858 The Philippine Journal of Science 1915 
NURSERY SEED BEDS FOR RICE 
There are certain general principles involved in the prepara- 
tion of all seed beds. Seed beds for rice are no exception; good 
results are obtained only when the general requirements are 
met. They may be summarized as follows: 
Soil requirements. Any soil easily worked, not too sandy nor too 
heavy. 
Abundant moisture. 
Preparation. Thorough working of soil prior to time of planting. 
Fertility. Yearly application of well-rotted manure. Seedlings de- 
mand large quantities of available food. 
Protection. Fences to prevent animal invasion and scarecrows and 
special devices to prevent the attacks of birds. 
There are several methods of preparing seed beds in the 
Islands. The following is the one most universally used in the 
different regions; it is known as punldan (Tagalog), pagbono- 
bonan (Ilocano), and saboran (Visayan). 
The preparation of the seed bed usually begins about the time 
the light rains commence. This enables the farmers to pro- 
duce seedlings for transplanting at the beginning of the rainy 
season. Other beds are made later to provide seedlings for 
later transplantings. ° 
The beds are often located on a part of the rice paddy, ina 
garden, or in a small area near the farmer’s home. Sometimes 
manure is used; again the bed may occupy the place formerly 
occupied by the threshing operations and some fertility is pro- 
vided for in that way. 
The soil is plowed and harrowed both ways until it is very 
fine. Then it is divided into beds which are about 3 or 4 meters 
wide. 
Soaking the palay in water for from twenty-four to thirty-six 
hours, then draining and allowing it to germinate before sowing, 
is practiced to some extent, especially among the Tagalogs. 
When properly done, soaking aids in grading the seed; hastens 
germination, thus giving birds less opportunity for pillage; and 
may increase the percentage of germination. However, it re- 
quires careful attention, or, due to a delay in the sowing or to 
insufficiency of water after sowing, it may result unsatis- 
factorily. 
Broadcasting is the most universal method of sowing the 
seed. especially among the Tagalogs and Visayans. In this 
case the seed is scattered by hand over the surface of the bed 
and is covered either by a thin layer of dirt from near by or by 
harrowing with a bamboo harrow, or a sufficiently soft bed is 
