59 
samples sent to Europe as Raggee belong to both 
species, althougb from tbe great similarity of the seeds 
it seems impossible to discriminate the species by their 
aid alone. The straight spikes form the prominent 
and characteristic difference in the fruiting plants. 
This is considered the most productive species of the 
two. Roxburgh writes of a specimen which came up 
accidentally amongst sorne rubbish in his garden at 
Samalcottah, two tufts of this plant, each upon 
examination he found to be the produce of one seed, 
each had twenty-five culms, and each of these culms 
had on an average two lateral branches, making in 
all seventy-five culms and branches, each pro- 
duced on an average six spikes (for they had from 
four to eight) in all four hundred and fifty spikes; 
each of these had at a medium sixty spikelets, and 
each spikelet ripened on a average three or four 
seeds, making a total produce of 81,000 grains. 
2,213. Eleusine stricta. India Museum. 
JOB’S TEARS. 
Coix lacryma. 
Under the name Eejin or Ee-yin the seeds of 
this grass are used in China and Malacca. It is most 
remarkable amongst food grains for its Chemical 
composition. Dr. Smith writes that, it is larger 
“ and coarser than pearl barley, but is equally good 
“ for making gruel. As it is sold for fivepence per 
“ Chinese poundit makesan excellent diet drinkfor 
hospital patients in China.” Dr. Hooker observes 
that, “ a great deal of Coix is cultivated in the Khasia 
“ jjiiis ; the shell of the cultivated sort is soft and 
“ the kernel is sweet, whereas the wild Coix is so 
“ hard that it cannot be broken by the teeth ; each 
“ plant branches two or three times from the base, 
“ and from seven to nine plants grow in each square 
“ y ar d of soil; the produce is small, not above 30 
“ or 40 fold.” In Mason’s “ Burmah ” it is stated 
that a species of Coix, with large esculent seeds, 
which are parched like Indian corn, are often for sale 
in the bazaars, and are cultivated very extensively by 
the Red Karens. 
2,204. Ee-yin. India Museum, London. 
BAMBOO GRAIN. 
Bambusa arundinacea, and other species. 
Bamboo grain has considerable resemblance to 
oats, and is collected in some localities as food by the 
poor’er classes in times when other food grains are 
scarce and dear. Mr. Blechynden, in a letter pub- 
lished in Agri. Hort. Soc. of India Journal, gives 
particulars of the Service rendered by this grain after 
failure of the rice crops in Orissa in 1812, when a 
general famine was apprehended. “The grain ob 
re tained from the bamboo was most plentiful and 
“ gave sustenance to thousands ; indeed, the poorer, 
« and therefore the greater portion of the inhabitants 
« subsisted for some time solely on this food. So 
“ great was the natural anxiety that was evinced to 
“ obtain the grain, that hundreds of people were on 
“ the watch day and night, and cloths were spread 
“ u nder every clump to secure the seeds as they 
“ feil from the branches.” 
1,490. Bamboo grain. Dr. G. Bidie. Madras. 
Eaten by jungle tribes, and also by others in times 
of scarcity. 
2,198. Bamboo seed. India Museum. 
NANOGEE. 
This is a grass seed which has been supposed to 
be that of Festuca fluitans, doubtless in error, em- 
ployed as a food grain in Sind. It much resembles 
the seed of Canadian wild rice (Zizania). 
390. Nanogee. Purmanund Kelty. Karachi. 
RICE. 
Oryza sativa. 
of which there are innumerable varieties, is the 
favourite food grain of the people, but with the ex- 
ception of Arracan and a few other districts in which 
it constitutes the chief and almost only article 
cultivated, its use is conflned to the richer classes 
throughout the country. It grows readily on low 
lands, which are well irrigated, heat and moisture 
being the two great essentials for its development. 
There are three modes of culture:—The first and 
simplest consists in sowing the seed broadcast in its 
natural state. In unirrigated lands this method is 
universally followed. In the second, the seed is 
steeped and then forced under warm grass to germi- 
nate. The seed with the tender shoots is then thrown 
into the soil which has previously been flooded to 
receive it. This method prevails wherever water is 
abundant. In the third the crop is raised in a 
nursery, and when about a month old the young 
plants are planted out at stated intervals, in a well- 
flooded Seid. This System of transplanting involves 
a great deal of trouble and is only followed in heavy 
swampy ground where the plough cannot work, 
although by it. the yield of rice is greater than by 
any of the other methods. These modes of eultiva- 
tion are followed in the Kangra Valley in which the 
celebrated “ basmati ” rice is grown. Another 
celebrated variety is the "vara” or scented rice, 
which is grown exclusively on lands irrigated by the 
river Bara, in the Peshawur Valley. The rice crop 
is sown in May or June and reaped in October. 
Paddy and Rice fhom Bengal. 
(Oryza sativa.) 
Varieties of Rice from Hugli. 
4.883. Atap. 
4.884. Dädkhani. 
4.885. Benaphul. 
4.886. Nona. 
4.887. Ramsal. 
Varieties of Rice from Rajshahye. 
4.888. Borochal. 
4.889. Motachal. “ Fat rice.” 
4.890. Benaphul Atap. 
4.891. Mota aush “ Fat autumn crop rice.” 
4.892. Dadkhäni ushna. 
4.893. Benaphul ushna. 
4.894. Madhu mädhab atap. 
4.895. Mota aush. 
Varieties of rice from Chittagong. 
4.896. Bänsphul atap. 
4.897. Turiabeti. 
4.898. Matahari. 
4.899. Naricel chomar. 
4.900. Beti (a coarse kind of Callam). 
4.901. Lothabini. 
4.902. Aush (autumn crop). 
4.903. Gring. 
4.904. Agpränia sah