MISCELLANEOUS CROPS 605 



phasis can not be placed upon the importance of thoroughly pulver- 

 izing the soil to a considerable depth ; leveling with a harrow as per* 

 fectly as possible ; crushing all the lumps and packing the surface to 

 conserve the moisture ; and planting the seed at a uniform depth. 



Broadcast Sowing. Broadcast sowing of- rice is the method 

 most in vogue in many localities, but it should be discontinued ; the 

 seed is never scattered with uniformity; some grains remain upon 

 the surface and the remainder is buried by the harrow and the tramp 

 of the teams to depths varying from 1 to 6 inches. Rice sown broad- 

 cast does not germinate with any uniformity. Some seeds are taken 

 by the birds, some are too near the surface and lack moisture to 

 germinate, while others are buried too deep. In some instances the 

 variation in the germination of the rice in the same field has been 

 as much as eight weeks. Then at the harvest when the main portion 

 is ready for the reaper a good deal of the rice is still immature. The 

 product commands a very low price in the market, because the mer- 

 chantable grain must sell at the price of the low grade. It requires 

 much more care to produce a strictly first-class quality of rice than is 

 found necessary in the production of any other cereal, and nearly 

 every fall prime offerings are the exception. 



The South Carolina Method. Seeding in South Carolina com- 

 mences in April and continues nearly to the middle of May. Just 

 prior to seeding the land is thoroughly harrowed, all clods pulver- 

 ized, and the surface smoothed. Trenches 12 inches apart and 2 to 

 3 inches deep are made with 4-inch trenching hoes at right angles to 

 the drains, and the seed is dropped in these. This is usually covered, 

 but occasionally a planter, to save labor, stirs the seed in clayed water, 

 enough clay adhering to the kernels to prevent their floating away 

 when the water is admitted. Great attention is paid to the selection 

 of good seed. 



Flooding. This is the most important distinctive feature of rice 

 culture as compared with the culture of cereals generally. When it 

 is considered that rice can be grown successfully without any irriga- 

 tion whatever, or with continuous irrigation from the time of sowing 

 till nearly ripe, the wide scope there is for variation in practice will 

 be realized. 



General Directions. Except where water is necessary for germi- 

 nating the seed, flooding is not practiced until the rice is 6 to 8 inches 

 high. If showers are abundant enough to keep the soil moist it is 

 better to delay flooding till the rice is 8 inches high, as there is con- 

 siderable danger of scalding the rice when very young. At 8 inches 

 high a sufficient depth of water can be allowed on the field to pre- 

 vent scalding. The depth of water that should be maintained from 

 the first flooding until it is withdrawn for the harvest depends upon 

 other conditions. If the growing crop thoroughly shades the land, 

 just enough water to keep the soil saturated will answer. To be safe, 

 however, for all portions of the field, it should stand 3 to 6 inches 

 deep, and, to avoid stagnation, it should be renewed by a continuous 

 inflow and outflow. In case the stand of rice is thin the water should 



