The state herald., 1908-07-24
RICE lRYNYG


Bengal is an ideal country for rice
growing. because its vast alluvial
plains become annually flooded by the
heavy rainfall and the overilowing OF
its great rivers. Then the productive.
ness of rice is simply amazing-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
150 grains only. the productiveness In
that instance amounted to the grand
asserted that every grain OF seed bears
a similar number. but 1t is clear that,
where the conditions are favorable.
the productiveness Is astonishing.
Rice In Bengal is undoubtedly the
stan of life. 1t takes the place there
OF bread with us. No meal is com
plete without 1t. Whatever article OF
food may not be Forthcoming, there
must be rice. Eaten with little
vegetable curry and salt It forms the
sole food Of millions. II must. how
ever, be confessed that. as an article
OF constant diet. rice does not build
-up strong. robust constitutions. 1t
tends to produce fat rather than
muscle. This is particularly notice
able when the relocating inhabitants
, OF Bengal are compared with the
wheateating peoples Of other parts Of
India. The difference In sturdiness Of
physique and OF. character is most
marked. The dwelling houses Of the
peasant class in Bengal are usually
constructed OF mud walls and roof.
Ing OF thatch. Inside they are very
dark. getting no light except what
comes In ut the door and perhaps one
shutter window. The flooring is
made Of dry mud beaten hard. As so
large part OF the peasants life Is
passed In the open air. what he chiefly
needs In his house IN a warm place TO
sleep In when the weather Is cold. and
dry place In the rainy season.
The complete agricultural kit Of u
Bengal peasant. which consists OF his
plow, 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
tn. mans shoulder. In our illustra.
items we may obtain n glimpse OF the
conditions under which the bengal
peasant loves 10 wo,k. lie piows his
land when II is actually under water,
and does his best to work up the soil
to the consistenee OF mud. When
that stage In reached the next opera.
tion takes place. This is TO smooth
over the Inequalities left by the piow.
Ing, and for this purpose the short
ladder above described IL used. The
Implement. II We may call II such.
IN drawn by the bullockH over IN.
muddy slush. while the driver himself
stands upon II TO give the necessary
weight. In this attitude he presents
to tn. oniook.r very comical ap'
pearnncc. II II. however. n very dirty
task. his oxen sink 10 their knees IN
mud and water. and soon he and they
mr.. heavily bespattcred with siuhh.
When the inequalities Of III. ground
have thus been i.yeled the field II
ready to receive N. rice plants. Sow
Ing the seed broadcast II rarely |
adopted In nenEai. the more usual
method being firH, 10 raise the seed |
llnss In nurseries and then transplant |
them Into the fields. Consequently. at
the very beginning OF the rains the
enltIyptor prepares n corner In one
Of his neidz and sows his rice seed
thiehly In II. In such q seed plh, IN.
rice terminates and grows TO IN. de.
sired heirh, for trnnsplan,inE,
In the meanwhile the ouliiyatof
goes on preparing his Fields 10 fec.iy.
IN. plants, when tn. seedlings have
attained the requisite height they ar.
carefully uprooted and made into
bundles, these are then carried 10 IN.
arIdu, whef. both me. and women
ere employed 10 fcpiant them.
After his nelds have all been plant
cd the iabofs Of the bengal peasant
nia comparatively light. Should rain
fall In sufficient quantities.. his chief
concern IL Ia s.e that the ambanh
msn,H between his iieiis mr.. secure,
These he must hsy. TO keep all the
water possible around the roots OF hiH