BICE 22 y 



vation before the riee is sown. But this maj- result in making 

 the date of planting too late for best jields of rice. 



Another method of fighting weeds consists in applj-ing no water 

 for a year or more, meantime not using the land for rice or even 

 for anj' crop. In this way, the drj'-land weeds crowd out the 

 water4o\-ing weeds, which latter are the most serious enemies of 

 the Louisiana rice grower. 



Insect enemies. — Rice is not greatly injured by manj' insects. 

 Among insect pests is the larva or grub of a small gray beetle, 

 the water wee\"il {Lissorhoptrus simplex). The grubs in summer 

 feed on the roots of the plants, g:i\-ing to the clumps of j)lants 

 affected a yellowish appearance. The remedj- consists in pre- 

 venting the stagnation of the water and, if practicable, in the 

 temporarj- "^^^thdra^^■al of the water and the drjHng out of the land. 



Fungous diseases. — Rice blast, also called " rotten neck," is 

 thought to be caused by a fungus iPiricularia oryzce). The sheath 

 node is attacked, that is the node in which the head is forming, and 

 the head may fail to fUl out or may break off. Experts are not 

 agreed as to anj- practicable treatment for this disease. 



Rice rust causes the leaves to die and the grain to be light. The 

 cause is not definitely linown. This trouVjle has been prevented 

 by using 400 pounds of kainit per acre. 



Rice smut ( Tilletia horrida) occasionally occurs, filling the kernel 

 with a mass of black spores. According to Anderson, it can be 

 prevented either by (1) scalding the seed for 10 minutes in water 

 kept at a temperature of 1.33'' F., or (2) by moistening the seed 

 for about 2 hours in a solution of one ounce of formalin to 3 

 gallons of water. 



Rice birds or bobolinks ( Dolichonyx oryzivorus). — These birds 

 prey on the ripening grain. ]Men and bo\-s armed with shot 

 guns are erajAoyed in some localities to frighten these birds from 

 the rice fields. 



LABORATORY EXERCISE 



If seed heads or rough funhulled) rice can be obtained, -write a 

 description of the seed and its covering, and of the arrangement 

 of seeds on the branches. 



