The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-05-16
RICE ASSOCIATION
WEEKLY LETTER
Beaumont, Texas. May Is:

The middle of May finds the rice crop
outlook favorable. A considerable
percentage of the rice Oh the coast
is flooded and up to a good stand.
There is some planting and blowing
still going on, but the bulk of the crop
is in the ground. The warm days this
week have given the growing rice a
big impetus and the showing at this
time is very good.
On the Mississippi river the break in
the levee has injured rice prospects in
the Natchez district, and in the terri
tory west of Houston drouth has in
terfered with stands OF the early plant
ing and with the completion of the late
planting In the Bay City district not
over three.fourths of the crop had been
planted on the 18th. Elsewhere on the
coast normal conditions prevail In
Arkansas planting is well advanced and
is now farther along than the average.
There will probably be slight in
crease in the percentage of Japan rice.
In many instances where Honduras had
been planted the heavy cold rains in
April made re-planting necessary and
Japan was planted instead of Honduras
The general condition of the soil is
better than the average, partly due to
weather conditions and partly attribu-
able to better methods OF soils prepapa-
ton. Farmers have been better
equipped this year than in former
years. There have been more mules
and horses in use, more and better.
farming implements and more engines
have been used for traction.
There appears to be d chance that
the Senate will amend the rice tariff
schedule of the Underwood bill by
putting the tariff on brewers rice
where it is now, one fourth OF a cent a.
pound, instead of one.eight a cent a
pound as proposed by the Underwood
bill. 1t is said that Senator's Sheppard
of Texas, and Robinson, of Arkansas,
do not fancy legislating against the
producer for the benefit of the saloon
keeper and the brewer 1t is known
that President Dunlap, of the Southern
Rice Growers Association, and other
producers from Texas, Louisiana and
Arkansas, have brought to the atten-
| ton of those and other senator's the
fact that the proposed cut in the tariff
on brewers rice will take one-eight of
cent out of the pockets of the farm
ers for every pound of brewers rice
produced and will put it in the pockets
OF the brewers and saloon keepers. 1t
is also known that these facts have
made a deep impression on senator's
who have stated specifically that they
would vote for the Underwood bill as
it came out of the Democratic caucus.
| 1t is hoped that the senators from the
rice states will be able to convince the
Finance Committee of the senate that
the reduction in the tariff on brewers
rice is an oversight that may be cor
rected without prejudice to the Demo-
cratic caucus program.
The great interest taken by the rice
farmers of Louisiana. Texas and Arkan-
saS in tariff reduction and in the
prospect of a large crop added to d
possible carryover has borne fruit in a
very large number of additional con-
tracts with the farmers rough rice
selling organization. Already the num-
Der of new members of the Southern
Rice Growers Association is more
than twenty-five per cent Of the whole
number last year, in addition to those
of last year. 1t is believed that the as
ISOLATION membership at the opening or
the rice year will include practically
all the rice farmers of the three states
lWho are situated that they can sign
contracts for the sale of their rice.
The clean rice market has been ex-
traordinarily dull since the beginning
of the year, and it is feared that the
domocile demand will not absorb the
visible supply before the new crop
comes in, unless demand Unexpectedly
picks UP at a season of the year when
| it is always dull If the program an
!, nounced few weeks ago goes through
! enough rice will be exported by the
Louisiana State Rice Milling Company
to obviate a dangerous carryover. That
this program will be carried out sue
! cessfully is not doubted, as the big
corporation controls the supply OF rice
: now in sight.