Lower coast gazette., 1913-09-27

# the prominent brokers were estimating the .
,amape in the country at 10 per centof the crop u
ost Others held their estimate OF the loss .
1own to $ per cent. These gentlemen who make :
;hese estimates are not generally aware tnat !.
he loss of actual rice might be comparatively
,mall and vet the loss by virtue OF the expen-
,;ye harvest or we may say the salvage OF the {
under the distressing conditions Of the
water. would be double or perhaps triple the
actual loss in rice. Under our own observation
considerable quantities of rice had to be pulled
on sleds out of the fields where the rice was
in the water in danger of sprouting and
Of course quite wet. This rice had to be taken
To HIGHER land and dried before shocking or
stacking, all of which costs a good deal OF
money. and unfortunately perhaps a total OF
cost larger than the rice will ultimately bring.
OF course we know that as a rule our rice
planters do the best they can. Their long ex-
p~erience and good Judgment is well under
stood andiis to be depended upon. At the same
time. if there should be an earlier harvest, the
result. we suppose of earlier planting, and tnat
the result Of earlier preparation, we snoulo
think the results would average much better II
such methods should be followed. On the up
per coast, where the weather is usually a little
cooler and less promotive of rapid growth than
on the lower coast, the rice crops are generally
considerably advanced in their harvest before
the harvest Season has begun on the lower
coast. This is presumed to be the result OF the
INNER coast method of planting, which is gen.
orally what they call dry planting" The
lands are plowed. narrowed and the rice plant
ed as is ordinarily done with grain crops IN tne
western states. 1t is generally admitted that
this is the best way to plant rice where there
are no bad grasses. On the other hand, rice
planted in this way is a little slow to terminate.
the result sometimes of a lack of moisture ana
the result of the lower temperature OF the wafer
at the time of the early planting. However,
the upper coast fields are generally free OF tne
had grasses and the rice comes to market earlier
than the lower coast rice.
The lower coast rice is generally planted IN
what they call the wet style Of planting. IN
this style of planting the land is plougneo,
narrowed wet, or in the water, and the seeo
rice surouted in the bags by lying in water Tor
a dav or two. The seed rice is then planted
broadcast in the mud and perhaps narrowed IN
again. and in this way is expected to come ul
very quickly and to get ahead OF the bad grass
es 50 far as the growth of the latter is concern
ed. In order to insure this, this kind OF plant
ing is done at late dates, say in April and Ma.
when the weather is comparatively warm ant
;nsures rapid termination. Many OF our re
fields are in low lying lands difficult to plough
because of their spongy character. ana IN
nresent system is the outgroWth OF these con
ditions and perhaps cannot be remedled. VI
the other hand, experience has shown year a
ter wear. that rice ripening the middle and la'
ter part of August is frequently caught by tn
August rains and the September storms and
much damage has been done in that way dul
ing the last two or three decades, that our pa
;sh has lost it's prominence as the chief rice pr
ducing parish Of the state.
The prairie parishes in the western part
the state. St. Landry, Lafayette, Vermilio1
Acadia and Calcasieu have developed q rice Gu
ture Of q different kind. Under reasonab
normal conditions their lands lie level, but q
capable Of being utilized with dry culture al
are generally irrigated by pumping from Il
adjacent bayous or from deep wells. The n
thus gathered is harvested by harvesting m
chimes similar to those utilized in the wheat
: dustry and in a general way the methods the
: developed are successful. Perhaps If our n
: planters Were to begin at the very earliest da
: practicable and get all of their land ready
= soon as ii. would be possible by the calend'
3 there would be less rice to harvest in Septe
Der than VIE now see and the general resu
would unquestionably be better financially
least. Experience must teach US and yet
e know that experience is a dear teacher,
/ O of us will learn in no other school.
must make up our minds now as to what
: shall do in all these matters for next year, 8
E. we ought to make up our minds while the {
asters are upon US and ought to make our mil
IS up to be more prudent than ever and to
oe deavor to get our crops out Of the way pei
Is the September storms destroy them.