THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 129 



RICE IN CALIFORNIA. 



By E. D. Woodruff, Agricultural Engineer, Marysville, California. 



Rice planting.s in Californica may be said to date back to the spring 

 of 1909. Although small areas had been set out previous to this time, 

 tlie results had not been satisfactory, owing to a lack of knowledge of 

 local conditions. 



In 1909 the Department of Agriculture made experimental plantings 

 in the vicinity of Biggs, Butte County. From that time the rice area 

 has increased at a surprising rate and is fast becoming one of the prin- 

 cipal crops of the interior valleys of California. 



Rice is being successfully grown on soils of many different types in 

 the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. While plantings were at first 

 only considered feasible on the heavj^ adobe soils, results have shown 

 that the lighter loams and silty soils are equally well adapted to its 

 culture, providing that they are underlaid by hardpan or other imper- 

 vious subsoil which will prevent excessive loss of irrigation water by 

 seepage. 



Shallow soils are most economical of water and observations have 

 shown that good yields may be expected from soils which are too thin 

 for the proper growth of any other crop. 



Land which was only con.sidered suitable for grain and which had 

 been cropped continuously for a number of years until its value — for 

 even this crop, was very small — has made tremendous yields of rice 

 when given proper care and attention. Heavy adobe soils which were 

 known as the most discouraging and difficult agricultural propositions 

 in the state are now eagerly sought by rice growers, and their values 

 have doubled and tripled in the last few years. 



Soils heavily charged with alkali are yielding satisfactory returns 

 under rice culture and are being improved in the process. The constant 

 flooding is carrying off a large part of the salts and the improvement is 

 quite noticeable. 



It does not seem unreasonable to say that any soil in the Sacramento 

 and San Joaquin valleys is suitable for the culture of rice, providing 

 other factors are satisfactory. The water supply, ability to retain the 

 water, drainage and topography are the real controlling factors and 

 should be given first and most careful attention by the prospective rice 

 grower. 



The climate throughout the interior valleys of California varies little 

 in the different localities and has been proven to be well adapted to the 

 growth of the plant. Sections which are exposed to the cold winds 

 which blow in from the coast should be avoided. 



When one considers that the land must be kept flooded for a period of 

 three months or over and that before this flooding is commenced it must 

 be irrigated or kept moist for almost two months, it is easy to under- 

 stand that the water supply and ability to retain the water are matters 

 of prime importance. 



There are a number of methods of obtaining water for irrigation pur- 

 poses, all of which have been used in California. Water may be diverted 



Note. — The numerous inquiries regarding the production of rice make us glad and 

 grateful to publish this article from the pen of one so well fitted to speak. — A. J. Cook. 



