Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-10-29
naitn Nfnnebtt sournal.
Rice Fields on the Savannah.

On nearing the Savannah river we come
to Thunderbolt-a most singular name for
aquiet summering place. The rice fields
were now entered, which form so impor-
fant portion OF the wealth and trade of
Savannah. They extend on each side up
and down the river for many miles, until
the limits Of brakish or salt water are
reached. The best rice lands are those
which feel the influence of tides without
however. being touched by saltwater.
which kills the rice. 1t is not generally
known that the incoming of the tide checks
the flow OF rivers, and to a degree pushes
back the fresh-water until ebb tide sets out
again. A rice field should also be below
the line of freshets. There are many va
rieties of rice, and some kinds can be
raised on dry soil, when it is capable of
irrigation, but most Of the Southern rice
requires marsh lands easily overlooked.
The preparation of rice field requires
large outlay; entertainments must be
raised, bitches, sometimes large enough to
float boats to carry off the crops. must be
dug. and hoodgates and bridges must be
constructed. The land is ploughed dur
ing the winter; it is allowed to dry In
March. and in April the seed is sown.
sometimes soaked in clay water to keep it
from blowing away, and sometimes II is
merely covered with a thin layer Of earth.
Great care is requisite in the selection of
the seed. Water is then turned on il for
several DAYS, until it sprouts After Eve
or six weeks 1t is hoed twice. and then
what Is called the ''long water" is let on,
and allowed TO remain a fortnight. With
the appearance of the first Joint in the
stalk the rice is hoed again, and is then
overlooked for two months by the "ioint
water" Bv that time the grain has ina
tured. and It is harvested with a sickle,
and carefully dried by being spread on
stubble. When cured, II is stacked.
Formerly most of the Southern rice was
threshed in mortars by the slaves on the
plantations. and the poorest was retained
for their use. But now. with the excep-
ton Of what is reserved by the negroes,
it Ia all sent to the large mills in the cities
10 he threshed. The largest of these is
to be found in Charleston In these mills
the grain is rubbed between stones until
freed from the husk it is then shaken in
revolving sleeves or wire screens with per-
iorations gradually increasing in size.
First the -four is siited then the different
grades OF the kernel up to the last and
best. ranked as prime, which is swept ia
brushing screen and cleaned of all the
Hour clinging to it, The average yield of
rice to the acre is thirty bushels; on the
best land sixty bushels are not uncom-
mon. while ninety bushels have been oc-
casionally obtained. The crop from the
Southern States reaches an average of
10000 tons per anpum. The rice lands
are very unhealthy, and no white man
should spend the night in their vicinity af-
ter the crop begins to come up They are
infected with the most poisonous malaria
The negroes build their rude shanties on
the dikes and hummocks in the midst Of
the rice swamps. and dance and play on
their one-stringed fiddles with infan,le
security. No doubt they endure malarial
exposure and q blazing torrent of sun
light lar better than the whites, but even
they sometimes but rarely succnmb. A
planter told me that in one deadly sum-
mer he lost most of his negroes on a
rice plantation.-S. g. W. benjamin.. in
Harper's Magazine for Norember. . ..