16 THE RICE WATER- WEEVIL. 



marked in shallow water almost as much as in deep water when 

 either becomes stagnant. In a field that had received only a scant 

 supply of water, which in fact merely filled the low places although 

 keeping all of the ground soaked, very few larvae could be found. 

 Most of these larvae occurred on roots of weak plants in the pools, 

 while the best growth stood out of water and was scarcely attacked 

 at all. Soaking instead of flooding appeared to result very bene- 

 ficially, not only controlling infestation but inducing prime growth of 

 plants at least past the stage of stooling when the coarse leaves offer 

 little attraction to the weevils. 



EFFECTS OF EARLY, DELAYED, AND LATE FLOODING. 



Rice in different fields that were first flooded at various times 

 covering a seasonal range of dates in accordance with the planting 

 and sprouting has in due course been found subjected to the same 

 degree of infestation. Xo advantage can be gained against the weevil 

 by choosing any particuftir time for flooding that will still be suit- 

 able for the needs of the plants. An attempt to delay full flooding 

 by a gradual soaking of fields in order that the plants might attain 

 a strong growth and be able to withstand or escape attacks after 

 deep water was applied met with interference from heavy rainfalls 

 which flooded the fields, and the owner then saved the water. The 

 probable effectiveness of soaking is indicated by the case of accidental 

 shortage of water, as mentioned in the preceding subject. 



EFFECTS OF ALTERNATE FLOODING AND DRYING. 



At Crowley. La., on June 28. inspection was made of a field of rice 

 that had been allowed to dry out from stoppage of water supply on 

 two occasions, one lasting six days and the other four days. The oc- 

 currence of larvae was limited principally to the most heavily flooded 

 parts, and the roots of the plants were not badly injured. The com- 

 parative scarcity of the larvae throughout the field was attributed to 

 the effects of the two intervals of drying, and the rice escaped much 

 danger from attacks. 



At Almyra, Ark., on August 1, other observations were made on a 

 field where scarcity of water had caused alternate periods of drying. 

 Water had been supplied but little more than half of the time since 

 first flooding, though the ground had been generally kept damp with 

 the addition of rainfall. No larva? were found on the roots of this 

 rice, and only a few weevils occurred on weak plants near the edges 

 of the field. The plants exhibited a high, vigorous, and fairly 

 healthy growth, the lack of enough water having evidently resulted 

 in a yellow tinge of the leaves, which, however, promised to be 



