The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1902-10-23
RICE CULTURE.

HiCE ~ OhE.
Before the civil war rice was one
of the staple crops of Georgia, AMI
was a great source of profit to those
who cultivated it, But changed labor
conditions. lack OF necessary capital
and other causes have prevented the
complete reaction of this industry
which, in Georgia. was wrecked by the
war.
Yet with favorable conditions the
cultivation of rice must be very pro-
fitable, because there is an increasing
demand for it and the present annual
production in the United States is
only about half as great as the annual
consumption.
Rice is chiefly grown on lands that
are low. level and easily irrigated.
yet there are varieties that can be
grown on fertile lands without irriga-
ton. Some of these upland varieties
have been successfully cultivated in
the northern counties OF Georgia. But
they are not equal in quality to the
lowland rice produced by irrigation.
Upland rice may be grown on any
soil adapted to wheat or cotton. pro-
vided the climate conditions are favor.
able.
The best soil for rice Is a medium
Iona, containing about so per cent. of
clay. A large proportion of the rice
grown in Georgia is produced on tidal
deltas. A body OF land along some
river and at a distance from the sea
sufficiently great to be free from salt
water Is selected with reference to the
possibility of flooding it from the river
at high tide and of draining 1t at low
tide. In Georgia are also found ex-
cellent marshes upon what may be re-
latively termed high land Uusally
these can be easily drained and in
many cases can be irrigated from some
lTdCtS,
however, the water supply is unre.
liable, being insufficient in time of
drouth, and too cold in case OF fresh
cts Although reservoirs to obviate
these objections are expensive, yet un.
der favorable conditions these inland
marshes are improved at less expense
than the delta lands and the results
renumerate well the time and labor
expended upon them.
The time for blowing differs with
different lands and circumstances, but
In wet culture the blowing is generally
done IN the spring shortly before plant.
ing time. In Georgia it is the custom
with many to plough or dig over with
a hoe early in the winter.
Some planters advocate shallow
blowing; but, II the soil is we'll drain.
ed deep blowing Is considered by many
to be more profitable. If deep blowing
just before planting brings too much
alkali to the surface, good remedy Is
to pillow a little deeper than the pre-.
vious blowing just after the harvest.
The alkali will then be washed out be-
fore the spring. Shortly after the pillow
the disk harrow should be used and
then followed by the smoothing har.
row, next, in order to secure the best
results, the harrow should be followed
with a heavy roller, which will crush
the Jumps making the soil more com
pact and conserving the moisture for
terminating the grain. Then it will
be unnecessary to food for sproutlng.
Thorough drainage and deep pillow.
ing have been found to be the only
effective way to dispose OF the alkaii
that is brought to the surface by irri.
cation. AS the water is drained away,
the excess of soluble salts is carried
on.
GA. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE.
----------------
IRRIGATION