THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



105 



the water courses in the rice district, which flow se- 

 renely, deliberately, and in almost perpetual shade, 

 follow channels cut far below the level of the water of 

 the Gulf of Mexico. Because of this fact, salt water 

 for irrigation becomes a certainty when a dry season 

 prevails and the pumps withdraw the 

 fresh water from the upper reaches of 

 the stream. This is not a theory, but 

 an actual experience of rice farmers 

 along several streams during 1901 and 

 1902. The result was great loss of 

 crops and also damage to soils. 



In one important particular only 

 does rice growing in Texas and Louis- 

 iana differ greatly from wheat farming 

 in the Northwest. Owing to the rapid 

 growth of vegetation in the warm cli- 

 mate, both fall and spring plowing are 

 practiced by the best farmers, but in 

 general the preparation of the soil, 

 planting, harvesting and threshing the 

 crop are processes exactly similar to 

 those followed on a wheat farm. After 

 the plowing, the land is usually disced 

 thoroughly and then harrowed to still 

 further reduce the lumps. The broad- 



, i , t Courtesy Division o 



casting sower fastened to the rear or THRESHING 



the wagon box, or better still, the regu- 

 lation seed drill, is used to plant the seed, the reaper 

 and binder cuts the grain, and the regulation separator 



practice in the wheat field where irrigation is neces- 

 sary. Repairing the field levees, described above, is 

 iisually left until the seed is planted, and actual irri- 

 gation, which does not begin until the plant has reached 

 a height varying between 6 inches and 1 foot, which, 



f Publication . 

 RICE, MOORE-CORTES PLANTATION, BAY CITY, TEXAS. 



g upon the season, occurs from one to two 

 months after p'antiijg. At this time a flood of water 



ourtesy Division of Publications. 



RICE STACK YARDS. 



threshes it in the most approved and expeditious fash- 

 ion. Preparation to irrigate the rice crop and the meth- 

 od of applying water, however, differ greatly from the 





from the great canal is poured upon the highest cut 

 on the farm and through the lower levee, conveyed suc- 

 cessively to the cuts below until the entire farm presents 



