired TO do it. All these make the
mill d secondary consideration so
lOu@ as the whole crop is consumed by
the native population. Rice is often
soaked over night in cold walter and
steamed till the husk cracks. | is
then dried after which it is easily
hnsked, and when again thoroughly
dried it will keep for d long time. 1t
has then the appearance Of "Ballam'
rice. Rice is reaped above the upper
Joint. Ia favorable soils and seasons
when cut, it at once sends out collat-
eral ears and produces second crop,
which may be from forty to fifty per
cent Of the first crop. A small third
crop may at times be secured, but
this is now generally discarded.
Alter the crop is reaped the cattle
are allowed 10 roam over the savanna,
ramping down the straw in grazing
up n ~ horha~e which has grown
o.. ".. r,.:' WH1n ne dry season
~r.> il. az ltud rcks in all direc-
't"n, and to considerable depth.
luis i, natures substitute for man
pillow or fork. Low forms of vegeta.
tation cover the soil and provide, for
half the year, rotation of crops.
With the first showers wedding begins
and the cracks are partially filled
with green foliage and vegetable
mould. A second wedding completes
the process. This is all the manure
that is applied. In some of the small
swamps, the outlet can be opened or
closed to regulate the water supply
These seldom suffer from either food