The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1921-10-29
R. |. ABBOTT Pulls OVER
BIC SEED RICE DEAL
Pays $4,000 Per Barrel for Two
Hundred Barrels of Sol.
Wriaht's Newest.

What is probably the largest single
purchase Of seed rice on record in
or any other state, for that
matter, was closed early this week
when R. L. Abbott purchased from
Sol. Wright, the veteran rice man,
two hundred barrels of Lady Wright"
paying therefor the sum Of $4,000
per barrel, This constitutes very near
ly the entire supply of the promising
variety which Mr.. Wright has been
years in perfecting. The deal repre-
sents approximately $4O,OOOOO.
While Mr.. Abbott is away in Arkan.
sas at present, and it is not possible
to get from him all of the details of
his plan, it is known that he will en-
gage extensively in seed rice produc.
ton. His plan is to plant 200 acres
in Arkansas, 200 acres in Texas, and
400 acres in Louisiana this coming
season. He is now arranging the de.
tails of the Arkansas project. The
Louisiana acreage of the famous new
variety will be planted somewhere in
this vicinity. Of course seed rice at
5000 per barrel will not be planted on
anything but the best land, and it will
not be handled in any haphazard man
ner during its planting and tending
1t might be presumed that even the
birds will be denied their customary
share after planting, as rice of this
quality would be considered too rich
a diet for them.
A review of the history of the rice
industry in this section shows clear
ly the necessity for good seed, and
also that the variety must be changed
very frequently in order to keep uT
the yield. This is demonstrated by
the fact that after a variety is plant
ed for few years the yield diminish,
es rapidly until the growing of that
variety is no longer profitable, The
first rice planted commercially in
Southwest Louisiana was the Hon
duras varieties and yields as high as
fifteen and eighteen bags on fields
watered by providence. After ter
years of production this variety would
yield only about seven sacks on al
average, with the very best of cult
walton and care, and its planting il
this section was abandoned. The
Japan varieties were then featured
and they held up in yield admirabl!
but ten years of planting under i'm
proving methods saw them shrink il
yield to where they were no longe
profitable to grow. Mr.. Wright wa
a common" rice farmer then, but h
saw the trend of things and began tn,
propagation of new varieties to TAX
the place of those which had beel
grown, and which would be adapte
to this country and our method O
cultivation. His first real hit was wit
the Blue Rose which held up wonder
fully and produced big yields both a
the thersher and in the mill. He
responsible for number of other We
rieties also, which have been model
ately successful. His Greater Blu
Rose is probably the most popula
and the most profitable rice bein
grown at present on the average
But, alas, judging from the fate
other varieties, whose popularity an
usefulness have come and gone, thes
varieties have passed their zenith an
Iare headed toward oblivion along wit
the Honduras and Japan varieties
Therefore, If the rice industry is t
continue to thrive it is very necessar
to have something to take their place
and to this end Mr.. Wright has d.
veloped the Lady Wright" variet
which he prizes as his browning acl
ievement in the propagation Of see
rice.
1t is pleasure to know that M
Abbott will have the privilege
bringing this rice onto the mark'
. fo' general production, and this II
several reasons. First of all nc he
the general good of the rice ladustl
} at heart above all else. He has wor
/ ed for its success until rice is pa