taluks, with their unfailing irrigation, naturally differ from those grown in the uplands of Peddpuram and Tuni, and both differ again from the favourite species in the different climate of Bhadráchalam. Apparently none of the white kinds are ever grown without irrigation; but on the other hand many varieties of black paddy are raised on wet lands. The most valuable and most popular species of all are called atrakadalu and akkullu, both of which are long white varieties. They are grown all over the district and have several sub-species. They require more water than the rest, but resist floods better. The kind known as, prayága (again long and white) is also very hardy, resisting droughts and floods equally well. The least valuable is the short white rasangi paddy, which is worth Rs. 10 less per garce than the atrakadalu and akkullu. Though most prolific, it is very indigestible. A kind of intoxicating liquor is extracted from it.
Rain-fed paddy is raised on lankas, superior dry land or high-level wet land. Only certain kinds of paddy will flourish in this way, and the outturn is naturally smaller than on irrigated land. The seed is sown broadcast without preliminary soaking when the early showers fall in June. Weeds are removed twice with a weeder (tollika) some two or three weeks after sowing and again a fortnight or a month later. In the upland taluks the ryots weed with what is called a gorru, a log of wood provided with iron or wooden teeth and drawn by cattle. The crop is ordinarily harvested in September or October, but the shorter Bhadráchalam crop is reaped in August.
Except in the case of this rain-fed crop, paddy is seldom sown broadcast, but is transplanted from seed-beds. In Rajahmundry, Pólavaram, Pithápuram and Tuni sowing is of necessity resorted to in the case of the very deep wet fields in which, owing to their low level, it is impossible to control the depth of the water in the manner necessary with transplanted seedlings. In these fields a special kind of paddy, called kásari, is sown (unsoaked) in May before the rains or floods are received, the field having been ploughed when dry. This variety does not mind being submerged. Broadcast sowing is also sometimes adopted by ryots who cannot afford the expense of transplantation, but this is generally looked upon as bad farming.
There appear to be four recognized methods of raising paddy in seed-beds, which are known as karédáku, mettapadunu, mokkáku and dúkáku. In the case of the two former, the beds are ploughed when quite dry, before water comes down the
