Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-12-11
A RICE FIELD.
TIE EQUIPMENT OF A PLANTA'
TION IN THE SOUTH
Tho Hands that Are Required
Work on Rice Field
Sowing the Paddy-A
SuccuIent Pest.

The equipment of rice plantation
varies with its size and location. From
three hundred to five hundred acres is
about the average size 1t scarcely pays
to cultivate less than one hundred acres.
On place Of average size, sufficiently
near city or town, rice mill is now
rare adjunct. Previous to the war nearly
every large planter milled his own rice.
doing toll work as well for his neighbors.
Now it is found more convenientto carry
the rough rice or paddy by boat to the
big steam mills in the nearest city.
A thresher, however. is necessary on
every plantation of any size. In addi-
ton to the common laborers who are en-
ployed by the day, and engaged and dis.
charged as convenience requires, we'll
appointed plantation generally has an
overseer, q trunk minder, who is always
a carpenter, and foreman or ''leader"
for the negroes, beside a few regular
hands to care for the stock, all of whom
are engaged by the month or year.
As many mules are necessary as on a
cotton plantation of the same size; for
although at times they have nothing to
do and enjoy altogether an easy life,
never theless, when they are wanted they
are wanted badly and in considerable
numbers, as is the case during trolling
time" in sugar planting, in order to
hurry through certain process by q
given time.
The planters busy season commences
with the new year. The squares arc
cleared Of stubble, plowed and narrowed.
The stubblc is in come cases plowed in,
but is commonly burned on the land.
The bitches arc cleaned cut annually, aa
they foul quite rapidly from abrasion,
silt, and water vegetation; and the stuff
30 thrown out OF the main bitches is laid
on the banks. One would think that in
course of time the latter would become
considerably enlarged by the accumula-
ton of vegetable matter and ditch mud
thus piled on them year after year; but
in many instances, so light and porous is
the original soil of which they are COM
posed, and so spongy and liable to rapid
decay is the added trash, that the banks
are annually shrinking and growing
smaller under process OF gradual con.
solidation, SO much so. indeed. that in
even well kept plantati N il is frequently
the case that two or more squares tempo
rarily Join their waters by portions of
The bank giving way.
Single horse plows are generally used
in breaking up, but successful attempts
have been made to introduce sulky and
gang plows and screw pulverizers. The
fields, however are so cut up by the
quarter drains that commonly light port
able bridges have TO he employed in
crossing the bitches, and heavy ma
chinery, in consequence, is not always
convenient. Beside, the soil, contrary
to the necessity in sugar planting, does
not require deep breaking.
Asa rule the land is not fortified,
although it will not be long before the
contrary will become the common prac-
tice. Many plantations that have been
under constant culture since colonial
times still yield good harvests; but the
land is gradually, though fortunately
very slowly. losing its native power.
Usually the Older fields produce rice Of
superior quality though less in quantity
than the fresher lands.
Where field has recently been "taken
in" and is consequently composed Of
light, porous soil, it is not productive on
account OF the absence OF mineral matter.
On such a ield phosphate and potash
salts are used to advantage; on some Of
the older fields nitrogenous fertilizers
arc occasionally applied, but not with az
satisfactory results as in other crops.
The paddy is sown from the second
week in March to the middle or end of
Nay. March sown rice will mature in
about five months aud fifteen days
Later paintings sometimes mature in ad-
vance of the earlier.
The principal motive of the planter,
aside from important cultural objects 10
selecting the period of sowing, is TO
avoid harm upon the visitation Of that
vicious pest, yet succuIent dainty, tbs
rice bird. lie comes in swarms twice
ycsr-in the late spring and early fall