The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1897-05-28

ana is changing its condition, and
especially its location, without, how
ever affecting the industry unfa-
vorably; indeed. the prospects for it
are brighter and more promising now
than ever before. There seems to be
practically TO limit to the land which
which can be placed in this cereal
cheap land. too. and especially suited
to the crop. Moreover, it il now cul-
tivated at less cost than formerly,
With far less danger Of failure or Of
overflow.
In the earlier cultivation of rice
it was restricted to the lower por-
tions Of Plaquemines and Lafourche
parishes. where the land is too low
for sugar. and there rice is still cul-
tivsted, mainly BY small white farm
ers. There was little chance 10 ex-
tend the crop during this period, for
nearly all the ayaila Die land was
taken UP by It, and the higher land.
devoted to sugar, was considered too
valuable for it.
fered from several dangers from
which it is largely free to-day. fer.
besides being flooded from the river.
it was frequently in danger from the
water from the gulf. drawn up over
the rice fields by severe storms.
Rice now occupies a much larger
field. and, instead of being restricted
10 the lowlands in Piaquemines and
Lafourche. its cultivation has ex-
tended throughout the alluvlal dis
trict. The high price formerly paid for
land and the fact that many sugar
planters could not restock their plan
tatlons induced them TO try rice in
stead Thus it was that it became
scattered with rice and sugar plan
tations side by side. A the same time
he crop maintained its former supe-
riOrity on the "lcwer Goa st particu-
larry where the land vas low. or on
the back Of sugar plantations, where
there was danger Of overflow, and
this, despite the fact that It has sew
eral times of late, otably In 1888
suffered seriously from gulf cyclones.
Rice came into cultivation along
the Mississippi because on many
places it did not pay to raise sugar,
but it is now surren6ering its lands
back to- sugar again, since the latter
crop has become more profitab BILE. 1t
is said that many planters who went
into rice a few years ago because they
did not have money to cultivate their
places in sugar growing. have made
enough money out Of ii to enable
them to return to the more costly
and far more productive cane culture.
Rice has now become one of the
principal constituents in the manu-
facture of beer and large quaint
ties are thus used, and more will be
used with the increased manufacture
Of beer. It's general use in this coun-
try is not 50 great as il ought to
be, largely because its merits are not
understood. and because our North
ern and Western neishbors do not
know how TO cook it; but when they
have been Taught on this subject they
will find it one of the cheapest and
most pleasant Of cereals.
While the rice crop of Louisiana
has had several fluctuations and
changes, and while it has been de-
pressed at times, the outlook is prom
ising. II has Increased so since the
war that. whereas Louisiana was
third or fourth on the list in ante
bellum times, it now stands first ana
far ahead Of ali the Others. produc-
ing indeed twenty-five per cent more
rice than al the rest of the country.
The change In the methods Of cult
waiting the cereal and in the section
devoted 10 it are for the better. since
il will give more rice land. >will rem
der the crop safer and its cultiva-
ton cheaper.
Calcasieu is one Of the leading par
ishes in the culture of rice.
There has been a great flow Of i'm
migration to this section during the
period named. and the result is that
the taxable value of this parish IL
now the second IN the State, and
Lake Charles is perhaps growing
more rapidly than any other town.
The rice crop gives employment to
a number Of persons In the matter
of transportatiO moreover, it comes
at a most convenient time of the
year. being harvested ahead o. the
other crops and az a season when
the transportation companies have
very little other freight to handle.
II thus starts business j month ear
lier than formerly without crowding
the boats or railroads or causing any
block In their business.
The quality also has materially i'm
proved during this period by better
cultivation and by more careful har-
vesting. and It is growing more and
more into favor If the people of
this country OF Louisiana
and South Carolina-can ever be
taught 10 cook ii properly, instead
Of boiling 1t into mush or pulp. IL
viii become one of the most popular
of dishes. besides being one Of the
healthiest and the most nutritious