Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-15
A FEW WORDS ABOUT RICE.
The Poor Crop Outlook in Louisi-
ana.
From the Ee,o Or1sans Psoavuns.


From the Ee,o Orleans PScavune.
Before the advent on the market Of the
bulk of the cotton crop and the Inaugural
ton of the sugar grinding season, the
marketing Of the rice crop is the most i'm
portant concern of our commercial COM
munity. But a few years ago the rice
crop was comparatively small interest.
but last year the harvesting Of a yield of
over a million SACKS of rough raised the
rice industry to the dignity of the third
most important interest In Louisiana. In
addition to the value to the agriculturist
the handling Of over a millionk sacks
of rice gave employment to large num-
Dor of persons, and kept running during
the greater part OF the year fully twenty
two mills.
The crop last year aggregated 1,075, 016
sacks Of rough. A rainy harvest season
ruined the quality OF the yield, and the
bulk of it arrived in a damaged condition
and had to be sold promptly for whatever
it would bring. This state OF affairs re-
suited in small profits for the planter,
but it nevertheless proved a blessing In
disguise. as the large bulk Of the crop and
the necessity for promptly marketing it
forced 1t into all the markets of the coun-
try and stimulated a demand never
known before, and which once COM
menoed Is likely to go on increasing.
Il low prices realized last season, and
the lack OF commence thereby engendered
among commission men, caused the plant
ers much difficulty in obtaining advances
to plant the present crop. This fact, to-
gether with bad spring, curtailed acre
age somewhat, and this season started
out with the prospects OF a somewhat
smaller yield than last year. The sum-
mer was exceedingly warm, and as fall
approached the rivers fell rapidly and
drought prevailed. which was highly I'M
favorable for the young or late
planted rice, drying up the stems
and preventing the development
of the beads. The extent OF this damage
is only now becoming fully apparent. A
planter IN ST. Charles parish who has
thrashed 200 acres grown on fresh land,
secured only l,6O0 sacks, or eight sacks
to the acre, when he expected 1000 sacks.
Another planter in Lafourche, who eX-
pected 5000 sacks, has harvested only
$500. While these are but few exam
pies they represent what ls turning out
to be the case in a greater or less degree
IN all the parishes, and instead of l, 000,-
600 sacks being realized as was at one
time expected. barely more than 100000,
or at most 800 900. are now hoped for.
The very cause that worked the dam
age, however, secured to the planters a
most magnificent quality OF rice. Never
before in the history OF rice planting IN
Louisiana has crop been raised OF such
fine quality and so thoroughly sound as
the present one. While last year low
grades were the rule, this year medium
descriptions are actually scarce, the aver
age quality running far above the medi-
UNI. The season opened with rough rice
selling at $3 TO 50 20 per sack, aud plant
ers' and dealers hopes ran high, but
buyers, embering the experience with
last years crop, held of in order to
watch the keeping qualities or the first
consigDmeuts. This, together with bear
ish manipulation in New York and pres
sure TO sell from some Of our nee dy plant
ers, quickly brought prices down until