Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0355Description
A black and white sterograph. Image is of a man standing on top of a wooden flood gate for a rice field. Above the image "23" is printed, below the image "20011 - Opening the Flood Gates - Flooding a Rice Field at High Tide, South Carolina, U. S. A." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company COPYRIGHTED Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Portland, Oregon, London, Eng., Sydeny, Aus." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
20011
FLOODING A RICE FIELD AT HIGH TIDE, SOUTH CAROINA
Lat. 33 (Degrees) n.; Long. 80 (Degrees) W.
A large portion of he rice grown in South Carolina and Georgia is produced on tidal deltas. A body of land along some river, and sufficiently remote from the sea to be free from slat water, is selected with reference to the possibility of flooding it from the river at high tide and of draining it at low tide.
An canal is excavated on the outer rim of this tract, completely inclosing the field. The excavated dirt is thrown upon the outer bank. The canal must be of sufficient capacity for irrigation and drainage, and must also furnish dirt to make a levee which will provide perfect protection against the encroachments of the river at all seasons.
The tract is then cut up by smaller canals into fields of 10 or 12 acres, making small levees on the border of each field. The fields are sub-divided by ditches into stirps 20 or 30 feet wide for cultivation. The main canal is 10 to 30 feet wide and about 4 feet deep. Whn practicable the rice fields are flooded from the river and find drainage by a canal or subsidiary stream that enters the river at a lower level. (Bulletin of Dept. of Agriculture on Rice Culture in the U. S.)
The grain is sown with drills, and the ground is flooded until it sprouts. When the young plants rise above the surface, the land is drained to give the soil air. When the plants have two leaves water is again kept on for a month, or until the rice is ready to cultivate. After all weeds are removed, the fields are kept flooded until ready to harvest. No care is needed during this period except to prevent the water from becoming stagnant by changing it once a week.
Copyright by the Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection