71 



iug consists in pulling the gni!5S up by the roots, which, while it effectually 

 destroys the grass, loosens up the land, and when properly done is equivalent 

 to a thorough working. This requires considerable sleight-of-hand and care, 

 and is the kind of work that can not be done by inexperienced hired labour. 



Rice conies nearer to being a cultivated crop in the lower part of Pla- 

 quemines Parish than in any other part of this State. It is claimed down 

 there that rice never thrives until after it is weeded ; and we can readily 

 see the reason, for in tearing up the grass-roots, the soil is loosened 

 and put iuto condition so that the rice roots can penetrate it and secure 

 a bountiful supply of nutriment. But this kind of cultivation is too 

 expensive for the large planter, and his only resource, if caught with a grassy 

 crop, is to mow everything and trust to the rapid growth of the rice to 

 smother out its slower growing rivals. This it generally does but its race for 

 life absorbs all of its energies and gives it no time to sucker, thus materially 

 reducing the yield. When our lands were new, 15 barrels per acre was about 

 an average yield on a large place, while now we consider 10 barrels 

 about the standard. This great falling off in a few years is not owing so 

 to the exhaustion of the soil as to the grass crop in our rice, which chokes out 

 the stand and prevents what is left from suckering, and to neglect of drainage 

 in the fall and winter. As I stated before, the most t.iiocessful means I have 

 used for kegp ing my lields clean is to burn off early and let the grass come up 

 before ploughing. If a clean stand can be secured, it will not be necessary to mow 

 as a few weeds can be cut out with a cane knife. The crop can be harvested 

 fully two weeks earlier, and a better yield obtained. While fall ploughing is ad- 

 vantageous in turning the laud up and giving it a chance to drain, it is equally 

 disadvantagious in covering up not only the grass seed, but the scattered rice 

 and protecting it through winter. I have tried this repeatedly with four-horse 

 plough, and failed in every instance to derive any benefit. 



The practice of following rice with winter oats after mowing and 

 burning the stubble and aftermath has been favourably suororested. 



SOUTH WESTERN LOUISIANA AND SOUTHERN TEXAS. 



It is necessary to treat of rice production in this section separately, 

 because the methods ;re in some respects different from those practised 

 in any other portion of the world. 



METHODS OF RICE CULTURE REVOLUTIONISED. 



The revolution in the methods of growing rice has been as great as 

 that caused by the introduction of modern agricultural machinery into 

 the wheat fields, which has given the United States control of the 

 markets of the world. 



In 1884 and 1885 a few farmers dVom the North western prairie 

 States settled on the great southern prairie which extends along the 

 coast from the parish of S'. Mary in Louisiana to the Texas line, about 

 140 miles. Finding that rice, which had been grown for many years 

 for home consumption, but by oriental methods, was well suited to 

 the conditions of agriculture here, they commenced immediately to 

 adopt the agricultural machinery to which they had been accustomed to 

 the rice industry. The gang plough, disc harrow, drill, and broadcast 

 seeder were readily adjusted, but the twine binder encountered a number 

 of serious obstacles. However, by the close of 1886 the principal diffi- 

 'cnlties had been overcome. Wherever prairies were found sufficiently 

 level, with an intersecting creek which could be used to flood them, 

 tiiey were surrounded by a small levee thrown up by a road grader or 

 by a plough with a strong wing attached to the mould board extending it 



