FOR BETTER CROPS IN THE SOUTH 



81 



engine is being- used with success to furnish motive power and 

 the machine is hauled by three horses. Eice is much heavier and 

 harder to cut than any other grain, largely for the reason that 

 the straw is usually green. A binder will average from six to 

 twelve acres per day. The rice is shocked as soon as cut. In 

 ordinary weather, the rice is dry enough to thresh within three 

 weeks after cutting. 



Threshing— The rice thresher is similar to the wheat 

 machine. Like the harvester, it is built stronger and with a 

 few minor changes to adapt it to rice. The threshing is done in 

 the field. The machine is equipped with bagger, self-feeder, 



Storing sacked rice 



and straw blower. Two thousand bushels per day is not an 

 uncommon run. Eice is put in bags that will hold about 200 

 pounds and is hauled to the mill or warehouse. If the season is 

 unusually wet, the rice is stacked, but this does not often occur* 



Milling— Before rice can be eaten, the outer husk must be 

 removed. This as well as the polishing is done in the rice mills. 

 The polishing process removes the cuticle that covers the grain, 

 and the germ end. # The by-products of the rice mills are rice 

 polish bran, and broken or brewer's rice. The reason for 

 polishing is to improve the looks of the sample.* It is said also 

 that polished rice keeps better. The greater part of the oil and 

 protein is in the by-products. These are sold largely for feed, 



