The Carlisle independent., 1917-05-31
RICE, AND ITS FOOD VALUE
Some Statistics Worth Knowing To Every
 Rice Grower.


 Is pressing for solution, it will be wise for us to understand the value of rice as an article of diet. In it's production, rice yields to the will of man more readily than any other food product: and the fact that a territory capable of marvellous production lies at our very door is worthy of note. and should be carefully considered.
 RICE HISTORY
 The history of American rice culture dates back to 1894, when a vessel bound for Liverpool from Madagascar, blown out of her course and in need of re pairs, put into Charleston The captain gave Landgrave Thomas Smith, small quantity of rlce. which was used for seed. From this beginning, enough was soon grown to provide the needs of the colony; and, early in the fol. lowing century, it furnished a considerable amount for export. Production gradually increased until, in ITO, the harvest amount ed to ,672, 300 bushels. The Civ. il War practically destroyed the industry, but it gradually re viyed. As time went on, States farther West and South took up rice culture, with the result that the Carolinas were soon left be hind, due to the fact that these new States imported and propo- gated new seed, used better methods of cultivation, more de pendable irrigation, and improv- ed machinery. American grown rice now comes mainly from Ar kansas. Louisiana, Texas and California.
 Government reports give the yield per acre as follows: South Carolina and Georgia. 30 bushels; Louisiana and Texas, 45; Arkan- sas. 50 to 80; and the average cost of production at from S19 to S22 per acre. To my personal knowledge, the above yields have, in many instances, been materially exceeded; and can be still further increased by better seed-bed, better seed, correct fertilization, proper application of water, and drainage, all with in the control of man.
 The large yields of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas are caused partly by the fact thaO their rice israised on higher ground, better drained, and that the water sup ply is more dependable, being pumped from artesian wells. Rice culture, especially in Ar kansas. is rapidly developing, with wonderful promise for it's future. The State now has about 100000 acres in cultivation and possesses 1,728,0O0 acres capa ble of rice production.
 FINANCIAL CONDITIONS
 The Layne & Bowler Company has supplied the trade with sev- eral million dollars worth of irri- gation equipment. and found the rice growers to be dependable. but little slow in meeting their obligations. Rice growers in the past have been handicapped fl nancially, largely due to their failure to anticipate their needs and to provide tbe necessary fl nancial resources through long time farm lt ans. And, because rice production by the improved methods is comparatively new and not thoroughly understood, short time money is shy Bank CTS, in some instances, have re fused to extend the needed and worthy line of credit, placing this new irrigation method on a par with the old, which trusted to Providence, otherwise, de pended upon rain storage made possible by draining bayous and swamps. Under the old swamp methods, rice yield per acre was