The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1848-10-04
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
.sti,s ssolihsns liirat sS 5sI
d u s;22s5itia CE gJL TJJR REs slft 81

ssss IN EbiT ron: api1g seen few
Hays Ance, Rilile perus sing your excellc
I ss,s..t and Iipst All, inquiry
ffotn Black eonces II is ~ lhee II cui.
lure fsfice, ole &c ifia main sta pies ofthe
ESoGlhefn States, I'D deenfng iifthe duty
sofseyery oDslnot onl toyread and study
I agricultural works II, generaiss hut also, il
iu their powerjst 10 sassist in disseminating
that oil importnntiknowledge :byewhich we
learn to procure Dur dailYS subsistence,
with the blessing Of l,eal,l,Sand happiness
to all, II ACKNOWLEDGMENT 10 answer ins a
man"er the queries; of,my friend.
RICE can only be planted with success
in rich 6Aaek swamp land, sosu druined
aud easily accessble'to an abundance Of
frtshlwater. IL 'T he land averages through.
iout South Carolina from 46 to 40 per cent,
Sis composed ,of, ,deoayed vegetable matter,
stie remnant of,he rich growth ofimpene.
ttrable woods, which were the frst tenants
lof the soil. The land is generally hoed
up every olhertwinter. About january,
after the s,ubble from the succeeding crop
has been burn, on the field, the hoe is
sometimes dispensed with IN favor OF the
plow, but the ground is generally too soft
for the latteT.a A bout the lOlh OF March,
the land istrenclied with hoes, three inch.
es in width, the trenches differ in distance
from each other, as planters like, 5bu, are
generally from ten TO fourteen inches a.
part. The seed is then sown in quantity
from two and n half bushels 10 three
bushels per'acrc it is then covered very
/ lightly with the loose earth, all the humps
having been previously broken, the water
is Immediately pu, OH to the depth of Two
| feet, and allowed to remain until the seeds
sprouts, when it is drawn off, In about
mohsh from that time, the rice having
been previously hocd clean Of grass. the
water is again put on and allowed to re-.
mnin twenty-one days. From the period
| when this flow is taken off, it is amos,
impossible 10 lay down nny stated plan; it
requires the close attention OF skilful
manager; there are many severe troubles,
which none, who are not on the spot, can
foresce, and none else can possibly obv.
ate. For instance, there may be greut
! drought. and your crop will suffer for
want ofwnter. There may be too much
(! rain, the river may be salt, you may have
break in your hands. All ofthese ca.
lnmitics, SO apt 10 distress the unfortunate
| planter, come Just in tho period when the
crop is in its most ticklsh state. After
the crop is ripe, it j. is generally cut down
about one foot from the ground, with the
common sickle, although some persons
have lalrly bcgun 10 use The scytLe and
cradle, which are found TO excel the other
in every respect. After the rice is cut.
j, is tied up in a manner similar to wheat,
and stacked in the field. After it dries, il
is removed to the barn.yard until it is to
be threshed. 1t is then taken and spread
two rows ofsixty sI,cayes each in length,
I. the sheavcs being laid aside by side with
! the grain end resting on the other; in this
manner. it is beat with fails. One hand
can ,hresh out ten bushels per day. Afie,
! il is threshed, it is sent to the city mills
where it is put in many mortars of stone,
/ and pounded with pestless, by means oil
I steam. In this manner is the chafT taken
] off the grain, which is then barrelled and
sent to market.
Respectfully,
WM. HuNTkR.
4 Charleston, S. c.. Ju}y lSd6