15 



The dry matter of the above four varieties increases at nearly 

 the same rate until five or six weeks from the time of transplantation. 

 In the next fourteen days, by Aug. ii th , the short, medium and long 

 life varieties reach 50.0,%". 45-5X anc * 44-1% respectively; thus the 

 increasing rates of the Japanese varieties which were cultivated under 

 the same climatic conditions, are not very different in this period. 

 Afterwards, the rates of increase entirely differ from one another, 

 even under the same conditions, probably according to the peculiarities 

 of the different varieties. As a rule the rate of increase in the 

 amount of dry matter during maturation is less rapid than in the 

 period of vegetative growth, the great increase of dry matter in the 

 grain being a little more than counteracted by the very considerable 

 decrease that takes place in the leaves and stems during the period 

 of maturity. This latter fact was explained in the publication 

 previously referred to, (v. p. 10). 



It is vsry clearly noticed that the rate of increase of dry 

 matter falls into three distinct periods throughout the rice plant's 

 life. 



I. Period of tillering. The increase of dry matter is very slow 

 during the time that the plant tillers freely. In this period the 

 number of panicles may be predicted. 



II. Period of vegetative growth, or of increase in height. The dry 

 matter in the plant body accumulates very rapidly up to the time of 

 heading out or flowering. 



III. Period of maturation. The dry matter in the grain increases 

 in amount very rapidly, and that in the entire plant has either a 

 gradual or a rapid increase, according to the particular varieties of 

 rice plant. 



Therefore these three periods, which farmers recognize by their 

 external appearances, have a very important signification witli regard 

 to the formation of dry matter in the rice plant. 



The Formosan crop has no such conspicuous distinction in the 



