Rice Production in Southwestern Louisiana 29 
be done with an ordinary corn planter adjusted to drop one or two 
seeds from 2 to 4 inches apart in the row. The seed should be sown 
just beneath the soil surface.' Deeper seeding is likely to result in a 
loss of stand. 
The Biloxi is better adapted to rice-field conditions than any other 
variety of soybean that so far has been tested at the Rice Experiment 
Station. This variety should be sown not earlier than the last week 
in May, and preferably not later than June 15. When sown during 
this period the plants are relatively short (fig. 9) and bear short 
limbs that fruit rather heavily. Plants of this type are easily and 
effectively cultivated and can be harvested with machinery without 
appreciable loss. When sown earlier than the week mentioned, the 
Biloxi variety grows very tall and' bears large limbs. These limbs 
seriously interfere with cultivation, preventing the destruction of 
many weeds. The larger plants also are not likely to be more pro- 
ductive. Early seeding has little effect on date of maturity, which 
with the Biloxi normally occurs in early November. 
Good cultivation is essential. Cultivation may be done with a 
riding cultivator and should begin as soon as the plants can be 
readily traced in the rows. By using the disk and other attachments 
alternate^ the soil can be kept in such tilth that red rice and other 
weed seeds germinate quickly and are killed by subsequent tillage. 
The control and eradication of weeds depend upon the frequency and 
thoroughness of cultivation, which should be continued as long as 
weed growth is noticeable. 
The seed of the Biloxi variety does not shatter at maturity. The 
leaves drop when the plants have matured, but the pods remain 
closed and firmly attached. The crop should be harvested after the 
leaves have fallen, but not until the pods will open readily when 
pressed between the fingers. The pods, however, do not dehisce 
readily shortly after the leaves have fallen, and if there is too much 
delay in harvesting the beans may not shell out readily in threshing. 
A delay in harvesting, therefore, may either cause loss or require 
extra labor in shelling the beans. 
In addition to increasing and maintaining the production of rice 
when included in the rotation, soybeans are useful in bringing weeds 
under control. The frequent cultivation they require will destroy 
many aquatic and semiaquatic weeds, especially red rice, even during 
the first season. If continued through five soybean crop years, the 
worst rice-field weeds may be brought under control or completely 
eradicated. During this period it will not be necessary to have an 
unproductive acre of land at any time. 
One of the worst weeds which is effectively controlled by the soy- 
bean rotation is red rice. This extremely noxious weed was intro- 
duced into southwestern Louisiana in seed rice. In habit of growth 
and general appearance it is so similar to the cultivated rices that it 
is not easily distinguished from them until after it has flowered and 
begun to set seed. Its drooping and open panicles, which are not 
characteristic of any of the varieties grown in this section, are then 
distinctive. 
Red rice germinates more readily at low temperatures and will 
grow under more adverse conditions than any of the white or culti- 
vated rices. These latter varieties when sown in March and early 
