69 



RICE GROWING AND WELL-DRAINED AI^LUVIAL LANDS. 



On the well-drained alluvial lands above New Orleans, the fields 

 are ditched and leveed as described in the foreoroincr account of the 

 lower coast rice growing. Particular attention is given to thorough 

 drainage in February, and by the first of March the land should be 

 ready lor the plough. The land should be well ploughed an 1 harrowed. 

 Some advocate shallow ploughing and some claim that deep ploughing is 

 better. Conditions vary so widely that no absolute rule will apply, but 

 where the water supply is ample a depth of six inches will be found 

 fairly satisfactory. Sowing is generally done broadcast and by hand, 

 at the rate of 50 to 80 pounds to the acre, and followed by a thorough 

 harrowing of the land. Sowing generally commences about the 20th 

 of March, and is completed by the middle of April, the object being to 

 place the rice upon the market as early as possible, before the price is 

 affected by the foreign crop or that of southwestern Louisiana and 

 Texas. 



Solving the seed, — Three different methods of treating the seed are 

 followed. Some let on just enough water to saturate the ground imme- 

 diately after sowing and harrowing and at once draw off* any surplus 

 water. This insures the germination of the seed. Others sow and trust 

 to there being sufficient moisture in the land to germinate the seed. 

 This is sometimes uncertain, and rarely produces the best results. A 

 few sprout the seed before planting by placing bags of rice in water. 

 This is sure to be a failure if the soil is very dry when the seed is sown. 

 In case of planting in dry soil, without following with water saturation, 

 rolling the land after seeding and harrowing bus been found beneficial. 



Flooding. — When the young rice is 5 or 6 inches high, water is 

 generally let on the field, care being exercised that it should not entirely 

 cover the plants, and the field is kept continuously submerged until the 

 crop matures. Where the soil is sufficiently moist to promote growth, 

 some of the planters do not tarn on the water until the rice is 10 inches 

 high. It is claimed by them that there is great danger of sun-scalding 

 if water is allowed on the field when the rice is very young and tender. 

 As soon as the rice stalks indicate any change in colour at the bottono, 

 the water is turned off. 



Harvesting. — Formerly the rice was cut, allowed to dry one dav, 

 and then bound and placed in small shocks for further curing. It 

 usually remained in the shock a week, and was then stacked. The 

 stack was round, not more than 6 or 8 feet in diameter, and built upon 

 a plank base about 2 feet from the ground. Recently many planters 

 pursue the methods of cutting, curing, and threshing described by Mr, 

 Dymond. It is not practicable, on this class of lands, to employ 

 machinery in cutting the rice. 



OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED. 



Expense of flooding. — The water used in flooding the alluvial lands 

 along the Mississippi Kiver was formerly drawn from the river by a pipe 

 which pierced the base of the levee. These pipes were a constant 

 menace to security from freshets. A majority of the disastrous breaks 

 in the levees were attrioHtable to them. Finally the law prohibited 



