This Souvenir Edition of the National Rice Festival magazine from 1939 details Sol Wright and his contributions to the rice industry. It also goes into details about various activities and events being held at the festival at the time.

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1852 -1929 Sol L. Wright

Sol Wright, born in Auburn, Indiana, on April 16, 1852, was frequently referred to during his life-time and since his death as the Burbank of the Rice Industry or the wizard of rice varieties. Mr. Wright developed on his farm three miles south of Crowley a number of outstanding varieties of rice. Doubtless the most famous of these is the Blue Rose as it known today and the chief crop produced in this section. He put this on the market in 1912. Other varieties which he developed include Lady Wright, Edith and Early Prolific. Mr. Wright came to Southwest Louisiana and settled in Crowley when the "Rice City of America" was a youngster. He came here from Indiana. He died at his home of a heart attack on February 9, 1929.

AN ANNUAL MONUMENT

To attempt to set a value upon Sol Wright’s contribution to the rice industry and Southwest Louisiana would be like putting a price mark on the soil, the sunshine or the elements that go into a crop; for the rices he developed were brought out at a time when old varieties seemed to have worn out and when the very condition of the business called for remedy. Every rice market report, every warehouse receipt book and every article on rice carries words that in themselves are testimonials to the importance of the man who died here Saturday. His perseverance and his determination demonstrated the effectiveness of his method of approaching his labors and undertaking his quest for something better. His monuments is renewed each year when the fields turn green, then bend for the harvest. W.W. Duson in Daily Signal of Feb. 11, 1929.

CREATION OF THE RICE FESTIVAL

Harry D. Wilson, commissioner of agriculture and immigration of Louisiana for many years, was the man who offered the suggestion which resulted in the creation of the National Rice Festival. It was back in 1937 that he proposed that a National rice festival be held to help boost the rice industry of the state. The first festival was held then in connection with the celebration of Crowley’s Golden Jubilee. The next festival was held last year and the third annual National event is slated for this year. Commissioner Wilson has maintained his great interest in the festival and given every assistance and help possible every year.

Festival Being Held This Year Is Third of National Rice Carnivals

The 1989 National Rice Festival, the third to be held since the movement was inaugurated here in 1937, is being sponsored by the Crowley Business club and there have probably been more local business and professional men in the planning and arranging of this event than ever before. The first two festivals were staged here for the most part by two individuals, Bob Schilcher and Justin Wilson. They of course had the assistance of a number but they assumed most of the chairmanships of the various committees and carried through the work even to handling the very little details.

Business Club

This year the Crowley Business club, which is only a little over six months old, took over the task of sponsoring the National Rice festival. They requested both Chairman Schlicher and Chairman Wilson to assume the lead. Both declined. They declared they had directed the affair two years and had given of the time of their employers and could not afford to assume the load again.

The board of directors of the club then assumed charge of the festival and J. Brue Barousse, president, was named general chairman with the directors. Later chairmen were named for the various phases and departments of the festival. Each was urged to select his or her own committeemen.

Finances

W.J. Cleveland assumed the chairmanship of the finance committee and successfully directed and conducted his campaign to raise funds for holding the festival. He was assisted by some 14 captains and they in turn secured various workers to assist them.

Justin Wilson was named chairman of the publicity committee and Orville E. Priestley agreed to aid and assist him. Dorsey Peckham was named chairman of the parades. Miss Annie MeLeod assumed the chairmanship of the kiddies’ parade. A.J. Broussard, who handled the decorating of Crowley for the festival in 1935, was named chairman of this committee. M.M. Buchanan was named chairman of the program committee, while R.E. (Bob) Schlicher was selected as chairman of the reception committee. Charles Machell assumed the chairmanship of the dance committee while George Rollosson was named chairman of the contact committee.

Board Helps

A.B. Core was placed in charge of the concession committee with the understanding that the committee would sell the concession rights. Practically every member of the board of directors of the club is either heading a committee or acting on one of the many committees. And at the various meetings held, from 20 to 35 business and professional men attending entered into the discussions and participated in the various features of the preparations for the festival. Jerry Ashley not only acted as chairman of the special advertising committee but assisted with the parade and the program. Dr. S.S. Kaufman was named as a committee of one to contact the farm implement dealers to secure displays and exhibits along this line.

Others Helping

Among others assisting in the festival are A.T. Browne, Charles Hainebach, A.M. Ferguson, Percy Blum, Lance McBride, Many Bergeron, R.S. Johnston and Commissioner of Agriculture Harry D. Wilson. Others were place in charge of other features and all in all the group has worked together to bring about what they hope and expect will be one of the most successful festivals ever held here.

