The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-29
COTTON SECTION.
RlcE ouLruRe ANp pRoFITs.
CRy OSWALD wIbsoN.)

division OF statistics, department Of agri-
culture read the following paper on "hice
Culture and Profits" before the Cotton
growers section:
Rice Ia the greatest cereal produced in
the world, considered from commercial
standpoint snd as au article Of food
We can only realize its magnitude and
Importance when considered in comparison
with other cereals. Wheat Is great cereal
aud the socallcd stan OF life. 1t has a
Wide range Of production, being grown in
nearly every country on the globe. The
totul production of wheat la the world
for 1850 reached the stupendous amount
Of q 40, 10000 bushels, which would mako
100000 carloads with a market valua
of 81 800, 100000. But this does not come
up to RICE
Corn Is great crop mud in 1890 the
at %S3a, 100000.
These are two great stapie cereals, but
their combined production Will not come up
10 rice. Wa must hnd another.
Take oats. The, worlds production ia
1899 reached Bl2l2, $4,000 bushels, This
immense pile Of oats had market valne
Hero We have the three great stapis
grain crops OF tho world, with an asgte-
billions Of bushels ana market value of
nearly s2o40,BT0,0oo, But this does not
equal rice.
Just for moment think Of the lmmense
number Of people engaged in the production
OF all the wheat, corn and oats In the
world, time employed, acres Of land titled
people employed In marketing the grain
on railroads, In mills and laporers 70
than tho combined soldiery ~ the world
vaasG VIZ s2 ~ "a f943S9 lsS pounds
than seooeo,ooo. Again, rice 10 tho prin-
ulpio article Of diet OF s0o,00OOo0 pcnple
or more than % per cent q the entite
population OF the world, while the other
cereals combined only supply &c per cent
Which Is the greatest celcal2
Coming nearer home, we fHd that rice
for nearly three centuries, but only ot
late years has 1t reached much develop
During the past ten years 10000 persons
from the North and West have been at
tacted by the demonstration OF the fact
DDS successfully applied years ago 10 wheat
growing ia tho prairie States. would make
rice growing equally successful; The result
dustry IN Louisiana and Texas, with n
capital OF S5,o00000 invested In 100 canals.
1900 miles in extent, and now capable, I'M
100000 acres, and Increasing each year.
After selecting 4 location possessing the
soil and lay OF the land requisite. to al
economical irrigation, II Will require ap-
proAimately $40 per acre TO equip an Irri-
eating plant and prepare the nelds for
ments differ, an accurate estimate can not
be given that will govern oil localities. butY
tae prospective rice farmer can figure on
The cost Of producing crop Of rice is
approximately the same as crop Of wheat
Win The cost OF irrigation added, whlchl
Is one hfih of the crop. This Is the prlcek
charged by canal companies for the usa
q winter.
rhe average value per acre of rice 10 $50.
iess the water rental of SO, leaving S24 TO
thd grower.
cereal crops or the United States win show
how fortunate the rice grower Is. The
average value per acre In 1900 was; Corn
Gete OF rice paid the farmer as much as
tluee acres over each OF corn, wheat and
Next 10 production, milling the rice ls
yel! profitable, and Is a subject OF suf
hcient importance for an extended dis
Leaving out the value OF the plant. the
cnEitai Invested and operating. expenses,
we can give the gross profits. OF milling:
average weight Of 1888 pounds, for. when
the farmer received S3.35 per barrel max
lng t9sal Of sSSV S D woHa s Valued dat al
81 rs per pound $500 brewers rice,
SIS 900 pounds. SIS, 100; polish, $500; bran.
SaO22; gross value Of mllled product s4So'
10 those Interested Il win pe easy TO
ascertain the net profits y mlillns. a,..
handed by the rairaods II pays about
four timer as much as cotton 10 revenue.
The most vital question 20 the human race
Is thar Of food. Next 70 having food Is
that OF Its cost. The cost OF the food ap-
plies not alone to dollars and cents IN
other words, II is OF the Highest impcr.
lance that we obtain the greatest amount
of the DEMONSTRATING energy from our food
with the least TAX upon our systems sii
There II no one article that VIII supply
ali the demands OF our body There Is no
complete food In any one article we re.
agre VARIETY tSs n es sdmy ' AZ tbs isss
expense OF Vital energy and IN this rice
exces all ether articles q tocd, u con