The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-20
Miscellaneous.
The Rice Swamrs.
now TIE CEoP IS GROWN AND IIAR-
NENn,En-

now TIE CROP is GROWN AND liar
VESTED.
a Southern correspondent Of the
Syracuse Courier writes of the rice
lands: "Thcrc is belt Of land stretch
ing from Virginia down the coast to
tho Gulf Of Mexico, and most of the
distance it lies low, very little above
the level of the ocean, some Of which is
covered by water at every high tide.
The greater portion OF this land may
properly be called swamp land-not
altogether given up TO the domain of
tie wafer, but always damp and too
wet for any grain except rice. 1t is
not every swamp or wet piece Of land
that is fit for the cultivation Of rice
The Olluviul swainp5 lying along the
banks Of the rivers having Il deep soil,
composed Of dccayed vegetables, best
iit.cd for this purpose, but it must be so
located that ii can lie ovcillowCd al nigh
| tide, or it is useless for the purpose.
The lands must also be protected from
the salt water and from the rapid cur
rents occasCntd by freshets. South
Carolina is the great rice State, more
being cultivated than in all the States
besides. The rivers flowing down from
the fable land of the interior reach this
low land ard flowing thence TO the sen,
spread out aud have generally Il deep
broad channcl. There is volume of
water sufficient, so that the tide will
cause ii to set back for many miles.
Along many of these raviCs the land
is as level as the sea, and it can be
flooded at pleasure. Gates are con-
structcd through artificial cmbank'
ments along the banks Of the river, and
when the tide is high The water is LET
in and the land flooded AID the gate,
closed. when it becomes necessary &c
draw tho water off, thc&&tc5 are opened
at low tide. Some Of these fields ar(
very large and interesting wien beinl
pre-, AIRED for q crop, ard are very beau
tiful when the rice comcs up through
the water, and throws It's needle likt
sgCars. These fields must have Il Sc
cure embankment along The river, anc
must he thoroughly drained by artid
cial channels, so a5 to take the Wate
entirely away when necessary. In !arg'
fields some OF the channels have caracil.
enough to Hoat 1lat'Dou0mCu poa'
when Is used TO convey the harvest II
) the Place OF storage.
I,,i /, ,,I,,.,I e., ,,.irt,r o,,l II
the first warm days inspiring Is lloouoo
The preparation OF the ground com
mcncoa in March. The ground Is mad
aS mellow as garden. 1he s''u
soWn in trenches, about hitcon lhcho
apart. 1t rtquilcs about three busheI
OF seed 10 an acre. me secd Is ilshti
5 covered with soil, ana the water let
ana remains about week, by Whlc
/, time the grain sprouts, when the wale
is drawn Off, but when the grain Is
few inches above the ground 1t is agar
Hooded for four or five days ana the
drawn off, and the grain is then above
to grow for four or FIVE weeks, when
is cultivated and the ground tho
oughly stirred, and then the water
let on, and it is Hooded for few day
and then gradually drawn down at
again cultivated, and after the socor
i cultivation the water is again let ON
remain until the crop natures, whi(
takes about two months, when Il
water is drawn of, and it is harvoste
- very much rs We harvest buckwheat.
The crop in Il favorable season is
profitable one. The grain is thresh,
f..,,,, ,