Rice Festival Features

• Grand Opening 9 a.m. Tuesday Morning.
• Concerts by Southwestern, Girls and Boys and high school bands.
• Old Fashioned Balloon ascension.
• Selecting of children’s Rice Festival queen from Princesses entered: coronation ceremonies; children’s parade; and children’s contests.
• French-Creole hour, consisting of French folk song and French fold dance contests.
• Selecting of rough rice grading champion. Event sponsored and conducted by Rayne Lions club.
• Complete display and exhibit of all rice farm machinery.
• Champion rice eating contest and naming of champion.
• Jitterbug contest and naming of champions.
• Selecting of Queen of Rice Festival for 1939; crowning ceremonies and annual float parade.
• Two deathly defying performances by "Selden- The Stratosphere Man," who performs on 130 foot pole. Free for public.
• Afternoon balloon ascension.
• Awarding of prizes in various contests and for window displays and exhibits.
• Street dancing.
• Repeat parade with special lighting during evening. Selden performs under powerful spot lights at night.
• Grand Festival ball Tuesday night.
• Everything is free to the public except the festival ball on Tuesday night.

Commissioner Harry D. Wilson Is Father Of National Rice Festival

The annual National Rice Festival, which is to be held here on Tuesday, November 7, after the rice crop is harvested, is all the result of a suggestion and an idea advanced by Harry D. Wilson, commissioner of agriculture, to the governor of Louisiana. So Commissioner Wilson, who has served in his present position for almost 25 years and one of the best known commissioners in the nation, is really the father of the Crowley carnival.

First National

Crowley, of course, has had rice festivals before but it never had one on a national scale and one that assumed the importance of the present event. It was local in nature but the publicity regarding the national festival is nationwide. Louisiana’s governor was publicizing the state. He was looking for more and new events. Back in 1937 Crowley was getting ready to celebrate its Golden Jubilee. It was 50 years old in January of that year but had delayed celebrating the event until October 5, the birthday of the late W.W. Duson, the founder of Crowley. So in connection with that event Commissioner Wilson suggested that a National Rice Festival be held. The matter was talked over the local leaders boosting the jubilee celebration. The plan was approved and R.E. (Bob) Schlicher and Justin Wilson, son of Commissioner Wilson, agreed to direct the event.

Great Success

It proved a real success, almost overshadowing the jubilee celebration. Last year the festival had continued to grow until today it appears to be a permanent institution of Crowley, Acadia parish, Southwest Louisiana, Louisiana and the nation. Commissioner Wilson has always been an honored guest for the celebration with Mrs. Wilson. He is again expected to be an honored guest this year. And during this period he has given bit of aid and help that he could render and that his state department could render toward holding a successful rice festival.

No One Sure When First Rice Was Produced But Over 4000 Years Ago

Chinese History Comments on Emperor Making Plans 2, 800 Years Before Christ. Although no one apparently knows just how old the practice of cultivating rice is, from all appearances rice was produced approximately 3,000 years before the birth of Christ. And those authorities who have studied the matter explain that there is no mention of rice in the Bible but history of China tells of an emperor who instituted elaborate ceremonies for the planting and the harvesting of rice 2,900 years before Christ. And there is no question but what the rice festival help today is merely an outgrowth of that custom.

Ritual is Held

Today in the Orient, a ritual at the harvest is followed, and, when rice is thrown at newly married couples, an old Oriental custom is being followed, the rice symbolizing fecundity and well being. Jenkins W. Jones, senior agronomist, division of cereal crops and diseases, of the U.S. Bureau of plant industry, says in the 1936 yearbook of the department of agriculture that rice probably originated in the area extending from southern India to Cochin China. Wild rices still persist in this area, says Mr. Jones. G. Watt, writing in the Dictionary of Economic Products of India, believes that rice cultivation may have spread from this region eastward to China, at the date already suggested. Watt continues that the grain probably moved some years later westward and northward, to Persia and Arabia, and ultimately to Egypt and Europe.

America Indians

The American Indians were found harvesting the grain, greatly unlike the cereal as it is known today, when the earliest settlers reached America. Mr. Jones writes further that in the United States rice production developed from an experimental seeding made at Charleston, S.C. about 1685. A failure three quarters of a century before, other sources have said, resulted in Virginia. A hundred years ago most of the rice was grown in South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia. Louisiana at that time produced about four percent of the crop.

Moves Southwest

The Civil was adversely affected the production of rice in the South Atlantic states, Mr. Jones says. A shortage of funds and labor made the crop less profitable and the acreage decreased. However, after the war, there was a rapid increase in the acreage along the Mississippi river in Louisiana. The crop did not become important until, it was declared it was found to be made profitable by irrigation in southwest Louisiana, about 1887, a year after the founding of Crowley, to be eventually known as the "Rice City of America". Two Years later Louisiana became, and still is, the leading state in rice production.

Moves on West

From this section of the state rice production was extended to the southeastern prairies of Texas, about 1900, and in 1905 to the prairies of eastern Arkansas. It was only 26 years ago that rice was first grown in California, in the Sacramento valley. "For over 200 years," Mr. Jones continues, "from about 1685 until 1888, the rice crop of the United States was produced largely on the delta lands of the south Atlantic states. "Then came one of the major shifts that sometimes affect agricultural products…". This to give Louisiana the lead and Crowley the coveted honor of being the Rice Capital of America.

