The Forrest City times., 1909-11-05
ARKANSASRICECROP
BEGINNING AND GROWTH OF IN
 DUSTRY IN THE STATE.
Six Years Time Has Witnessed the Development of Pursuit Worth
 Millions to the Farmer.


 of Arkansas rice, harvested in Sep tember, has been sold and deliver cd within the state. and two million pounds have been shipped out Of the state. By February l. the entire crop of 25 million pounds, grown on 2S.000 acres of land, will have been dispos- ed of, according to general estimates. The crop this year nets Arkansas rice growers approximately $950,000
 Easing his assertion on the presens heavy demand, Henry Leigh, of this city, judge of rice, declared that not less than 50,000 acres of land would be growing rice in this stare next year, while within the next de cade every available acre in the state would be under cultivation. It Is estimated that this would mean the planting of 100000 acres, and har vest of 3,000,000,000 pounds of rice. Since the cultivation of rice was begun on an extensive scale in Ark ansas, four years ago, six rice mills have bee established; two of them at Stu E, and one each at Wheat on, CarLsIe, Lonoke and Dewitt The product from these mills is declared to be superior to any grown in this country, with the exception of what is known as river rice, and grown on a small strip of river land in Lou isiana-and the native product equals | that in quality.
 Within tho 1aCt tivn tho l sumption of rice in tho United States | has trebled, and each year the dc | mand increases. The result of this increased demand will be the increas- ed supply from Arkansas, where tn" land is more adaptable to rice grow ing than in any other state, and | where higher grade of rice grows. The cultivation Of the cereal here | is the result of a chance happening. | In the general distribution of free seeds from Washington, small pack | ct of rice seed was mailed to II. \. 1 Fuller, of Lonoke. Having seen rica grown, and appreciating it from an aesthetic standpoint he planted the seed in his garden, crudely watering and keeping the plants immersed by hand. To his surprise it flourished and gave forth a healthy looking | grain That was six years ago.
 After his first years experience, Mir. Fuller planted small acreage, and used a cistern for watering pur- | poses. So successful was this ven | ture that a governmental station was | established, irrigation systems in- stalled, and rice growing in Arkansas from that time became an estab- lished and prosperous industry.
 The average consumer and dealer has little conception of the maner in which rice is cultivated Planted in | February, in prairie lands about which levees are built, it is first wa tered, then, when the plant begins to grow, from three to four inches | of the stalk are kept submerged in water until within ten days of the time to cut it, when the water is drained. The submersion generally covers a period of 70 days.
 One of the reasons why rice grow ing in Arkansas will probably prove more successful than in any other oi our states is the fact that the land dries dries before time for shocking, while in other sections the grain is cut and shocked on wet soil. When the crop is shocked on dry soil the grain is polished to better advan tage and brings higher price on the market.
 The yield in the Lonoke section is from 5 to 6 bushels per acre, on an average, where proper cultiva- llon is resorted 10, while in some instances more than 100 bushels to the acre haze been harvested.