74 FOR BETTER CROPS IN THE SOUTH 



season was dry little rice was raised. The annual rainfall of 

 over fifty inches was, however, usually sufficient and rice seldom 

 Sailed to produce some sort of a crop. This method of irrigation 

 was called " Providence." 



The rice was harvested in October with a reaping hook, car- 

 ried out on high land and shocked ; when cured, it was placed 

 in stacks and threshed with a flail or "tramped" out as re- 

 quired during the year. Each day or week the supply of rice 

 for the family was milled or husked by beating it in a mortar 

 with a wooden pestle. The mortar was made by setting a sec- 

 tion of a gum log on end and burning or chiseling a hollow in 

 the top. The grinding of the rough husks soon made the 

 mortar clean and smooth. The rice when hulled was winnowed 

 clean; was then ready for cooking with meat or game. In this 

 way the full food value of the rice was conserved as none of the 



A reliable means of supplying water for riee growing 



outer cuticle or the germ end, which contains the greater part of 

 the protein and fat, was removed. Unpolished rice is much 

 superior to the milled article, consequently much of the rice 

 consumed in the rice belt is husked in the country mill. Native 

 rice, wild duck, gumbo-fille, and Jambalyia prepared by a Creole 

 chef are dishes that will appeal to the epicure. 



Immigration to the Rice Districts— In the late '80s, North- 

 ern people commenced to settle in this section, purchasing land 

 from the state and federal governments. They brought with 

 them the modern tools of Northern agriculture. It was found, 

 however, that the natural drainage was not sufficient, and that 

 the wild prairie soils were not at that time adapted to the high 

 land crops of the West, and that rice was the logical crop. This 

 they planted in the low lands of the coulees and flats, and 

 endeavored to adapt labor-saving machines to the exigency of 

 the situation, depending upon "Providence" to furnish the 

 necessary water. But the rainfall could not be depended upon 



