66 



every week to avoid its becoming stagnant. When this occurs rice is 

 liable to be troubled with the water weevil. This "lay-by flow," or 

 final irrigation, continues until about eight days before the harvest, 

 when the water is drawn off tor the field to dry. 



Farmers diff'er considerably in their methods ; some hoe more than 

 twice and some flood more than three times, and some less ; also in the 

 final flooding the practices diff'er as to the depth of water maintained ; 

 some farmers consider it advantageous to keep the water nearly as deep 

 as the rice stem is tall till shortly before harvest and then gradually 

 withdraw the water as the straw stiffens ; others prefer only 

 sufficient water to properly mature the crop. The Hon. John 

 Screven, of Sav. nnah, Ga., an eminent authority on rice, states that 

 irrigation along the n '-rhern rivers of South Carolina and even as far 

 south as Charleston differs from that pursued aiound Savannah in 

 Georgia, owing to the fact that the former lands are generally low and 

 can be ploughed or flooded at any time, which is not usually the case 

 with the Georgia land. The time the water is held on the field in the 

 "long point flow," he claims, should depend upon the condition of the 

 crop, and every planter mu<t decide that for himself. He must observe 

 the pbiut and allow it to acquire proper root suppDrt before making any 

 radical change. In regard to the "harvest water," he says : 



On the start the depth should correspond to the "long point water" and 

 should be increased with the growth of the plant, but should never rise above 

 the collar of the leaf. This flow should be put on when, on clearing the base 

 of the stalk of the plant, an open joint is shown. This is the initial of the 

 grain formation and should be aided by the water. 



YIELD AND VALUE OF PRODUCT PER ACRE. 



Good delta lands are estimated to yield, under intelligent manage- 

 ment, from 30 to 45 bushels to the acre. The standard weight of rough 

 rice in commerce is 45 pounds to the bushel. In a report made by 

 planters to the Savannah Rice Association, January 28, 1882, the 

 average yield to the acre is placed at 30 bushels, and the annual cost of 

 cultivation, including interest on the land, at §35 per acre. In a 

 report made by prominent rice planters to the House Committee on 

 Ways and Means in January, 1897, the average yield to the acre is 

 placed at 32 bushels, and the cost of production is fixed at |24. If we 

 take the latter estimate the cost to the planter in the Atlantic States of 

 raising 100 pounds of rough rice is |1. 66, or |2.69 per pack of 162 

 pounds. Of course this is only an average, the co>t being much less 

 in some instances and in others much greater. 



NORTH CAROLINA, FLORIDA, AND MISSISSIPPI. 



Considerable rice is produced in these States, but as the methods 

 are similar to those practiced in South Carolina and Georgia it is un- 

 necessarv to describe them here. In these States there are quite large 

 tracts which could profitably be devoted to rice and which are almost 

 useless for other purposes. With the denser population of ensuing 

 years these now ensuing waste lands will be improved and become 

 valuabla accessories to their wealth. In many sections of Florida a 

 little capital judiciously invested in the improvement of rice lands would 



