The Washington herald., 1909-06-26
AMERICAN RICE GROWERS

The increase IN the production and con-
sumption OF rice IN this country has led
some students Of economies 70 believe
that the United States Is about TO Join
the ranks of the rice-eatIng nations,
which at present include Japan. China,
India, and other important countries.
Already the rice industry OF America is
enormous.
The Department Of Agriculture is CIR
rying on extensive experiments with .
view to improving the crop
The Department has a rice farm in
South Carolina. where breeding and seIec-
ton work has been going on for some
time The efforts OF the experts al that
point are largely confined to fghting a
fungus disease known as rotten neck, 3"
which has attacked the Carolina rice crop
for years. doing incalculable damage
Recently the government has obtained a
number Of new varieties OF rice from
italy which appear TO be immune as
against disease.
The newest experiments in rice cultiva-
tion are being carried on In California
People in the Sacramento Valley have be-
come convinced that they can grow rice
and the government is working out. with
several large irrigation concerns. the vari-
Gus problems involved. The indications
are that the experiments VIII be success
ful The Southern rice does not suit the
taste Of Orientals. so those on the Pacific
Coast import their supply from Asia.
There are LOO varieties OF rice
Rice was introduced into America be-
fore 1917. In that year Sir William Berke-
lev is said 10 have raised a small crop IN
the colony Of Virginia. Madagascar rice
was first planted in South Carolina In lssl.
according 10 former Gov. Aston. Of that
State.
II is said that a sea captain homeward
bound from Madagascar was driven into
Charleston Harbor BY stress of weather
and called on Gov. Smith and presented
him with a small bag OF rice seed This
the governor planted IN a moist spot in
his garden, and that was the beginning
OF the South Carolina rice Industry, which
fiOurished for nearly two centuries.
Until the outbreak OF the civil war rice
culture was confined almost entirely 70
the Carolinas and Georgia. but the great
conflict almost destroyed the industry IN
those States Meanwhile II had been
taken up In Louisiana and Texas.
To DR.. II. S. Knapp. now a venerable
ernploye OF the Department OF Agri-
culture. but then an expert in the prime
OF life, fell the task OF supervising the
work OF developing Southwestern Louis
lana and Texas. Farmers from the North
western States were induced 70 settle on
the prospective rice farms, canals and
irrigating bitches were dug. and then the
problem OF cultivation was tackled II
. e. "a
methods with modern machine methods.
II possible
The agricultural machinery which made
the bonanza wheat farms OF the Dakotas
possible was tried. Most OF Il worked
well, steam and horsepower doing the
work Of men. Immense plows. seeders,
herrows. and reapers We're used success
fully. but the binders got stuck IN the
mud. This difficulty was overcome By
widening their tires and adding cogs 70
them. so that they would not sink in the
soil and would grip the surface. IN this
way immense tracts were cultivated.
IN the Southern States rice lands are
fertilized By rotating with other crops or
by blowing under the rice straw and hulls
or by use Of artificial fertilizer. The seed
is sOwn by machinery. and when the
plants are about six inches high water Is
let into the field 20 a depth Of several
inches. being confined by a dyke or levee
about a foot In height The water must
be kept covering the roots OF the plant
fo- weeks. In that warm climate the soil
is Ike a great sponge. 1890 gallons Of
water being absorbed by every acre dur
ing a day. Before harvesting the water
IS turned Of and the land dries out con-
siderably. After harvest the grain is
shocked for curing. great care beinE
taken 10 prevent fermentation
Having been thrashed. the grain {.
taken TO the mill, where the outer husk Is
removed by machinery. the chan blown
away. and the grain polished. Before
this last process rice Is brown in color
and IS so consumed by rIce-eating peo-
pies. who thus get the full beneht OF the
nitrogeaous. fatty outside, which adds 70
the nutrition and flavor Of the grain.
Fashion In America and Europe. how
ever. demands a pearly white grain.
Rice is depended upon by more people
than any other single crop, constituting
as II does. the chief food OF half the
worlds population. A diet OF three
fourths rice and One-fourth beans OF
other legumes Is said TO be ideal FOR
maintaining the human machine. The
worlds rice crop aggregates about IO7.-
00oo0o,CO0 pounds annually.
From rice the japanese make sake. or
rice beer, and the Chinese make wine.
Rice figures in the religious customs and
superstitions Of many countries. In
Borneo this grain is regarded as a Twins
spirit and feasts are held in honor Of the
genius which pervades IT, In Madagas-
car there is belief that il rice Is thrown
or a flute is played before the grain Is
harvested a destructive haustorm VIII
follow. The Inhabitants OF the Island OF
Celebes never entirely empty a bowl OF
rice unless they are certain the vessel
VIII be reflled at once. The Arab places
rice on his roof 20 keep misfortune away.
Among some Oriental peoples rice is
thrown over the head OF a guest at fes-
tival in order to detain his soul. which.
being too happy. might be lured away by
demons.
The throwing OF rice at weddings had
It's origin in very early times. the idea be-
Ing 20 give good luck 70 the newly mar
ried couple and. as one ancient authority
says. because their souls are Ike birds
apt 70 fly away. and rice has the power
OF keeping them. =
tCODyrsht 1909. By Frederic J. Haskinl
TO-mOrrow-The Government Mail.
MIMI YTTTY M