226 SOUTHERN FIELD CROPS 



irrigatioiij but which cannot be distinguished from lowland 

 rice. This so-called upland rice succeeds better when 

 irrigated. For the culture of rice without irrigation, the 

 best soils are drained ponds or moist bottom lands. 



Since the crop must be kept free from grass and weeds by 

 tillage, upland rice should be sown in drills, as close to- 

 gether as practicable without preventing the use of culti- 

 vating implements. The usual distance between rows is 

 two and one half to three feet. Custom varies as to the 

 thickness of planting in the drill. It is most convenient for 

 the seeds to be dropped, a number in a place at distances of 

 seven to twelve inches apart. 



Several cultivations and one or two hoeings are usually 

 given. The yields are generally much less than on irri- 

 gated land, and the expense of tillage is greater than that 

 of irrigation. However, on soils especially suited to this 

 crop and where labor is not expensive, it may be advisable 

 to introduce the culture of rice, especially for use in the im- 

 mediate neighborhood. 



The quality of upland rice is regarded as somewhat in- 

 ferior to that of irrigated rice, probably because of imper- 

 fect filling of some of the grains, and differences in the time 

 of maturity among the different plants. Moreover, the 

 small rice huUers which are usually employed (in connec- 

 tion with a gin or grist mill), in localities where only small 

 areas of rice are grown, do not turn out a product as highly 

 poUshed as that obtained in the large and well-equipped 

 rice mills. However, the dark and unpolished rice of the 

 small mills is more nutritious than the pearly-white article 

 of commerce, for the reason that the former contains more 

 of the outer layers, which are the richest in protein. 



