This view shows the size of the usual rice field in Japan. You will observe that the little farms are carefully fenced to hold the water properly. At the corners of the fields there are openings in the sod fences to let the water flow over all the fields. The farmers you see are busy setting out rice plants. These plants are grown to this size in hotbeds. They are set out in the fields, which are covered with water. The young plants thus set out are almost sure to grow. The Japanese farmer depends so much on his rice field, he can take no chances on failing to have the plants all grow. Observe the bundles of plants in the field to the left. The Japanese farmers wrap their feet and legs in coarse cloths while setting out the rice. This they do to keep the slugs and water-bugs off them. They set the plants out very close together so that a field of full-grown rice appears to have been thickly drilled or sown broadcast. Notice the clothes of these men. Observe the way in which their hats are made. Rice planting in Japan takes place in April and May. The fields are flooded and drained from time to time to keep the water fresh and to air the ground. Before harvest time the water is all drained off. It takes about 5 months from planting for rice to mature and to ripen. In the United States rice is sown by drills just as wheat is. The ground is then covered with water. This water is often supplied by great irrigation plants that cost thousands of dollars. The water is changed several times during the growing season. It is drained off long enough before the cutting time to let the ground settle. Binders are used to harvest it, and the grain is thrashed by machines much like wheat thrashers. Name our rice-growing states. Keystone ID: 14730 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.