1 Sepr., 1901. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, 325, 
Tropical Industries. 
RICE, 
Whilst the cultivation of rice has fallen off in the Cairns district, the reverse 
is the case in the South. So satisfied are the farmers in the Pimpama district with 
the returns from that cereal during the past season, that they intend putting in a 
-much larger area this year. A rice mill has also been erected, so that the paddy 
can be dealt with on the spot. Much of the land in the Logan, Coomera, and 
Nerang districts is eminently adapted for rice culture, whilst it is unsuitable for 
almost any other crop. In the Southern States of America, thousands of 
acres of what were considered perfectly valueless lands, so far as general 
agricultureis concerned, and consequently scarcely saleable at 10 dollars per acre, 
have, by means of the rice industry, risen in value to 50 dollars per acre, and it 
is predicted thatin ten years Louisiana and Texas alone will produce sufficient 
rice to meet the world’s demands. The land suitable for rice culture is thus 
described in the Florida Agriculturist :— 
Experiments in other countries have shown that rice can be grown on a 
great variety of land, from the light sandy loams to the most uncompromising 
hog-wallow, provided the subsoil is firm enough to hold water. It does not 
grow equally well on all lands. On light sandy lands the crop is small; on very 
rich peaty lands it runs to straw. Firm, sandy loams and clay loams are the best 
Jands for rice. Clay loams are the best, but are more difficult to be worked 
than rich sandy loams. Avoid land with large knobs. Even crops of rice 
cannot be produced on such land. Knobs not more than 8 or 10 inches high 
are not serious objections, for they will absorb sufficient water to produce a 
crop. Farmers generally prefer shallow ploughing for rice—8 to 4 inches. 
They claim that the binder sinks -just as deep as the plough is run. _ For early 
fall ploughing a shallow furrow is best, because it leaves the seeds so near 
the surface that they will germinate. In running the disc over this fall ploughing, 
let it go deeper than the furrow by an inch. 
Where fall ploughing is done so late that seeds will not germinate, plough 
deep, bury the seeds deep enough to rot them during the winter rains, but in 
deep ploughing avoid turning a flat furrow or too much of the vital surface soil 
is buried. 
In preparing the soil for a crop too much care cannot be exercised in 
pulverising the soil perfectly. Disc and harrow and then do so some more till 
the surface is like a garden. 
In sowing, drill the seeds in if possible; it saves seed and secures more 
uniform planting. As to the amount of seed used, two theories prevail. One 
is, to sow half a barrel to the acre and not expect much stooling. In fact, flood 
the land so soon that there will be only a few stalks from each seed. It is 
claimed that in this way more vigorous stalks and larger heads with more 
uniform berry will result. Others advocate lighter seeding—60 lb. per acre, 
and when good imported seed is used on rich land, it is claimed that 40 lb. are 
sufficient. Some of the largest and best crops that I have ever seen were produced 
from a seeding of 30 Ib. to the acre. If the field is dry at sowing time, it is a 
good plan to put on enough water to wet it. Avoid ponding of water or 
standing water on such field. Simply saturate the soil and repeat it weekly 
until the grain is large enough to flood permanently. This will cause the rice 
to tiller and make rapid growth, which increases the crop. 
A mistake is frequently made when the flooding season comes in putting 
on only about 1 inch of water and allowing it to remain. Such a thin stratum 
of water may become too warm and injure the rice. It is better to simply keep 
the soil saturated till the rice is large enough to receive 2 or 3 inches of water. 
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