KIOE. 



329 



together tliat a grain of rice can just be pushed in between them. 

 The two samples very nearly touch another, so that the rice is forced 

 through the spaces of the wires, which rub off the rest of the husk 

 and polish the grain. A quantity, however, is broken by this opera- 

 tion, so it is next shaken through sifters of different degrees of fine- 

 ness, which separate the dust from the broken rice. The whole rice 

 is then fanned to blow off the remaining dust, and finally passes 

 between rubbers covered with sheep skin with the wool on, which 

 clean it thoroughly, and render it fit for the market. The Para rice 

 is remarkably fine, being equal in quality to that of Carolina, but, 

 owing to the carelessness with which it is cultivated, it seldom shows 

 so good a sample. No care is taken in choosing seed or in preparing 

 the ground, and in harvesting a portion is cut green because there are 

 not hands enough to get it in quickly when it is ripe, and rice is a 

 grain which rapidly falls out of the ear and is wasted. It is therefore 

 seldom cultivated on a large scale, the greater portion being the 

 produce of Indians and small landholders who bring it to the mills to 

 sell. 



United States. — Eice was first introduced into Virginia in the year 

 1647. In 1698 about 60 tons were shi|)ped from Charleston to 

 England. In 1718 its cultivation was commenced in Louisiana by 

 the " Company of the West." The rapid development of its cultiva- 

 tion will be seen from the fact that in 1724 South Carolina exported 

 18,000 barrels; in 1740, 90,110 barrels; and in 1760, 100,000 

 barrels. Since that time the swamps of South Carolina have proved 

 well suited for the production of rice ; and not only has the cultiva- 

 tion been effected with trifling labour, but the grain produced possesses 

 a remarkably fine quality, being decidedly larger and handsomer than 

 that of the countries whence the seed was originally derived. The 

 following table shows the exports of domestic rice before and since 

 the civil war : 



Lbs. 



1810 84,452,263 



1820 56,226,103- 



1830 74,920,431 



1840 65,339,731 



1846 92,866,561 



Lbs. 



1850 77,467,909 



1865 1,666,442 



1866 2,212,901 



1870 2,133,014 



1871 455,842 



As will be seen from the above figures, the exportation since the 

 war instead of increasing is decreasing. The re-exports of foreign in 

 1869 amounted to 8,868,664 lbs., in 1870 to 15,212,883 lbs., and 

 in 1871 to 10,215,940 lbs. 



In 1840 the rice crop of the United States amounted to 

 80,841,422 lbs., that of 1850 to 215,812,710 lbs., and that of 1860 

 to 187,140,178 lbs. The production of 1870 was but 78,600,000 lbs. 

 Evidently this industry has not recovered from the effects of the war 

 as has the cotton crop. The rice plantations of the Southern States 

 were not so universally abandoned during the war as were the cotton 

 plantations ; therefore this can hardly be urged as the cause of the 

 languishing condition of rice production, while the cotton crop has 

 not only fully recovered, but exceeds the production of the last year 

 before the war by 500,000 bales. The true cause must be looked for 



