CEREALS AND FORAGE PLANTS 361 



branches of the panicle are erect and often crowded, not 

 spreading, as in oats, but not compact and looking like a 

 spike, as in barley. There is a single perfect flower in each 

 spikelet, and the hard palet encloses the grain so closely that 

 it falls with it, forming the so-called "husk" about the grain 

 (Figs. 40 and 41). Rice with the husks on is often called 

 " paddy," while in India all rice is " paddy." 



FIG. 38. Map shaded to show the states of.greatest rice-production. 



66. Cultivation of rice. The cultivation of rice belongs 

 to subtropical countries, and it requires wet soil, which can 

 be artificially flooded at certain times. There are also 

 " upland " varieties which do not require flooding. In the 

 warmer countries two crops a year are raised. The seed is 

 sown on very wet soil, then transplanted to its permanent 

 place, and flooded at intervals. In the United States the 

 rice lands are prepared as for other cereals, and either put 

 under irrigation control, or lowlands are used that are subject 

 to flooding. Of course the upland rice is cultivated in the 

 dry way used with other cereals. 



