8 BICE GEOWING IN THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY. 



Level tracts of land with sufficient slope for eflfective drainage, if 

 they possess the required characters of soil and subsoil, are admirably 

 suited for rice. In the use of such lands for this crop the field should 

 be inclosed by strong embankments and so subdivided that each sub- 

 field shall have a surface level enough to hold the irrigation water 

 at a rather uniform depth and yet wnth the necessary slope for good 

 drainage. These conditions are obtainable by constructing the field 

 levees on contour lines at distances which during submergence will 

 hold the water at a depth of approximately 5 inches on the lower 

 side and 3 inches on the upper side of each subfield. These levees 

 should be just high enough to prevent the water from overflowing 

 into the subfields below and broad enough to allow all kinds of ma- 

 chinery used in the cultivation of rice to pass over them easily and 

 without damage to them. The planting of the field levees, which is 

 made possible by their const miction, will leave no uncultivated strips 

 of land in the field for the growth of weeds, and though the rice 

 upon them may not be equal in every respect to the main crop, the 

 results obtained in the control of weeds alone will justify the prac- 

 tice. Such levees are permanent, and with little money and time can 

 be kept in excellent condition. 



The successful cultivation of rice is dependent upon an abundant 

 and always available supply of water. This does not mean, however, 

 that the land upon which the crop is grown must be submerged dur- 

 ing the entire season. Under the favorable conditions of a good seed 

 bed, water need not be applied for germination. However, the soil 

 should never be allowed to dry out. This will require frequent irri- 

 gation. 



After the plants have tillered well, the land should be submerged 

 for a week to as great a depth as the levees will allow. At the end 

 of this time the water may be low^ered in the subfields to approxi- 

 mately 1^- inches and kept at this stage until the plants begin to 

 "boot," when the water should be applied again to the maximum 

 depth for a few days. (PI. II, fig. 1.) After most of the heads have 

 appeared, the water should be applied for a third time to its maxi- 

 mum depth and maintained without fluctuation until the heads are 

 well turned down. (PI. III.) At this stage of growth the fields 

 should be rapidly drained. 



With eflective drainage (PI. IV) the ground will be dry and firm 

 enough within two Aveeks to support the weight of the harvesting 

 machinery. Rapid drainage of the fields at this time is imperative 

 if the crop is to be harvested at the least expense in labor and loss 

 of grain. It can be easily obtained through open ditches, varying 

 in depth from 2 to 4 feet, if properly located and kept free of weeds 

 and other obstructions. Even wnth increased power the self-binder 

 can not do efficient work on wet ground, and the delay in harvesting 



[Cir. 97] 



