48 THE TEXAS RICE BOOK. 



RICE FARMING. 



AN ALPHABETICAL LIST OF REQUISITES TO SUCCESS. 



Texas Industry. 



A. A warm and salubrious climate. 



B. Be sure of plenty of fresh water and a certain way of 

 getting it on the lands when wanted. About 1,300 gallons per 

 acre per day will be required. 



C. Clay subsoil that will hold water is a pre-requisite to 

 success. 



D. Don't go off half cocked at the start and expect impos- 

 sibilities. Don't assume that water will run up hill except as it 

 is forced by proper appliances, or that it will be confined with 

 slipshod, illy-constructed embankments. Don't select land that 

 is not comparatively level. Don't fail to subdivide it into cuts or 

 fields from five to twenty acres each. Don't figure on having 

 over ten inches on the lower side when the upper or high side of 

 cut contains above two inches. 



E. Each cut should be leveled and ditched so that complete 

 drainage can be had you must be able to get the water off as 

 well as on. 



F. Foolish and inexperienced people plow deep for rice. 

 Those who know how and are wise plow shallow not exceeding 

 2 1-2 to 3 inches. 



G. Ground should be harrowed and seed drilled in same as 

 wheat. Broadcasting is practiced by some, but the best results 

 are had from use of the drill. 



H. Harvest rice same as wheat, using a rice harvester. 



I. Irrigate from 70 to 90 days, beginning when the rice 

 stalks are from six to eight inches high. Insist on the "irriga- 

 tor," whether with well, reservoir or canal, being ready for the 

 work when your crop demands it. 



J. Just thresh same as wheat, of course using a rice thresh- 

 er. 



K. Know and realize that you can plow all winter. Plow- 

 ing wet don't hurt and the ground never freezes. 



L. Let your drill be guaged to put in from 54 to 8 1 pounds 

 of unhulled seed to the acre about one and a quarter bushels. 



M Must sell in the rough. The mills take off the hulls 

 and put the polish on the rice grains. 



N. Note that 162 pounds of rough rice makes a barrel. A 

 sack is an indefinite quantity, like a sack of wheat. Ordinarily 

 a "sack" means a barrel of rice 162 pounds. A bushel is 45 

 pounds and 100 pounds cleaned rice a pocket. It takes about a 

 barrel of rough rice to make a pocket. 



P. Properly harvested and marketed rough rice brings 

 from $2 to $5 per barrel, depending upon general prices, grade, 

 etc. 



