The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1847-04-14
AGRICULTURAL.
From the Camden Journal.
CULTIVATION RICE.

Mr.. misunderstanding .,he position
chat enough has already been said, as re.
CARDS the intrasluction Of rice as staple
commodity. and as ajmeans of reducing tn
SOME extent, The pleihora ofcnttnm, we will
mex, enquire into the modus operandi. or
that method of cultivation Which is mosl
likely TO produce, in the absence Of water,
a, sure and profitable yield Of the article.
Itisieadiiy admitted that the rice plant
is ,aqua.ic-that il delights in water. and
that the practice Of alternating from we,
to dry, and from dry to wet again, is the
method long established, and is still prac.
tised by the growers Of this staple, in the
region Of tides. But on The other hand, i,
is here maintained. with tenacily equally
strong. that This plant is Indigenous 10 the
soil Of our Tivers-that it is not whuIiv de-
pendant upon, those aqueous alterations,
and.that method Of cultivation can be u
dopte'!. favored by the peculiar organiza.
ti"n Of this plant, that will MS cfec,ualIy
promote it's growth and maturity without
irrigating il all. Nuw. the attempt 10 H.
lustrate this pnsition which differs so wide
ly frnm the established opinion. up"n this
subject. is embarrassing ii Is ,rur, but lac <
are stubbnrn ,hings-wi,h .,.is ,nuttn then,
let us proceed. The irsli'3 consideration,
will be To shaw the tendency "t this plant.
when in a healthy condition to thr"w on,
successfully new roots for its supporl-this
itdnes constantly during the whole pro
grcss Of its growth, regardless Of The state
1t may he IN. wet or dry. But then the
character Of these roots differ materially,
1tsnlt IN appearance and in their organic
tendencies, aud derive their character, and
afford'such nourishment az IS necessary ,n
the plant, in exact conformity with the
state in which, it may be in, BY way of
illustration, let us suppose field 10 be
flowed, when a class of roots will soon
pro.rude themselves. and stretching h"ri-
z0ntally from the stock or s,rm oi The
plant. pass jus, upon the surface, seem
ingly in quest Of light and atmosphere
alone. These roots are mere hhres, thev
die instantly when exposed to The action
of the sun uncovered by water.
Whereas, OH The other hand, if This field
be drained and dry surface presents itself,
q class Of roots will soon appear prntrud.
ing as the f"rmer ones did. from the stem,
but different in every respect. These are
comparatively large. rich. and vigorous
roots. attended by muny fibruus particles
which stretch themselves in every direc.
lion near the surfuce, while the larger ones
oeSSSh' ~ thS uhoSb ol'Htuih III SuiIs SEEK
ing moisture, and extracting from ,hcnce
the richer particles Of tecompnsed sub
STANCES SO congrnial 10 the growth and
maturity Of the plant.
1t twOuld here strike the most casual OBJ
server, that these are advantages in favu,
Of the dry over the wet state.
This becomes evident from the very ma
tnre, and physical tendency Of these roots
which present themselves in precise con
formily with The relative condition Of Tho
plant, while the plant ITSELF from som.
peculiar organic principle, presents TO The
ns.onished eye, q. perfect adaptation t,
either state.
This brings Us then in our position, tt
the following grand alternative, or lht
leading principles which should govern il
the attempt 10 make rico crop wi,huu
the use Of water.
The first we will consider then, in tn,
arrangement. is the location and lis rela
tive position above The alignment or sian.
of water. This should be III leus, tw o fee
or more, for although it has been admitted
that rice will grow in water. it hns beel
as clearly proved ,hnt it thrives but poor
" on a surface too near on a level with il
land hence arises the necessity OF drain
ing;l
The next in consideration, is The qualit
Of The spil, which for brevity, we will cor