RICE 



629 



submergence for a long period is required for a paying 

 crop; (4) for economy, the overflow or water loss 

 need never be more than a mere film in depth; (5) 

 increased tillering occurs directly, and root growth 

 inversely, in proportion to the amount of irrigation; 

 (6) irrigation water should not contain more than 0.3 

 per cent of salt, and even a little less than that may 

 be injurious. 



FIG. 183. Twine binder used in rice harvest, Beaumont, Texas. 



707. Harvesting and thrashing. In the Carolina rice 

 district the crop is cut with the sickle. The cut grain is 

 laid on the stubble and cured before binding, and is also 

 not bound while it is wet with dew or rain. The thrash- 

 ing is done with modern machinery, in buildings called 

 " thrashing mills," located on the bank of the river or a 

 large canal, where the grain can be readily loaded on to 

 boats for transport to market. 



In all the other rice districts, the harvesting and thrash- 

 ing are done with self-binders and steam thrashers, 



