GRASSES. 19 



The rice-fields of Carolina lie adjacent to the larger 

 rivers which flow toward the sea, and down whose 

 rapid currents the floods of each Spring bring a fresh 

 deposit of soil. They are enclosed in some places by 

 neat embankments, through openings in which the 

 water is allowed to run at such times as it is needed. 

 The rice-seed is sown in a rich plot of ground, and 

 allowed to attain the height of a few inches, when 

 the plants are removed into the fields where they are 

 to grow ; the ground having been previously prepared 

 by being overflowed with water until it is thoroughly 

 saturated. These plantations require to be kept con- 

 stantly moist, and as they usually lie below the level 

 of the river, by opening the sluices in the embank- 

 ments they are readily watered; this operation is 

 repeated several times during its growth. 



A field of young rice is a beautiful and interesting 

 sight, but the great amount of decayed vegetation 

 which the soil contains, renders the atmosphere very 

 unhealthy, and few persons beside the negroes em- 

 ployed in cultivation can remain in the neighborhood 

 with safety. 



In the list of useful grasses we must not forget 

 the Bulrush spoken of in the Bible. This appears 

 to be no other than the paper-reed of the Egyptians. 

 The ark in which the infant Moses lay among the 

 sedges of the Nile, was made of this plant. Isaiah 

 speaks of the paper-reeds by the brooks, (Is. xix. 7,) 

 which undoubtedly alludes to the same, as it was 

 found in great abundance, not only in the shallow 



