The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-06
RICE CULTURE.
Correspondence of The Spartan.


1t is mistaken idea that up-country
people have, that it is absolutely ncccs.
sary to lrrigatc rice land and to flood
the young rice at certain stages Of its
growth. Indeed, here in Orangcburg
County, one often sees cotton and rice
growing side by side. The land is cx-
ceedingly level it is true, but in places
there are slight depressions, and these
low places are often chosen for rice
patches, although they may be far
away from any stream. At other
times one sees little rolling piece of
land producing both cotton and rice.
There is no reason why Spartanburg
planters should not raise rice in album
dance. The soil that produces the
best results in lice is sandy loam.
Rice does not require q very strong
land. Pipe clay or "black jack" arc
not suitable soils.
After selecting the field, prepare it
in every way as if for cotton. a great
many planters, plant the grain about
one inch deep, with cotton planter,
an! afterwards chop TO a stand of
seven or eight stalks to the hill, six or
eight inches apart. But DR.. Arant who
Is quite successful drops his in hills.
From the middle of March till the
middle OF April Is the time for plant
ing rice, but DR.. Arant thinks it would
be better not to plant 1t later than
April lst in Spartanburg, as it would
then have longer to mature. It's cult
vation agrees with that for cotton. 1t
is LAID by in July and IS harvested in
August and September.
The straw can he separated from the
grain by a wheat tkrcsher, and later
this may be carried 10 a "huler"
where the chaif is removed. Rice
straw and chaff are considered quite
beneficial as once week food for
horses. The grains may be beaten off
the stalk with fails, and negro women
often beat the chaif off the grains by
means OF large wooden pestlc in a
mortar made out of the stump of a
tree. The average yield per acre IS
from 70 to 35 bushels, though as many
las sixty have been known. The grains
arc not so highly polished as those of
the coast rice, but this does not det:act
from the taste Of the article. Rice is
an important food product in this
nclghborhood. 1t is eaten with vegc-
tables at dinner. Rice and beans, and
turnips arc delicious. Gravy is not
used with the rice, bW the sauce that
accompanies the turnips or beans.
Inc planters arc very much inter.
cstcd III tobacco culture now and
it is sail that six hundred acres will be
planted in the county. Tobacco barns
and hot beds arc sprlnglng up every
where. Several of the prominent
planters Of this ncighborhood, DIR.
Summers, Mr.. Taylor, and Mr. Rush
with others have hired a man from
North Carolina to supcrintcnd their
crops and the building and heating OF
their barns. Those who have not en-
tered the business are watching these
operations with much Interest.
Everyone has been amazed over the
unusual severity Of this winter. Dr.
Arant, whose white head tcllsthe pass
ing Of many winters, says he has never
seen in the low country any weather to
compare with the "drcadful freeze"
The cape jcssamines, the japonicas,
and the pOmcgranates are killed down
to the ground. The woods were lust
beginning TO be rcdolcnt with the
beautiful yellow jcssamine, but now
the trees are covered with lifeless
vines. Yesterday we found some stray
buds and blossoms in protected places.
The violets and buttcrcups arc pccping
out shyiy, as if mutely asking if spring
has come. A. p. S.
Lyons, S. c., March IS, 1899.