Show RICE PLANTERS TRY SOWING BY PLANE Aviators in California Risk Lives for Small Pay Willows Calif Cali The The The streamline method of sowing rice utilizing airplanes airplanes airplanes air air- planes and ground crews rn rapidly idly is s gaining gaming favor with farmers in m this huge rice-growing rice area of central California Originated by the manager of the local airport the airplane rice- rice planting idea has developed a profitable profitable profit profit- able if dangerous sideline for freelance freelance free free- lance lanc pilots This year six planes are operating in the vicinity The task requires flying as low as 20 to 30 feet from the ground and often trees in the field present hazards hazards hazards haz haz- ards which have to be flown over or around Power and telephone lines at field boundaries have wrecked several ships during the last few years but gradually the men engaged engaged engaged en en- in the planting from the air are becoming more skilled in their novel task Fliers get 60 to 75 cents an acre for planting rice and with acres under cultivation there is a potential income of close to Speed Depends on Weather I A flier plants eight pound sacks of rice in a trifle less than six minutes and it takes him about the same time to get another load Three to six sL acres are planted each trip and from 30 to 60 an hour depending depending depending de de- de- de pending on weather conditions and the distance to be traveled from the operations base Farmers who prefer the modern method to the arduous longer and more expensive method of hand handwork handwork handwork work proceed along the following lines The field to be planted is flooded Rice experts say that by planting the rice directly into the water growth of water grass is retarded Rice to be used is soaked for two I days to make it sprout quickly and thus get the jump on the water grass a major problem in the business business busi busi- ness Each rice plane requires aground a aground aground ground crew of eight Three men carry flags to mark the course tobe to tobe tobe be flown by the plane One man stands at either side and one in the middle of the field When the plane has flown over the course outlined the men move over 25 feet There is no guesswork The distance is accurately measured measured measured meas meas- with a rope of that length As the plane approaches him each man waves his white flag to furnish sights for the pilot Sows Foot 30 Swath Other ground crew members refuel refuel refuel re re- fuel the plane and refill the front cockpit made over into a hopper with a new supply of rice An op opening ning in the hopper conI controlled controlled con con- trolled by the pilot permits wind I from the propeller to release the rice with a downward rush and as asit asit asit it goes it spreads from two small streams to a foot 30 swath The pilot opens the hopper just justas as he reaches the first flagman m. m Rice whips out in a like dust-like tail and when the air air reaches the second second second sec sec- ond flagman he closes the hopper and zooms upward finally circles back and starts down the second course If the field is one mile wide the flier will have enough rice aboard to plant one strip each way |