328 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



rowed in order to pulverize it as finely as possible for the reception of the seed ; thorough 

 harrowing also breaks up the sod and exposes the roots and seeds of grasses and weeds to the 

 action of the sun, which will be a great benefit in the after-cultivation of the crop. The seed 

 is sown either broadcast or in drills, usually the latter, at the rate of from two to three bushels 

 per acre. Two methods are employed, some preferring covering the grain in the soil two or 

 three inches, others regarding the open-trench system as preferable, where the grain is left 

 uncovered and the water immediately turned on very gradually until the rice adheres to the 

 soil, after which it is slowly flooded to the depth of twelve or eighteen inches. When the 

 grain is covered by the soil in sowing, the water is immediately turned on to the above depth, 

 and remains until the rice is well germinated, after which the water is drawn off and kept out 

 until the plant has two leaves. When the land is well flooded, all the rubbish and drift that 

 rises to the surface is taken out with rakes in order that it may not settle upon the field when 

 the water is drawn off. The sowing is generally performed in March, although it is some 

 times done as late as the fifteenth of May and even later. Germination of the seed is hastened 

 by soaking the grain in water a few hours before sowing. 



When the rice has two leaves of growth the water is again let on to the same depth as 

 before, entirely submerging the plants, and remains at this depth from a week to ten days ; 

 this gives a vigorous growth to the grain, and has a tendency to destroy the grass and weeds. 

 Mr. Flavean further says that &quot; the planter should be governed by the weather in regard to 

 the length of time the plants remain thus submerged; if warm, seven days, if cool, ten; after 

 which the water is drawn gradually off, until a general &quot;verdure&quot; is seen floating all over 

 the field. At this point the water is stopped and a mark set upon the gate as a &quot;gauge- 

 mark.&quot; To this gauge the water is rigidly held for sixty or sixty-five days from the day it 

 first came on the field. It sometimes happens that, during this flow, the crop takes a check 

 and stops growing. In this event to take off the water is fatal, as it will produce &quot;foxed 

 rice; &quot; but it must be held firmly to the gauge, and in a few days the plant will throw out new 

 roots and recommence growing. If the maggot attack it in this flow, the water is drawn off 

 for a day or two and replaced. And where water is abundant and easily handled, the maggot 

 can generally be avoided by beginning, about the thirtieth day, to change the water once a 

 week. To do so skillfully, both gates must be simultaneously opened at the &quot; young flood.&quot; 

 The stale water will thus rush out and fresh water come immediately back with the rising 

 tide to float the rice leaves and prevent them sticking to the ground in their fall. If the 

 maggot gets serious, the field has to be dried nolens volens. The maggot is a tiny white worm, 

 which is generated by stale water, and attacks the roots of the plant, causing serious injury to 

 the crop. The presence of the maggot may always be suspected by the stiff and unthrifty 

 appearance of the field. 



If the land is fertile, at the end of the sixty-day flow it will be found, on drawing off 

 the water, that the rice has attained a vigorous growth of about three feet, and is well stocked 

 with tillers, while also, if the field is level, and the harrowing and pulverizing was thoroughly 

 attended to before planting, no grass will be seen, nothing but rice and the clean soil be 

 neath. The field is kept dry now for about fifteen or twenty days, or until the land dries off 

 nicely and the rice takes its second growth. And if there be no grass it ought not to be dis 

 turbed with the hoe, as the laborers, at this stage, often do more harm than good. This, how 

 ever, does not apply to cat-tails and volunteers, which should, of course, be carefully 

 pulled up by the roots, and sheafed and carried to the banks, to be disposed of by the hot 

 sun. 



At the end of fifteen or twenty days, as above mentioned, the water is returned to the 

 field as deep as the rice and banks can bear, never, however, topping the fork of the for 

 mer. This water, where circumstances permit, is changed every week or two, by letting it 

 off on one tide and taking it back on the next, and increasing the gauge with the growth 



