THE TEXAS RICE BOOK. 67 



THRESHING 



proceeds just as with wheat or oats. There is but little difference 

 between the rice and wheat thresher. The charges per bushel are 

 practically the same. Riceis sacked at the machine and the aver- 

 age weight is one hundred and eighty pounds. It is not unsacked 

 until emptied into the bin at the rice mill for the reason, each field 

 may have a different grade, and hence it is sold in lots. The un- 

 loading of a field of red rice into an elevator of pure white rice 

 would depreciate in value the entire lot, hence the handling of the 

 crop in sacks. Rice is sold by the barrel, which weighs one hun- 

 dred and sixty-two pounds. 



THE YIELD. 



It is difficult to determine the exact average yield of rice for 

 the reason some farmers adhere to the ''providence system," 

 which means maybe fifteen barrels one year and five barrels the 

 next season. It is safe to calculate, however, when an abundance 

 of water is at hand, the average yield will run quite twelve bar- 

 rels per acre. Some farmers greatly exceed this and I shall show 

 herein some top crops as a possibility to those who have the best 

 seed, land and plenty of water. . 



MARKETING. 



Rice warehouses are found in all the towns in the rice grow- 

 ing territory, for the farmers who desire to ship to the larger 

 markets. This method, however, has been largely superseded by 

 the rice mills, which have located in the towns and either buy the 

 crops or mill and sell the rice for which they charge forty cents a 

 barrel and also retain the bran and polish. The rice planter has, 

 therefore, the opportunity of milling and selling his own crop, 

 or the mills will do it for him, or he can dispose of it to the high- 

 est bidder "in the rough." 



PROFITS. 



Now we have reached the vital part of rice culture and 

 which, of course, influences all business enterprises. The first 

 consideration is given to calculating the cost and the profit. No 

 wise man ever embarked in an undertaking without weighing- 

 well these two points. One man can easily handle one hu'ndred 

 acres of land. Some handle a hundred and fifty. The cost per 

 acre, including water rent, is about $10 per acre. If you are a 

 tenant add $7 more for land rent and your total cost is about $17. 

 The average price of rice is $3 per barrel and with an average 

 yield you have $36 an acre, or $19 profit per acre, of $1,900 from 

 one hundred acres. These figures are conservative, and many far- 

 mers make much more. Having recently obtained some state- 



