65 



river a considerable distance. Slii^^htly brackish water is not injurions 

 to rice,! but saltwater is destriictivo. 



INLAND MAliSHES. 



Some excellent marshes are found in South (yarolina and Georgia 

 upon what may relatively be termed high land. These Lire in most cases 

 easily drained and in many instances G;in be irrigated from some con- 

 venient stream. The objection planters have found to such tracts is 

 that the water supply is unreliable and not uniform in temperature. 

 In cases of drought the supply may be insufficient ; in case of freshets 

 the wa^er is too cold. To obviate these objections reservoirs are some- 

 times constructeci, but are expensive, owing to loss by the evaporation 

 from such a large exposed surface. However, where all the conditions 

 are t'avoiirable, it costs less to improve these upland marshes than the 

 delta lands and the results are fairly remunerative. 



CULTIVATION. 



During the flooding period tlie ditches and canals become more or 

 less filled b) the mud which flows into them with the water. As soon 

 after harvest as possible the ditch banks are cleared of foul grasses, 

 weeds, or brush, and the ditches are cleaned. The levees are examined 

 to see if they are in repair. Early in the winter the fields are ploughed 

 or dug over with a heavy hoe. At this time the ploughing is shallow, 

 about 4 inches deep. Tiie field is then barely covered with water, 

 which later is drained off. Upon this saturated soil the frost acts with 

 considerable force, disintegrating it and pulverizing the lumps. In 

 March the laud is allowed to dry, all the drains being placed in repair 

 and kept open. Seeding commences in April and continues nearly to 

 the middle of May. Jist prior to seeding the land is thoroughly har- 

 rowed, all clods pulverized and the surface smoothed. Trenches 12 

 inches apart and 2 to 3 inches deep are made with 4-inch trenching 

 hoes at right angles to the drains, and the seed is dropped in these at 

 the rate of 114 to 135 pounds to the acre. Great attention is paid to 

 the selection of good seed. This is usually covered, but occasionally 

 a planter, to save labour, stirs ihe seed in clayed water, enough clay 

 adhering to the kernels to prevent their floating away when the water 

 is admitted. Under the usual method the water is let on as soon as 

 the seed is covered, and remains on four to six days, till the grain is 

 well sprouted. It is then withdrawn. As soon as the blade is up a few 

 inches the water is sometimes put on for a few days and again with- 

 drawn. The first water is locally called the "sprout water." After the 

 rice has two leaves the so-called "stretch water" or "long point flow" is 

 put on. At first it is allowed to bo deep enough to cover the rice com- 

 pletely — generally from 10 to 12 inches — then it is gradually drawn 

 •down to about G inches, where it is held twenty to thirty days. It is 

 then withdrawn and the field allowed to dry. When the field is suffi- 

 ciently dry the rice is hoed thoroughly, all grass and " volunteer " rice 

 being carefully removed. After hoeing it remains without irrigation 

 nntil jointing connnences, when it is slightly hoed, care being used to 

 prevent injury to the plant, and the water is then turned on to the 

 £eld. During the time water is held on the rice it is changed at least 



