368 FIELD CROPS FOR THE COTTON-BELT 



selection of seed and the preparation of the seed-bed, the 

 average yield can be materially increased. In exceptional 

 cases more than 100 bushels have been secured from one 

 acre. 



PEEPARATION AND USES OF RICE 



453. Cleaned rice. — In order to secure cleaned rice 

 the "paddy" or rough rice must be put through a com- 

 phcated milling process. Modern rice mills comprise 

 a vast network of complicated machinery. In going 

 through these mills the rice is subjected to the following 

 process in the order given: 



(1) Screening, which removes trash and foreign parti- 

 cles. 



(2) Removal of the hull by "rapidly revolving 'milling 

 stones' set about two-thirds of the length of a rice grain 

 apart." 



(3) Separation of the light chaff and the whole and bro- 

 ken kernels by passing the mixed product over horizontal 

 screens and blowers. 



(4) Removal of the cuticle or outer coverings of the ker- 

 nels. To accomplish this the kernels are put in large 

 mortars holding 4 to 6 bushels each and poimded with 

 pestles weighing 350 to 400 pounds. 



(5) Separation of the flour and fine chaff removed in 

 (4), from the clean rice, by passing the mixture first over 

 flour-screens and then through the fine-chaff fan. 



(6) Cooling. — The partially clean rice is passed to the 

 cooling bins where it remains for 8 or 9 hours until the 

 heat generated in the previous friction process has escaped. 



(7) Removal of the smallest rice and what little flour 

 is left by means of brush screens. 



(8) Polishing. — This is the final process in the produc- 



