Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-19
UPLAND RICE.

A correspondent Of the Southern CuHiuator
gives the following details Of his success in
the cultivation Of upland rice, which should
encourage others to plant this valuable feed
crop In his estimates of the profits, he leaves
out the value of the straw for feeding purpo
ses. If the rice is cut at the proper time
when the grain is in the dough state and the
grass still green-itis half as valuable as hay.
lie will make mistake in planting the same
plat the second year, as he will find it much
more troublesome to cultivate, and the yield
greatly reduced. He should select new plat,
and fresh virgin soil, if possible, if he would
reap the best returns with the least labor:
"In my communication of September 18th,
told you of some upland rice which | had
planted ,and promised to give the result as soon
as the yield could be ascertained. Perhaps
your many readers would like TO know what
first induced me to try it; also my mode of
planting and cultivating. The first Of last
February took in part ofan old rested field
which had been growing up in broom.sedge
and weeds for the last ten years-and broke
it up thoroughly with No. Collins plow,
and on the 10th day of March planted it in
upland cotton, which soon came up very pret-
tily but it was hardly above the surface be-
fore discovered that some insect was cutting
off the young plants, and by the 18th of April
there was no cotton left. So I concluded to
pow it up and put it in rice. then with my
plows laid off my rows two and a half feet
apart, and planted my rice (the common Col
dem on these little beds two and half feet
apart In about three weeks l ran small
scooter plows on the bed, as close to the rice
as possible, thereby stirring and loosening the
earth, so that the roots could strike down deep
About the goth of May, gave it good hoe
ing and picking, and on the 18th of next
month plowed it with common No. 10 Yam
kee plow The last working gave it was
about the 18th of July, which vas simply
running over with the hoes, cutting the grass
which had not been cut by the plows.
The last of September cut the rice, thrash
ed it, cleaned it, and measured out one hun
dred and seventy.one (17l) bushels from six
acres The whole cost Of making, from the
first plowing to the cleaning, amounts to only
seventeen dollars and forty cents. The rice,
when it was sold, netted one dollar and fifteen
cents, and, after deducting cost of making
leaves clear balance Of one hundred and for
ty-nine dollars and fifteen cents, which is GER
tainly very good profit. Rice planted on
bottom lands which could be worked with the
plow, would yield more to the acre than if
planted on dry sandy land. l think mine
would have made more but I made great
mistake in putting the rows so far apart; rows
two feet apart are better, unless the soil is
very thin and poor. shall try the same field
| O po;p navt voor in riro hut will nlnnt the
common upland rice, as that kind will stand
dry and hot season better than the golden
rice. Small planters in this section of the
country are so much pleased with the expert
ment made by me, that they will all try lit
tie of it next year. Cotton-panting is greatly
on the wane in this country"