The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-03-24
PLANT RICE.

In giving this advice, we do not
promise a fortune the first year, nor
In several years, to every one who
adopts the advice. Neither do we
advise any ony one to drop all other
crops and turn his attention exclusive
ly to rice culture. We do offer it, how
ever, after nature consideration and
study, as partial substitute for cotton,
which all admit is proGtless crop at
current and prospective prices.
The prin' pal requirements to be
fulfilled IN crop that proposes to
supplant cotton are two: 1. A mar
ketablc crop 1t good figures, and 2, a
crop that car be raised upon large
proportion Of South Carolina soil. But
these conditions are fulfilled in rice,
we think, Ill measures sufficient to
warrant the trial at least.
!. As TO he first condition, it is
only neCessaT to state that the pro-
ductlon of re. in the United States is
tar below tn requirements of the peo-
pie Tor cons option. This fact should
insure real market and a good
price. Iha- clean rice does bear a
good price needs no proof with farm
ers who buy ne article for table use.
They know at every peck they buy
al the stores "osts them from 80 to
100 cents. IS good rice turns out
half in the eating, this means that
they are pa IS at the rate of two
dollars per | shell for rough rice and
when 1t IS u !erstood that the Weld
varies from fifteen to seventy five
bushels per re, it is not hard to see
that there IS : considerable margin for
profit, after paying for the beating
and marketil..
1t should De stated, however, in
this connect IN, that the higher yield
referred to above. is rarely if ever
realized on Upland, and then only
when soil, cultivation and season are
IN conJunctipn. In this section of the
Stale, where no attention is given to
fertilization and the crop is limited to
wet soils that have been planted in
rlce for a long time, the yield is about
twenty bushcla.*
:. Gan lice be grown upon con-
siderable potion of the area now de
voted to cotton culture? This is
more dliiIcult question to answer, SO
as not to ml5lead any one Our con-
Vlctlon IS that it can be SO grown. We
have observe | voluntary hills of rice
very frequently in our cotton and corn
fields, and they have invariably made
GOOD, heavy heads. A neighbor' field
that has been run in cotton exclusively
Tor long tine, and that is moreover
distinctly highland, well adapted to
cotton, was successfully cultivated in
rice long aGJ indeed, we have fire.
qucntly heard of the wonderful rice
made on tb,.t field. These observa-
lions lead us 10 conclude that rice NAV
De successfully grown upon a very
large portioI Of the lands of the State
heretofore run in cotton. At any rate
we were ST Sufficiently impressed with
the probabll u of success to set apart
Tor that puE Dse, some time ago,
portion OF tie area originally intended
tor cotton IL year.
AS to the me and method Of plant
Eng. Select the land, giving prefer
ence to low ing lands and bottoms.
Prepare It a: for cotton. The plant
'nS should b,.cin about the same time
as corn or tile later. Having Sc
iected the sc ! carefully, open the bed
with an old lll-tongue or the pillow
loot, Then '.rop three to SIX grains
oil rice at I'M walls of fifteen to eighteen
inches. Br; over lightly with a
board iasten to pillow BE careful
not to cover 30 deep; and if packing
rams come i nay be necessary to run
light harro or light rake over the
beds when t, plants begin to come
up. There j. more danger OF having
100 many St2 5 than too few in the
NIL. Subseo mt culture is very SIM
liar to that cotton.-StLrrhcn fr0m
LHh0r1a! 50 'tton Plant" Oyaag<-
%argh c. II. ). c.
We are il rmed that the range of
upland RE = 20 to 10 bushels per
acre, and hay heard i'll exceptional in
stances OF 81 . id 60 bushcls-Daa Tai
images Sons, n York.