RICE 205 



tion. The planting season runs from the middle of 

 March to the middle of June. From 2 to 3 bushels 

 are usually seeded to the acre. The rice seeder is 

 often used, but most generally the seed is scat- 

 tered broadcast. It is then harrowed so as to give 

 it a reasonable amount of covering. 



After planting, water is turned on the land so 

 as to give it a thorough soaking and then with- 

 drawn until germination has resulted. During 

 rainy seasons and in moist lands, an application 

 of water is not necessary. When the rice attains 

 a height of 6 or 8 inches, the water is turned on. 

 As the rice plants grow, the depth of water is in- 

 creased. This keeps the weeds down and is just 

 what the rice plant likes. The water is withdrawn 

 sometimes previous to harvesting, to allow the soil 

 to become thoroughly dry that the harvesting ma- 

 chines may be drawn easily over the land. When 

 the straw begins to turn yellow, it is ready for 

 cutting. If machinery cannot be used, the sickle 

 is used. After being cut the rice is bound into 

 sheaves and laid on the stubbles to dry. It is later 

 shocked as in the case of wheat. The next opera- 

 tion is threshing, which is usually by machine just 

 as with other cereals. The yield varies from 20 to 

 40 bushels to the acre. 



On the whole, appliances are becoming more and 

 more available so that farm hulling now has be- 

 come a sort of established rule. The rice mills are 

 complicated affairs. Not only must the grain be 

 taken from the straw, but the light grains must be 

 separated from the heavy; the weeds must be re- 

 moved, the hulls separated, and the grain must be 

 polished and graded and placed in sacks ready for 

 shipment to market. Rice is usually graded as 



