The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-08-17
The Cultivation of Rice.

Among the ipmortant questions to be
solved in rice cultivation is the amount
of water required for the best results.
says DR.. Knapp in Rice Journal. Va
rieties differ in their requirements, ow-
ing to the way they have been irri-
eating for a long period of years. Car
DINA requires more than Honduras
and Honduras more than Japan. as
far as ! have observed. 1t is therefore
necessary for the farmer to know his
rice in order to irrigate it properly.
The common method of irrigation in
N"4 invest Louisiana and Texas is to
let the water on a field as soon as the
rice is large enough and allow it to
remain till drawn off for the harvest,
This is contrary to the methods pur-
sued by the best farmers in the
Orient They keep the rice fields
thoroughly saturated with water after
the rice is transplanted till it is well
established, then draw off the water
and cultivate dry. Some prune the
roots at this time. The object of the
dry cultivation is to destroy weeds
and air root development and tiller-
ing. In the Carolinas the rows of rice
are planted a distance apart sufficient
to allow the use of a horse or mule
IL
is doubtful whether such a system can
or ought to be adopted in the Gulf
rice zone; but II it produces a better
quality OF grain ii should be followed
In handling the crop for seed rice
For the general crop some saving of
water can be made commencing late
in the day about p. m.) and thor
oughly wetting the field, but not using
more than will be absorbed by morn
or every other day, as conditions may
require, till the rice is large enough to
partially shade the land. 1t is claim
ed also that this method will insure q
larger yield Of rice.
The director of agriculture for Low
er Bengal, India, states in his report:
Paddy rice is perhaps the best in
stance known of the variations which
plants have undergone under cultiva-
tion. Originally an aquatic grass. the
one characteristic which it has most
persistently retained amid all the
changes brought about by differences
in climate, soil and mode OF cultiva-
tion is the need of a large quantity
of water for its proper growth. Ac-
cording to the popular saying, Paddy
should have a bath every day." He
further states that it is the belief of
the Hindoo farmer that rice is a plant
which will readily adapt itself to all
conditions and varieties of soil, from
light sand to heavy clay, and to a
wide range of climate, provided it has
water. They have a common saying
that if rice has the proper supply of
water all other questions relating to
the rice crop are comparatively of
small importance. These references
are made partly because some one
writes me almost every day about
highland rice, expecting it to grow
without water other than the ordi-
nary rainfall. Yesterday a letter was
received from the commissioner OF
Rhodesia, South Africa, asking for in
formation about highland rice / re-
piled that in the tropics rice is grown
upon the sides and tops of mountains
without irrigation, but only in dis
tricts where there is a daily rainfall
during the period from the planting TO
the harvesting of the rice CROP We
do not have similar conditions in the
United States
The cost of water is a great tax up
on the rice farmer. and any safe meth
Cd by which the amount used can be
reduced viii be of great value AL
lowing the water on a rice field to be-
come stagnant is not conducive of the
best results. If it can be drawn into
fields of lower level and replaced by
fresh water II will benefit the crop
Rice is a marvellous plant, and with
great facility adapts itself to its en-
vironment. II Is an aquatic plant.
but II soon becomes accustomed to the
use OF very little water. II is tropi-
cal, but II is readily acclimated 10
Withstand considerable cold. II loves
rich, black soil. but can be produced
70 perfection on many lighter soils.
This case OF adjustment 20 it's environ
ments is one Of its greatest dangers.