The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-01-16
FARMER AND PLANTER.
RICE FARMING.
how to Mako Rice Farms on High Lauds
Successful.

now 70 Mako Rice Farms on High Lands
Successful.
One OF the problems confronting the
rice farmer whose farm Is on high
prairie Is how to make his water sup
ply for irrigaung purposes sure. 1t
- indeed q very uncertain business to
undertake to raise rice on hiph land.
even though 1t be level and otherwise
adapted to the growing of rice, with
out a gully and reservoir by which a
supply OF water can be assured. The
experience of many of our rice farmers
the past season has demonstrated this.
out there is a way by which rice farm
1ng on high, level prairies may be
made as sure as the farming on lands
?o1acent to bodies of water with a
good pumping plant now is. This can
oe accomplished, we verify believe, by
means of artesian wells
Along the emit re gulf coast line to a
distance OF so or go miles inland, wher-
ever wells have been sunk an album
dant supply of water has been found
That flows with st rong current to the
height of 10 to 20 feet above ground,
at an almost uniform depth of 500 feet.
IN sinking these wells no stone is en-
countered. The wells can be cheaply
sunk by the hydraulic process, and If
enough of this work was demanded so
as to make steady work for company
with an outfit, wells six inches in di.
ameter could be put down for from
300 to $1,000 each, and perhaps less.
suppose then farmer with 100 acres
OF high, level prairie puts down one of
these wells on his highest land, and
then builds strong levees, six or seven
1eet high, around five or ten acres
OF land, including the well. A strong
slx-inch stream of water running
constantly through the fall and win
Ter will I'LL the reservoir by the time
tho water is needed to flood the rice of
the next spring crop. The farmer
would then have five or ten acres of
water six feet deep with which to irri-
gate hss rice. This would be sufficient
an ordinary years to insure 80 acres of
nrst-class rice. But suppose 1t would
insure 40 acres, the extra profit would
pay the expense of putting In the well,
and he would still have the well for
all time to come. Then he could
change his rice field from one part of
his farm to another as often as he de-
sired, and keep his crop free from the
contamination of red rice. The water
could be drawn off from the reservoir
by siphona as needed, and then
conducted by means of bitches
TO any part of the farm desir-
cd. During the summer the flow of
water from the well added to the rain
fall would surely make up for the nat
qral evaporation, and thus keep the
farmers rice fields flooded until the
crop was ripe.
Besides the advantage the well
would give the farmer in growing
rice, 1t would be of immense benefit to
him in supplying an abundance of
pure water for his household and
stock, and irrig ating his garden and
truck patch and fruit orchard in dry
seasons, thus assuring him an album
dance OF the best vegetables and fruit
at NIL times.
Besides all this he could stock the
reservoir with the best Of fish, and al
ways have at his command an abund-
ant supply of fish for his table. Why
not try this plan on our prairies? 1t
will surely succeed if properly man
aged. Lake Charles Na.) American.