Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-03-16
STATION RAISES
CROPS YEARLY
FORMER MONTANAN NOW OPERATES
BIG PLANTATION IN CENTRAL
AMERICA
Irrigation During Try Months Produces
Normal Yield of Rice There as Well as
in Rainy Season, Says Old Time Deer
Lodge Valley Rancher

The recent claim of a Japanese sci
enlist that he has discovered a method
of growing two rice crops in one year
Is nothing remarkable in the eyes of w.
c. Station, former M0ntanan and now
operator of a large plantation In Pan
anna. MIR. station, who is In Butte
visiting old friends, says that he has
harvested two rice crops annually for
the last seven years at his property in
Central America.
Mr.. Station left the Deer Lodge valley
II year ago, n after travelling through
other Central American countries, locat-
ed in Panama, where he has since been
engaged in the cultivation of rice. He
possesses a l,500-acre farm In the prov
ince OF Chiriqui, Panama, where modern
methods of agriculture are employed ex-
clusively.
The former Montana rancher says 1t
was seven years ago that he first harvest
ed a rice crop during the dry season.
Since that time other planters in Pan
anna have raised crops during hat sea-
son, he said. BY employing modern
methods of irrigation, rice can be cuIti-
waited during the five months dry season
in Central America, Mr.. Station declared,
and he cites his own experience as proof.
The second crop is harvested during
the rainy season, but it is inferior to the
one grown during the arid months. Mr..
Station said.
Need Modern Methods
The Pacific slope Of Panama is adj
mirably suited for the cultivation of rice,
Mr.. Station announced, n bids fair to
| become one Of the worlds leading rice
producing countries. All that is needed
is the introduction of capital and the APP
plication of modern methods of agricul-
ture, he declared.
Mr.. Station is at present making a tour
of the United States, investigating the
rice-producing areas of Louisiana, Texas
and California. Modern methods of agri-
culture and irrigation and the employ
T, ment OF farm machinery for harvesting
are the principal reasons for the success
OF the American rice production, but the
territory is not nearly SO we'll adapted for
rice as Panama. he declared.
Threshing machines have been intro
duced in n for harvesting rice, and
their use is constantly increasing. Mr..
Stanton said that machinery is used ex-
clusively to harvest his crop and that
neighboring farmers are beginning to
employ machinery also.
Milling Methods Primitive
One Of the most urgent needs of Pan
anna Is proper milling facilities, Mr..
Station said. Rice cultivation is rapidly
progressing to modern stages. but mill
ing methods are still primitive. Milling
is mostly done by hand with the use Of
pestle n mortar. Because OF this, vol
ume production is impossible and not
until up-to-date rice mills have been in
stalled can Panama assume its proper po-
sition as q rice-producing country, he
said. Furthermore, because Of the lack
Of mills polished rice cannot be exported.
According to Mr.. Stanton. Panama pro-
duces about $500, 900 worth Of rice a year.
nearly all Of which is for home consump-
ton. This amount can easily be in
creased to more than s 1,000,0 900 when a
central milling plant Is installed. he said.