The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-06-01
RICE AND ITS POSSIBILITIES
(BY NJ. E. LAYNE)

Now, when the food question is so
prominently before us, and is pressing
for solution, it will be wise for US to
understand the value of rice as an ar
ticle of diet. In it's production, rice
yields to the will of man more readily
than any other food product; and the
fact that territory capable of mar
velous production lien at our very
door is worthy of note, and should be
carefully considered.
RICE HISTORY
The history of American rice Gull
ture dates back to 1894, when vessel
bound to Liverpool from Madagascar,
blown out of her course and in need
of repairs, put into Charleston. The
captain gave Landgrave Thomas
Smith small quantity of rice, which
was used for seed. From this begin
ming, enough was soon grown to pro
vide the needs of the colony; and
early in the following century, it fur
nished a considerable amount for ex
port. Production gradually increased
until, in ITO, the harvest amounted
to 1,672,5O0 bushels. The Civil Wa
practically destroyed the industry
but it gradually revived; and in 1905
this country's total rice crop was 13,
100000 bushels. AS time went on
States further west and south took u
rice culture, with the result that tn,
CarolinaS> were soon left behind-du
to the fact that these new states i'm
ported and propogated a new seed
used better methods of cultivation
more dependable irrigation, and i'm
proved machinery. American grow
rice now comes ainly from Arkansas
Louisiana, Texas, and California.
Government reports give the ylel
per acre as follows: South Carolin
and Georgia 80 bushels; Louisian
and Texas, as; Arkansas, 60 to sc
and the average cost of production a
from SO to $22 per acre. To m
personal knowledge, the above yield
have, in many instances, been mate
rally exceeded; and can be still ful
Their increased by better seed-bed, be-
ter seed, correct fertilization, prope
application of water, and drainage
all within the control of man.
The large yields of Arkansa
Louisiana, and Texas are caused par
" by the fact that their rice is raise
on higher ground, better drained, an
that the water supply is more d.
pendable-being pumped from art
sian wells. Rice culture, especial
in Arkansas, is rapidly developin
with wonderful promise for its II
ture. The state now has about loo
900 acres in cultivation, and possess
: 1,72S,OO0 acres capable of rice pr
duction.
FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
The Layne & Bowler Company h,
supplied the trade with several #
lion dollars worth of irrigation equi
ment, and found the rice growers
be dependable, but a little slow
meeting their obligations. Rice gro'
ers in the past have beSn handicapp'
financially, largely due to their ia
ure to anticipate their needs and
n provide the necessary financial I
. sources through long time farm LOAF
And, because rice production by t
!. improved method is comparative
new and not thoroughly understoc
=. short time money is shy. Bankers,
I some instances, have refused to e
O tend the needed and worthy line
credit-placing this new irrigati
method on a par with the old, viii
trusted to Observation-Disclosures, {
pneded upon rain storage made pos
}, bic b. draining bayous and swami
Unde: this old swamp method, r
yield pei acre was from Is to So bu!
els, Will. Under well-irrigation, usi
better drained land, it is from so
100 bushels, better grade, and m'
certain in production,
! WHEN PROPERLY COMPILED
WITH, NATURES LAWS
WORK FOR US
Q Why is rice mans most dependa
$ source of food supply? Because it
n water-wheat, provided by the c
!. ator, adapted to wet and warm
mates. It is we'll called ava
h Wheat" for when it is or 8 inc
q high, water is applied and the file
!. kept flooded or very wet until
d crop is matured. To illustrate