The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1892-04-08
"PLANT RICE"
another Agricultural Crop With
Which to Diversity.

In giving this advice, we do not prom
era ersi Years. saStsne 70 taha flEat Sess
advice. Neither DOVE advise siiy oiie
to drop all other crops aud turn his at
tention exclusively to rice culture. We
DO offer 1t, however, after mature con-
sideration and study, as partial sub
stitute for cotton, which all admit is a
profitless crop at current and prospective
prices.
The principal requirements to be full
filled in crop that proposes to sup
plant cotton are two: 1, marketable
crop at good figures; and Q, crop that
can be raised upon large proportion of
Carolina soil Both these coudi-
tions are fulfilled in rice, we think, in
measures sufficient to warrant the trial at
least.
l.. AS to the first condition, it is only
necessary to state that the production of
lice In the United States is far below the
requirements of the people for consump-
tion. This fact should insure ready
market and good price. That clean
rice does bear good price, needs no
proof with farmers who buy the article
for table use. They know that every
them from 81 htay " a. the stores sSsta
rice turns out half in the beating, this
means that they are paying at the rate of
TWO dollars per bushcl for rough rice; |;
and when it is understood that the yield
varies from fifteen to seyenty-five bush
els per acre, it is not hard to see that
there is considerable margin for profit,
after paying for the beating and market
| ing
1t should be stated, however, in this
connection, that the higher yield refer
red to above, is rarely if ever realized upon
| uplands, and then only when soil, culti-
vation aud season are in conjunction. In
this section of the State, where no atten
| ton is given to fertilization and the crop
| is limited to wet soils that have been
| planted in rice for long time, the yield
is about twenty bushels.
2. Can rice be grown upon a consid-
cradle portion of the area now devoted
to cotton culture2 This is more diff
ticult question to answer, 80 as not to
rnisicad uuy ouv.--->><ss <ss->s...-s~-As-~-------
| it can be grown. We have observed
volunteer hills of rice very frequently in
our cotton and corn fields, and they
| have invariably made good, heavy heads.
| A neighbor's field that has been run in
cotton exclusively for long time, and
that is moreover distinctly gh-land,
we'll adapted to cotton, was successfully
cultivated in rice long ago-indeed, we
have frequently heard of the wonderful
rice made on that field. These observations
lead us to conclude that rice may be sue
cessfully grown upon very large por-
ton of the lands of the State heretofore
run in cotton. At any rate we wer'
sufficiently impressed with the prob
ability of success to set apart for tAa
purpose, some time ago, portion of th'
area originally intended for cotton thi
year.
AS to the time and method of planting
Select the land, giving preference t.
low-lying lands and bottoms. Prepar
it as il for cotton. The planting shoult
begin about the same time as corn or
little later. Having selected the seet
carefully, open the bed with an old bull
tongue or the pillow foot. Then dro
three to six grains of rice at intervals Q
fifteen to eighteen inches. Brush owe
lightly with board fastened to plow
Be careful not to cover too deep; and /
packing rains come, it may be necessar
to run light harrow or light rake ovt
the beds when the plants begin to com
No. There is more danger Of having to
many stalks than too few in the hill
: Subsequent culture is very similar t
that OF cotton Selections from Kditorit
E COTTON Plant Orange1urg, @. H., 81
, *We are informed that the range I
"upland" rice is 20 to 40 bushels p
acre and have heard in exceptional II
y stances of so and 60 bushels.-pan Ia
! IMAGES Sons, Neso York.