The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-08-23
RICE CULTURE N THE
PHILIPPINES.
Wheat ofthe Orient. Decrease
in Production Causing
Large lmportations,
Especial Correspondence.)
Manila, p. l., June 20,

suits of its investigation of the method of
growing rice, which is the most import
ant staple of the Philippines.
Notwithstanding the fact that rice is
one of the principal agricultural products
Of the Archipelago, its consumption con-
siderably exceeds its production.
Statistical information relative to its
impotations during the Spanish regime
are meagre and entirely unsatisfactory,
though fragmental details available would
seem to Indicate that under normal con-
dltons and for period at least there
were considerable expectations of this
commodity to China.
1t is known that the acreage under
cultivation has been decreased to one
fourth as an incident TO the war,
Cholera, Rinderpest and Surra.
Imports OF rice are shown by the re-
ports of the lnsular Bureau TO be as fol-
lows: During the calendar year 1901,
SO, 112,3S9 pounds, valued at $5,1US, 141 90;
and 1902, $50 ,46O,077 pounds, value S.
sd, 3SS00.
Of this amount and during the calen-
dar year of 1902, 412, col pounds were
received from the East Indies and IT,
1881 pounds from China.
IN production has been so great that in
order to avoid famine, the Philippine
Government has imported large quantities
OF rice and are selling the same to the
people at cost.
The methods of cultivating rice in the
Philippines Is in many respects similar to
that practiced in China, India, Japan and
other occidental countries.
The process of preparing the seed beds,
tlansplanting, pudding the soil, and har-
vesting the crop, all conform to the prac-
lce of other communities where labor is
cheap.
The probable prohibition (Economic)
against The introduction of advanced
methods and the consequent failure of
the occupation OF a greater portion of a
crowded population dependent upon the
| soil, which will apply China and other
competitors, loses its force of argu-
ment in the Philippines, which is country
Of about 100000 to an area of equal in
extent to the whole of New England. and
| the State of New York
1t is even fast necessity (becoming), as
| wages increase under American stand.
| irds to introduce improved methods in
| order to increase productive capacity ne
| eessary for competition with foreign
| rice.
AS an illustration, it is said that while
| the Philippine laborer, now only re-
ceives $4,000 gold per annum and board
and a Louisiana laborer $4,000 gold and
| board yet the former impeded in part
at least, by crude methods; while re-
ceying only one-twentieth of the wage
| Of the latter, produces but one hundredth
| Of the rice.
| There are extensive areas distributed
| throughout the Archipelago whose soil.
| are admirably adapted TO the growing OF
rice.
/ In fact any fairly fertile soil that has
sufficient clay to retain moisture is suit
ed to its needs; low level lands for many
reasons are preferable.
The breaking up of the soil for plant
| ing can be effected with any ordinary
steel pillow, but where it is desired t.
grow on the large scale, gang plows are
| most economical.
After the land is broken up, it should
be pulverized with a disk chopper OF
| heavy harrow and leveled with q smooth
ing harrow to prevent baking and to put
in such condition that it will readily re-
tain moisture.
Rice may be soWn broad-ca or planted
with drill The latter method is better
securing uniformity termination, seems
to be preferred.
| The seed is sown to the depth of two
inches during the months of May and
June, and at the rate of two bushels to
| the acre.
Although rice is a water plant, gooC
drainage is yeIy essential to its best cul-
| tivation.
In tie Philippines. but very little at
tcntion is paid to irrigation, and the
rains are depended upon 20 inundate the
| lands.
Were advantages taken of tie large
number of streams which traverse the
country, dependence need no longer be
put upon the rains, and there might be
two resultant crops instead of one, a.
are raised now.
The present ditching and drainage rs
well as leveling methods are primitive
and need Improvement and they should
/ be so arranged as to prevent stagnatioT
of the water ard the consequent growing
grasses which thrive under such favor
able circumstances.
Within ten or twelve days before the
grain is ripe, the water is drained off for
harvesting. The ripened crop is cut with
a sickle or sythe, which might be har
vested with the most modern reapers anc
binders.
There is an alluring field for inventive
minds which can construct modification
OF the reaper or binder which will not
offer great resistance in travelling over
soft land, and whose driver wheels vii
not clogg with hits of the wet straw, and
mud
The machines for the threshing out of
the rice are practically the same as were
used IN the western wheat fields some
years ago
The installation of a 500 acre rice farm
with suitable modern equipments, lnclud-