RICE 225 



young plants are allowed to grow, if practicable, without 

 irrigation until the rice is 8 inches high, since the very 

 young plants are liable to scalding in shallow water. How- 

 ever, it is sometimes necessary to irrigate in order to cause 

 the seed to germinate. When the plants have reached a 

 height of 8 inches, the field is covered with water to a 

 depth of 3 to 6 inches. Care should be taken that the 

 water does not become stagnant, which is prevented by 

 providing for a continuous inflow into the high part of the 

 section and for a continuous outflow from the lower part of 

 each section of the field. 



Irrigation in rice culture largely takes the place of cul- 

 tivation, since it prevents the growth of many weeds 

 and encourages the growth of the rice plant. 



Near the time of harvest, the water is drawn off so that 

 the fields may become firm enough for the teams and 

 machinery engaged in harvesting. 



The practice in South Carolina differs from the above. 

 The water is admitted as soon as the seed is sown, and it is 

 kept on the land 4 to 6 days to sprout the grain. The field 

 is then drained. When the plants are a few inches high, 

 another brief watering is given and the land again drained. 

 Soon afterwards, irrigation is repeated, the water being 

 kept on the land 20 to 30 days. It is then drawn off and 

 the field hoed. No more water is admitted until jointing 

 of the plants begins, when they are hoed and the water 

 again turned on, to remain until about 8 days before the 

 harvest, when it is withdrawn. Care is taken to secure 

 a constant change of water so as to avoid stagnation. 



205. Upland rice. There are upland strains of rice 

 that have become accustomed to being grown without 

 Q 



