The culture of rice by the aid of the periodical rains forms the third mode.  The grain being that kind which requires submersion, the process of sowing and reaping is determined with precision by the seasons.  With the first fall of the rains the lands are ploughed and harrowed.  The seed is sown in beds, usually by strewing very thickly the corn in the ear.  From these beds the plants, when 12 or 14 days old, are removed into the fields and thinly set by the hand.  They are then kept constantly immersed in water until within a fortnight of the harvest, when it is drawn off to facilitate the ripening of the grain.

The fourth mode of cultivating rice is by forcing a crop by artificial irrigation, at any time of the year; thus, in one field, in various plots, the operations of sowing, ploughing, transplanting, and reaping may be seen at the same period.

The fertile, populous, and industrious countries of the Eastern Archipelago export rice to their neighbours.  The most remarkable of these are Java, Bali, some parts of Celebes, with the most fertile spots of Sumatra, and of the Malay Peninsula.  Rice is generally imported to these western countries from those farther east, such as the Spice Islands.  Java is the principal place of production for the consumption of the other islands, and the only island of the Archipelago that sends rice abroad.  The rice of the eastern districts is generally superior to that of the western.  The worst rice is that of Indramayu, which is usually discolored.  The subdivision of the province of Cheribon, called Gabang, yields rice of fine white grain, equal to that of Carolina.  The rice of Gressie preserves best.  All Indian rice is classed, in commercial language, into the three descriptions of table rice, white rice, and cargo rice.  From the limited demand for the first, it is only to be had in Java, in small quantity.  For the same reason the second is not procurable in large quantity, unless bespoken some time before-hand; but the third may be had at the shortest notice in any quantity required.  Java rice is inferior in estimation to that of Bengal or Carolina in the markets of Europe.

The following statistics show the extent and progress of the culture in Java:—­

In 1840.      In 1841.
---------   ----------
No. of Residencies in which rice is cultivated                18           18

" Regencies 69 68

" Districts 414 414

" Desas or villages 39,931 36,296

Amount of the population who take a part in it,
without distinction of caste 6,704,797 6,857,372

  Number of families, &c. 1,466,845 1,475,675

"     " families who devote themselves to the
cultivation                                          1,150,406    1,146,083

  Number of men bound to obligatory service 1,321,767 1,325,746