The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-02-27

| experience. L nave never, QOuDteu DuC
that Rice was a great exhauster. Yet
this opinion rests more upon inference
than the logic offacts. AS a general rule
very abundant crops soon take from the
soil the peculiar pahulum, on which they
feed But is it not reasonable to con-
clude. that lands thus impoverished by
succession of Rice crops would be as
readily renovated by rest and rotation,
as with the other cereal grains. Yea,
more so. 1t is known to every one that
the Rice plant, well supplied with fresh
water alone, is rendered thereby almost
Independent of the soil. 1t will attain
luxuriant growth on a naked rock. [ have
seen it extending out of flower pots and
glass jars sitting on mantel pieces and
.side-boards, heighth of two or nero
feet, having drawn its subsistence from
clear water and the atmosphere alone
From the astonishing effects of fresh Wa
ter, applied as a continued current, I have
been almost ready to adopt the conclu-
sion, that soils of very moderate utility,
might be made to yield abundant crops.
My remarks have exclusive reference to
that species called Gold Rice, which is
essentially an aquatic plant. A teetotal-
ler in all it's tastes and inclinations. [
have had but little experience with any
other kind.
But the question presents ITSELF how is
it, and why is it, if fresh water excrts
such an influence in developing the crops,
that the yield should be so different in the
various sections of our country. If fresh
water was the chief reliance, it would
seem that where it could be obtained in
sufficient Quantity, there would be max
imum yield. In reply; [ would say that
important results often proceed from ap-
parently trivial causes, which, like the
action of the sulphatc of lime on the
trefoils, has up to this time defed the re-
searches Of the most learned philosophers
Of the age; yet the world knows that,
applied to red clover at the rate of fifty
pounds to the acre, increases the yield at
least four fold.
1t may be, and all the surrounding Cir
cumstances duly considered favor the con-
clusion, that our bold, fresh streams in
the upper country hold in solution somo
inorganic constituents, some one or more
of the mineral manures, which invigorate
our Rice crops, and might, if understood,
account for their extraordinary yield.
If this view of the subject has any
foundation in reason and in fact-if these
theoretical speculations are found to have
reached the true cause Of the superiority
OF our Rico crops in the upper Districts,
no further proof is required to show that
we have q never failing resource against
impovershment of our soils by the cul-
tivation of Rice; and that it may be in.
troduced into our rotations with all it's
highly compromising advantages, as often
as the other cereal grains, and with as
little permanent injury to the land.
I never grow crop of Rice on the
same ground more than two years in sue
cession, and in every instance the second
crop was greatly inferior to the first.
Whether this difference resulted from ex-
haustion Of the soil by the first crop, or
from more imperfect cultivation, I AIN
unable to say; but I presume itwas from
both. The aquatic grasses multiply very
rapidly in our low grounds in Rice cul-
ture; their seeds are sown broadcast at
every inundation of the streams, which
quadruples tho labor of cultivating the
second crop over the first; but this evil
can be obviated in great degree by deep
turning in the fall season.
By reason of the inclination of nearly
all of our low-grounds in this region,
Rice cannot be flooded as is done below
but apprehcnd there is nothing lost from
that cause. There is always q sufficient
quantity Of water in our streams to effect
q thorough irrigation of the surface, by
dam at the most elevated point, from
which it may be distributed by innumer-
able small channels, and with but little
labor over the whole area. In this way,
the whole crop is pcrvaded with running
water, always fresh and fertiIizing. This
mode of applying water must be the best
that can be adopted. The labor required
to secure a moving current at all points,
| is sure to be amply compensated by the
result T have always observed thnt