The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-09
Select Alisfcllanp.
From the Salisbury Waterman.
A Day on a Rice PlantatiO

Day on a Rice Plantation,
To many Of your readers, doubtless, the
mode of planting and cultivating this great
article OF food Is as much unknown as if II
were only grown IN the East Indies AN,
however, are acquainted with its excellent
qualities as nourishing diet.
The plantation which visited was that of
Col. L ID. Meares, of Brunswick. The broad
Hat piece of ground of many acres. extends
along the river and out upon adjacent creeks ;
the land is divided into tasks " by bitches
running through in every direction, though
mostly crossing each other at right angles =.
NO plowS are used, the whole work being done
with short hoe, and long narrow one
When set OF hands are put into one of these
tasks they must smooth it off, mske the lit.
Tie trench rows, SOW the seed and cover it, all
III the same day. The tasks are really given
TO only one, as for instance, 1t is the work of
one 10 smooth so much ground of another
to trench after him; of another to sow the
seed and another to cover it. The number of
these tasks make field !: this field is not
fence in. but surrounded by large ditch
and embankncnt. These are designated ms
Nos. |, :, ). &c., and contain 10. Is, or 90
acres. There is no fencing, the great body of
land containing lumber Of fields, being sur
rounded by large canal.
Having given You faint idea of how the
land hes We will see how il is cultivated. 1t
me tail, after the rice is cut. as soon as per.
ltctIy dry, the siubble is burned off, Some
times the weather will not allow this, then it
remains aud Is chopped under in the winter.
In December the whole land intended for cul
tlvali0n is gone over with the hoe, breaking
tIods, NC. In March the planting season
begins, and from that time onward is tire
rush. AS soon a. a field is planted it is GOV.
cred with water and so remains until the rice
Is pretty well grown. The water is then let
fl, aud soon after the field is gone over with
The hoe to chop out grass and work the rice
This Is done twice before the crop ripens -
The irrigation is managed so that when one
field Is under water, another may be dry
Several hands are constantly employed In
clearing out bitches, stopping leaks in em.
baGkmentS, &c.
Every kind Of bird is lover of rice and
an enemy to the interests Of the rice planters
but the one most dreaded is the rice bird. In
is IA small bird, of darkiSh brown color, with
sharp stout bill, with which it grasps the
stalk of rice and squeczes the milk from it as
| clltctualiy as II done with a pair of nippeIs
The only means Of getting rid of them is by
powder and shot, and though thousands up.
on thousands are killed they still appear as
thick as at first During the season of kill
ing. hogs and dogs upon the plantation all
get fat. The negroes are provided with guns
and stand upon the banks and shoot from
morning until night, When flock of these
birds come down near rice field, they swoor
| down with noise like thunder. and tie beau
tifnl green rices stalks fall down before them
as does the iice before the rcaper's hook. -
Left TO themselves, but few hours would
| suffice to clear the field but half dozen
mnske'S scare them off for a time. But few
| who do not live in that section have any idea
OF the immense damage which they do to the
Tee-llanters, and suppose there is no means
OF correct Calculation. as they never fail tC
appear though more numerous some years
Than others. Mr.. Mrares informed ne that
lost year he consumed 35 kegs Of powder in
shooting them. and thar one year he had used
as much as 81 kegs. The shot was in pro.
! portion.
| VT late years an extensive trade had grown
up III the rice straw. The scarcity of hay
and the interiority Of the article brought from
the North, induced Mr.. Meares some years
ago To try cured rice straw, to put up with
clover with salt and water. 1t succeeded
well and for that which he sent to market he
found ready sale. Other planters adopted
1t, and the rice straw is now very generally
used as a food for horses, &c. Though by nc
mt ans equal to the hay which you have and
Is everywhere in the West, yet it is far supc.
rior to the Northern apology for hay. which
has for SO long been an article of food in tn,
Cape Fear region.
The plantation of Col. Mtares is one of tn,
oldest npon the river, there are fields in il
which have been planted regularly for ovel
forty ySars. and still produce luxuriantly.
The machinery for clearing the rice is of th,
best pattern. The rice as it is sold by the
planter IN the husk, pa sses through the rlc,
mil, and is exposed for sale in tierces as W.
use it upon the table.