78 FOR BETTER CROPS IN THE SOUTH 



to the air and rains — there is no danger of soil washing on the 

 level prairies of the rice belt. 



Fall Plowing eliminates much work in the spring and insures 

 a better crop. It is a common practice to double disk, double 

 harrow, "float," or roll the plowed land, after which the seed is 

 planted with the press drill in 8-inch rows. Many different drills 

 have been tested, but the most popular is the shoe-runner drill 

 with large press wheels. The disk drill cannot be said to be a 

 good implement for all conditions of the rice soils. Rice may be 

 planted in this section from the middle of March to the 20th of 

 June. After drilling, if the land is very dry, it is a good plan to 

 harrow lightly. When the rice comes up, the application of the 

 one-horse weeder will destroy the germinating crab-grass and 

 weeds and be a benefit to the rice. 



A rice field in Louisiana 



Applying the Water— After the rice plant is out of the ground 

 and has developed two leaves it requires more than eight inches 

 of water to destroy it, but strange as it may seem, too much 

 rain will work more injury to a germinating rice crop than it 

 will to oats at the same state of development. Water is not 

 applied, however, until the plant is large enough to, in a measure, 

 shade the ground. This, however, depends upon the rainfall ; if 

 it is very dry so that the rice does not grow, it is well to flood 

 and allow the water to drain off at once. 



Rice that has not been irrigated will stand as much or more 

 drouth than oats; and if the land is reasonably moist, it will 

 make a good growth up to heading time; when coming into head, 

 however, it is necessary, in order to insure a good crop, to 

 cover the land with water. Water is used throughout the grow- 

 ing season because it makes the rice grow faster and keeps down 

 the weeds and grass. 



