360 THE CEREALS IN AMERICA 



considered distinct species, but they are probably only cultivated 

 forms. As might be expected from a plant so widely and an- 

 ciently cultivated as rice, there are a large number of varieties. 

 In America, however, the varieties have been comparatively few. 

 In the South Atlantic States the varieties chiefly used have been 

 white rice, valued for its early maturity, and two varieties of 

 gold seed rice, so called on account of their golden yellow hulls, 

 differing from each other in the size of the grain, both of which 

 are highly esteemed both because of their quality and the large 

 yield of grain. In the South Central States there are three 

 types of rice recognized, based upon the original source of the 

 seed, viz., Honduras, Japan and Carolina rice. The Honduras 

 rice is the type that has usually been raised, although Japan 

 rice is now raised in large quantities. The grains of the latter 

 are smaller, being shorter but relatively thicker than Honduras 

 rice, and have a thinner hull. Japan rice also tillers more, fifty 

 to eighty seed-bearing culms being not uncommon.^ 



Red rice is distinguished by the color of the grains, which 

 may vary from very light to dark red, and the color may occur 

 only in the seed coat or throughout the endosperm. This 

 variety, practically wild, is sometimes considered a distinct 

 species, and at least a distinct strain, is a strong and hardier 

 grower than white rice, and will ripen its seed under more 

 diverse conditions. Whenever it gets a foothold, therefore, it 

 rapidly supplants the white rice. Since red rice materially 

 lowers the grade, it causes rice planters great loss and becomes 

 the worst weed that they have to combat. 



II. CLIMATE AND SOILS. 



506. Climate. — Rice is a tropical or semitropical plant, and 

 attains its best development in a moist, insular climate. In 

 America rice is not raised north of the southern boundary of 

 Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas ; and very little of it 



I O. E. S. Bui. 131, p. 20. 



