p,iCE 225 



young plants are allowed to grow, if practicable, -s^-ithout 

 irrigation until the rice is 8 inches high, since the very 

 young plants are hable to scalding in shallow water. How- 

 ever, it is sometimes necessary to irrigate in order to cause 

 the seed to germinate. When the plants have reached a 

 height of 8 inches, the field is covered -with water to a 

 depth of 3 to 6 inches. Care should be taken that the 

 water does not become stagnant, which is prevented by 

 pro^dchng for a continuous inflow into the high part of the 

 section and for a continuous outflow from the lower part of 

 each section of the field. 



Irrigation in rice culture largely takes the place of cul- 

 tivation, since it prevents the gro^wth of manj- weeds 

 and encourages the growth of the rice plant. 



Xear the time of harvest, the water is drawTi off so that 

 the fields may become firm enough for the teams and 

 machinery engaged in harvesting. 



The practice in .South Carolina differs from the above. 

 The water is admitted as soon as the seed is so'^^m, and it is 

 kept on the land i to 6 days to sprout the grain. The field 

 is then drained. "\Mien the plants are a few inches high, 

 another brief watering is given and the land again drained. 

 Soon afterwards, irrigation is repeated, the water being 

 kept on the land 20 to -30 days. It is then drawn off and 

 the field hoed. Xo more water is admitted until jointing 

 of the plants begins, when they are hoed and the water 

 again turned on, to remain until about 8 days before the 

 harvest, when it is T\ithdrav.Ti. Care is taken to secure 

 a constant change of water so as to avoid stagnation. 



205. Upland rice. — There are upland strains of rice 

 that have become accustomed to being grown without 



