The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1908-07-22
fLCE ORIZYG 20

Bengal is an ideal country for rice
growing, because its vast alluvial
plains become annually flooded by the
heavy rainfall and the overlooking OF
it's great rivers. Then the productive
ness of rice is simply amaz!ng-the
hundred-fold is passed many times
over A friend of the writer counted
n stalks growing from one grain OF
seed; each of these stalks would bear
from 100 to 200 grains of rice; hence
taking the average on each stalk at
$50 grains only, the prOductiveness in
that instance amounted to the grand
total of 11,570. OF course, it is not
asserted that every grain OF seed bears
a similar number. but it is clear that.
where the conditions are favorable.
the productiveness is astonishing.
The complete agricultural kit of a
Bengal peasant, which consists of his
pillow, the yoke which fits on the neck
of his oxen and the short bam-
boo ladder used to smooth the soil
over when plowed can be carried on
the mans shoulder. In our illustra-
items We may obtain glimpse of the
conditions under which the Bengal
peasant loves to wotk. He plows his
land when it is actually under water
and does his best to work up the soil
to the cOnSiStence of mud. When
that stage is reached the next opera
ton takes place This is to smooth
over the inequalities left by the plow-
ing. and for this purpose the short
ladder above described is used. The
Implement. if we may call it such,
is drawn by the bullocks over the
muddy slush, while the driver himself
stands upon it to give the necessary
weight In this attitude he presents
30 the onloOker very cOmical ap-
pearance. 1t is. however. very dirty
task: his oxen sink to their knees in
mud and water, and soon he and they
are heavily despatched with sluSh.
When the inequalities of the ground
have thus been leveled the field is
ready to receive the rice plants. Sow
ing the seed broadcast is rarely
adopted in Bengal. the more usual
method being first to raise the seed
them into the fields. Consequently, at
the very beginning of the rains the
cultivatOr prepares a corner in one
of his fields and sows his rice seed
thickly in it. In such a Seed-plat the
rice %arminates and grows to the de-
10
In the meanwhile the cultivator
goes on preparing his fields to receive
the plants When the seedlings have
attained the requisite height they are
carefully uprOoted and made into
bundles: these are then carried to the
ere employed to replant them =
After his fields have all been plant
ed, the labors of the Bengal peasant
are comparatively light. Should rain
fall in sufficient quantities, his chief
concern is to see that the embank-
These he must have to keep all the |
water possible around the roots of mis- |
crop. Rice will grow and thrive in |
plenty of water, but will wither and |
die should the soil become dry.
Should the rains. however. keep off. |
and the water in his fields sink lower |
and lower and threaten to dry up al |
together. no words can describe the |
anxiety of the cultivator: the shadow !
OF ruin and famine may be seen deep
erlng on his cOuntenance day by day.
How eagerly he scans the face of the |
sky, and prays to his gods for cOpious
showers.
Observing the drought. the rice
merchant is alive to possibilities: he
Will study the weather forecasts. and