The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-04-12

hardy and thrifty, accommodating itself to
ali casualties, and possessing some peculiar
organic principle by which it can adapt it.
self to either the wet or dry culture. II is
indeed true, that it is plant which requires
but fertile soil. with proportion of gene
rous labor TO insure success to the culllva-
tor.
1t has been remarked above, that the i'm
portant flow, in producing rice crop, is
tha, called the Joint flow; and and although
the free water system, now so generally a.
dopted in the earlier stages of the crop has
been the means Of postponing this important
flow. until the first. and sometimes even the
second Joint has fully appeared. Still cxpc-
rience hath shown, that where water has not
been too freely used in the early stages. this
flow may be applied with great advantage.
much sooner. For instance, field having
been hoed rs soon as the rice Gail bear ii,
should in due time after beploughed and then
being handsomely and lightly dressed with
the hoe again. might safely receive this f1nw,
which should be continued until ii is ri pc,
what grass may have escaped the hoe, or
otherwise iutrudcd itself, should he pulled out
bv hand bcEmc the rice blossoms or delayed
until after they disappear. The necessity
nf early watering would be effectuaIly SILL
perccdcd by the thorough draining, and the
facility OF using the plough to SO much adj
vantage as could he done here. Then by
the use OF pumps attached to an engine OF
ono horse power. placed in common flat
that could drift along the margin OF your rIv-
crs. would supply all The water necessary.
and with proper banks to divide your fields
and separate the higher from the lower sur
face OF the swamp. will enable you to reaI-
iza 10 a considerable extent. a permanent
advantage in these valuable lands from tho
culture of rice.
would close these remarks with all due
dciercncc, hv suggesting that fair expert
men, be made upon such scale, as will en-
able you 10 Judge. or to arrive at definite
conclusion, as to the pr"prIcty OF changing
to some extent, the staple production OF this
region; lv tho Introduction of rice, embraJ
cling the fac I;cs Of doing so on river lanN
especially. As they possess, without dodht,
iaIr;nsicaIly that soil which is preferred above
all others.
With these views, | respectfully submit a
course of experiments made upon piece
of inland swamp situated among the sand
hills in Sltnlcr District, formerly mill
pond. which had lain waste for seven or
ciuh, years. 1t would be dillicu t to imagine
a Uuag,nlra in worse order, or which would
exhibit more unSight!v appearance for cuI-
tvalion than this dHl But having had same
experience in the culture Of rice, and know
ing its har,linpnd and its tendency 10 vel
and mature well, when planted in rich
loan was induced to make the trial. ac-
curdingIy took in about thirty acres; com
mcnclng late dn not remember dates. BY
cutting and beating down the tussocks from
the drv parts, sn Us To get the gram TO the
surface, and hcaping the logs, for t'cy were
! two wet to barn. proceeded to trcaCh as
near as practicable in continuous rows. about
ii inches apart, and painted bmshcl OF
seed TO the acre. would willingly have in
creased tho quantity of seed, but it could
not he procured.
A portion of this land lay under water
when it was plan,c :. and continued 81 du-
ring the whole of the growth. t" the maluri.
" Of the ornp. and made a fair yield not in
! lerinr in quality OF product to dricr portions
of the field. had no division bank. conse-
quen,lv in flowing a part, the whol: was
euallv subjected 10 water. commenced
planting about The middle of April, and fin
shcd the latter part of May.
The surface was kept as free from water
as possible. until the first planted portions OF
the field ha fully displayed the fifth leaf, say
Ia or 90 days, prior to the joint, when the
whole was Ilowed, having been twice hoed,
though very Impcrlec'ly, owing to the rough
ness of the ground. Every prccau'"n. how
ever. was used to retain the water without
diminu,ion. by stop made of logs and dirt,
to the he ght required, over which tho sur
plus water was suffered to pass.
In this imperferlcct manner crop was
produced. from which has been realised up
wards of hundred dollars to the hand, and
nearly two hundred bushels of rough rice,
not vet sold, on hand.
! was under the necessity of preparing
the rice for market unaIdcd by machinery, a
mile distant from the barn yard. where it
was stacked and thra>hc by hand in small
parcels, as the Founders required it. and al
considerable waste, both of time and mate
rial
1t was my intention to have kept an accu'
rate account Of the number of bushels made.
but from the circumstance above stated.
found it to be impracticablc. My sales were
principally made in Camden, and Sumter
Vile at So SO n bushcl, for whole rice and
three dollars for tic broken. The grain
proved to be of excellent quality, when tcs-
ted nv weight. or the facility with winch it