The southern press., 1852-04-06
Culture OF Rice.

We find in the Patent Office report for 1850
81, letter from r. w. F. Aston, of South
Carolina, an interesting letter, on the culture of
rice. Mr.. Alston's plantation is on the Peedee
river, near Georgetown. We extract the fol.
lowing from il:
Our lands are improving under the grateful
influence OF the fallows and rotation practiced
oy me, as that of system, first in 1878, and
they, produce now rice of better quality than
formerly. So much is this the fact, that there
Is class OF purchasers recognized in the
Charleston market who will be content with
nothing but the choicest samples, and for these
they are willing to pay an extra price.
This system, extended as Il is, and greatly
improved, in the hands Of my observant, skilfui,
and judicious neighbors OF Waccamaw and
Sandy Island, by manuring with rice. straw.
chat, and even flour, has been one among the
chief means Of producing the beautiful alonp-
grain" rice Cultivated now by the two most
successful and experienced planters in this dis.
trict and by not more than two Others, rs far
as know in the highest state Of maturity.
Rice straD has long been valued as an excel.
lent manure, when listed in and rotted for up.
land corn and potatoes. II has latterly been
used IN the same way as dressing for rice in
the fallow swamp land, on Sandy Island, and
with favorable results.
Rice chat, too, which formerly was dis
charged from the mill into the race. way" in
order 70 get rid of II, since It's analysis by Pro-
lessor Shepard, for our Agricultural Society, Is
now used to some extent In renovatnp old
lands. IL Is distributed over the surface, some
three inches deep, and ploughed in, stimula-
ting the production Of the soil, and improving
the quality of the soil, and improving the quail.
ity Of the grain.
Rice -four, VIGOROUSLY Of value rs food for
hogs, cattle, and poultry, and selling readily,
when corn Is scarce, at from Ia 10 20 cents per
bushel, has, within very few years past, con-
tributed It's share towards improving In both
quality and quantity particular crop in Wac
camaw.
The crop Of last year (Is50-5I) affordinr, as
y does, good portion Of very prime rice where
the salt water did not affect Il, will prove 10 be
some ten per cent short, as estimated by us.
This diminution is believed to be owing, chiefly,
to the high winds which passed over the tide
lands about the middle Of August last, when The
greater half Of the growing rice plants were still
in bloom.
Rice Is essentially swamp seed" here.
We do not cultivate any on the upland
Livery year, however, II is grown IN small
patches In the interior, and tended mostly with
the plough.
The best kind of rice for this purpose IL, be-
lieve, the old fashioned" white seed" which was
the only variety cultivated in the State until late
in the last century, when was introduced among
tide-swamp planters the gold-seed rice,r which,
Is now universally approved. The @beardcd
rice,' variety Of white rice, with a very long
avn, was imported some years ago for this very
purpose upland planting); but, believe, Il Is
now nowhere seen but to be eradicated.
The "long-grainp seed alluded 70 above,
some account Of which is given in the pro.
ceedings of the State Agricultural Society Of
South Carolina, is the choicest variety now
cultivated in this region. Like the ordinary
seed, 1t requires particular care and attention
throughout the process Of culture TO have Il
produced of the primest quality. But, when
thus produced, If Il be carefully miIled and
skillfully prepared, the long grain rice will com
mand IN the winter market from 80 cents 10
~ per 100 lbs. more than the very best qualities
OF The ordinary small grain.