An adventure in applied science - IRRI books - International Rice ...

40 History of the International Rice Research Instituteactual area available for growing rice was about 55 ha. In the early days of IRRI,that proved to be sufficient.Parts of the tract had to be cleared of coconut trees, some of which were usedfor landscaping. The trunks of others were used in building temporary bridgesover the creeks so that tractors could be moved about freely for land clearing,leveling, and final preparation for planting.Under Johnson and Ramos, the work progressed rapidly. By mid-November1960, IRRI had 30 people on the payroll at Los Baños. Except for the projectengineers who served as inspectors of the construction work on the buildings,all were farm laborers employed in the development of the experimental field.Johnson was especially conscientious about the quality of the work. ForThe service building on8 June 1961 (top), andthe same building on20 July 1961, after fullsizedcoconut treeshad been planted.