The Carlisle independent., 1918-07-25

5 irrigation. The outstanding pecul- iarity of this water, according to rice farmers, is the fact that it enriches
 the ground by depositing more of the , elements going to make up the composition of the rice, than that crop absorbs during the season, leav- ing the ground that much better pre-
 pared for the next years crop This would eliminate the necessity of rest
 ing the ground every four or five
 years, when it is customarily put in
 some other crop, in order to rid it of
 the red" or wild rice which seems to generally crop out. The rice used by seed is imported in order to keep out as much red rice as possible.
 One beauty about the culture of rice is the fine market that is not be- ing supplied with what it demands. The American people are just awak- ening to the actual facts about rice and they are finding that it is one of the most nutricious and best foods obtainable, and that it's great food values make it one of the most economical foods, especially adapted to the present war time high price period. In comparison with the values for food of rice with wheat, oats, potatoes, beef and other commodities, RICE comes out with flying colors every time.
 It may surprise some to learn that rice is food of such a character that about three-fourths of the worlds population practically live upon it. This fact alone is making the demand for rice, increase at a rapid rate.
 Rice producing is possible only up on Certain kinds of land, and the area of /this land in the United States is very limited, making it an absolute ceTtainty that as the American people demand more and more rice, rice pro- ducing lands will increase more and more in value.
 Here in Arkansas are the best rice producing lands in the United States, and with the excellent climate condi- tions, ample water supply and good irrigation - facilities, they are un- surpassed in opportunity, and furnish the most ideal conditions under which one could desire to live.
 The water that can be had in un- limited quantities at depth of from 40 to 100 feet all over the Prairie is the purest known, and the supply never failing. Wells are driven at a cost of from S75.00 to S2,000.00, while irrigation companies will absolutely guarantee water at any place in this territory.
 There have been some wonderful yields of rice recorded on the Prairie, one of the best of which was re ported by F. c. Luebke, who threshed 65 acres and sold the rice for SIS, 3,S52.S0, selling off the same land S260 worth of rice straw. The production of this crop, he said, cost him less than s25.0O per acre.
 Then A. M. Hansen reports receiv- ing an average of S136.45 per acre gross on 95 acres planted to rice, with cost of planting, harvesting and marketing not topping $25.00 per acre.
 And these were not wartime price | records, either, but the money brought during the regular seasons under the usual quotations.
 Rice Growing Begins
 The culture of rice began in Arkansas in Lonoke county in the year 1904, but the crop was only l 5,975 bushels and brought only $1 per bushel. This industry has ad- vanced in area until the crop now runs into the millions and the prices paid for rice are such as make it one of the most profitable of all crops.
 The wonderful growth of the rice industry may be seen by the follow ing figures for the thirteen years since it was first planted:
 905 CI00 co 1T