156 AMERICAN AGRICULTURE. 



broadcast about as thick as wheat, and harrow it in with a 

 light harrow having many teeth ; the ground being first well 

 plowed and prepared by ditches and embankments for inunda- 

 tion. It is generally sown in March, and immediately after 

 sowing the water is let on, so as barely to overflow 

 the ground. The water is withdrawn on the second, third, 

 or fourth day, or as soon as the grain begins to swell. The 

 rice very soon after comes up and grows finely. When it 

 has attained about three inches in height, the water is again 

 let on, the top leaves being left a little above the water. Com- 

 plete immersion would kill the plant. A fortnight previous 

 to harvest, the water is drawn off to give the stalks strength, 

 and to dry the ground for the convenience of the reapers. 



A different method is practiced in the northern part of 

 Italy. The seed is sown in April, previously to which it is 

 soaked a day or two in water. After sowing, about two 

 inches of water is let in upon the ground. The rice comes 

 up through the water, which is then drawn off to give the 

 plant strength, and after some days, is again let on. The 

 rice is more apt to mildew under this practice, than our meth- 

 od, of letting the water on about the time the Italians draw it 

 off. 



The same measure of ground yields three times as much 

 Rice as wheat. The only labor after sowing, is to see 

 that the rice is properly irrigated ; except in some localities 

 where aquatic plants prove troublesome, the water effectual- 

 ly destroying all others. The rice grounds of the lower 

 Mississippi produce about seventy-five dollars worth of rice 

 per acre. The variety called the Creole white rice, is con- 

 sidered to be the best. 



Cultivation of Upland Rice. In the eastern part of the 

 State of Mississipi, called the Piney woods, rice is very 

 generally cultivated on the uplands. Although it cannot be 

 made a profitable article of export, yet it affords the people 

 of the interior an abundant supply of a healthy food for them- 

 selves, and a good provender for their cattle, and makes them 

 independent of the foreign market. Unlike other kinds of 

 grain, it can be kept for many years in a warm climate, 

 without spoiling, by winnowing it semi-annually, which 

 prevents the weevil and a small black insect that sometimes 

 attacks it. y* 



It is cultivated entirely with the plow and harrow, and 

 grows well on the pine barrens. A kind of shovel plow 

 drawn by one horse, is driven through the unbroken 