By-Products Of Rice In Milling Provide Feeds

Bran and Polish Among Best Known and Are Valuable As Feed for Stock. Most valuable among the several by-products of rice are the bran and polish which are removed from the hulled grain in preparing what is known as "polished rice". The bran and polish are both valuable stock and poultry feeds and contain many valuable ingredients which make them much used by farmers in this and other sections of the country. Rice bran is used principally for horses and cattle, whereas polish is used for fattening hogs more than anything else. With such an abundance of feed-stuff available from the parish’s largest agricultural industry, it is no wonder that Acadia farms are stocked with good horses, mules, cattle and poultry.

Broken Grains

A by-product of rice also is the broken grains and grass seeds which are left over from the milling process. Much of this rice is used by poultry raisers for their flocks. The grains which fall out of the separator and accumulate on a large tarpaulin spread for the purpose are also used for poultry feed. Additional feed product is obtained from rice in the form of the straw which is stacked in large heaps through the fields, making a familiar feature of the south Louisiana landscape. The straw is usually left in the large stacks where it serves as forage and shelter for cattle through the mild Louisiana winters. Here the herds gather and eat the straw and at the same time obtain protection from the cold. The straw is also baled and stored away for use as forage and litter for work and dairy stock.

Straw Valuable

A valuable straw board and certain types of paper may also be made from rice straw and a considerable quantity is sold for that purpose, although it is expected that paper mills will eventually be located in this section to make use of the plentiful supply of this raw material. The milling of rice also leaves a by-product for which it is expected that new uses will be found sooner or later. These are rice hulls. At present the hulls are burned with oil and furnish hear for mill boilers. The black ashes are deposited in large heaps on the mill property and their disposal presents a considerable problem. Much of the burned chaff or hulls is hauled away to be sold to landowners who wish to use it as filling to raise their property or to use it for fertilizer by plowing it into certain types of soil.

Hulls Are Used

However, during recent years it has developed that rice hulls are an important potential source of furfural, a highly volatile solvent which finds many uses as varied as photoengraving and oil refining. Important economically to the rice industry is a low grade of rice referred to as "brewers rice," which is used in the manufacture of beer. The repeal of the eighteenth amendment has provided a considerable market for this quality of grain which is depended upon by many breweries for making their product. One of the problems of the rice industry will have been solved when more and better methods of disposing of the by products are devised. At present the by products are important commercially, but the raising of blooded livestock and poultry could provide an outlet for rice by products and solver other farm problems by providing diversification and bringing in to another money crop.

National Rice Festival Results in Unusual Publicity For Rice Industry

>Many of Pictures Taken Area Printed in State and National Newspapers. Although few in Southwest Louisiana admit or know that it is true, there are many in the United Sates today unacquainted with the fact that the United States produces any rice, let alone the fact that four states in the union produce more rice than can be consumed in America. Few over the national realize that on the gulf plains of Southwest Louisiana one of the principal crops produced is rice. And most of the rice purchased in America was not grown in China or Japan or some far away country but it was grown on American farms by American farmers and is harvested very much like the wheat crop.

Advertises Fact

The National Rice Festival has done much to make this fact well know. It probably has accomplished more in the space of two brief years to teach America that America produces more than enough rice for the United States than any other one thing. For during the planning and holding of those first two festivals much prominence was given by American newspapers to novel and entertaining pictures made in and around Crowley and released to the news agencies and picture agencies, stressing the fact that rice is produced in America and that the harvesting of the rice crop is being celebrated with a festival in the "Rice City of America," Crowley.

Finest Varieties

The special issues of the papers: the programs of the occasions; the souvenirs of the carnival were carried and scattered to practically every state of the union. The result was that many who had never know that Louisiana was the leading rice producing state in the union learned this. They also realized that the finest in the various varieties of rice are all grown in America and this food, which is used as a cereal, for dessert and for vegetables or the main part of the meal in the south is just about as grand a dish as those who love and know it best claim that it is. And so the rice festival is being continued. Continued to give a great day’s entertainment and to afford visitors an opportunity to become better acquainted with rice and the rice industry and for the value it has in publicizing rice and not only to help the farmers and millers to sell more rice but to help teach America what a fine food it is and that America produced more than enough rice to supply the demands of Americans.

Annual Rice Crop Brings in Between Twenty and Thirty Million Dollars

Production This Year Over 20,000,000 Bushels; Started Here in About 1887. Twenty million bushels of the indicated 50 million bushel U.S. rice crop of 1939- two fifths of the nation’s total – are grown within a radius of 50 miles of Crowley, and one-third to one-fourth of the nation’s mills are located in this parish, giving Crowley good and sufficient claim to the title “Rice Capital of America,” or another version “The Rice City of America.” The 1939 crop in Louisiana is indicated at 20 million bushels, and this leadership is maintained and has been maintained throughout the years since this section of Southwest Louisiana took away the Carolinas’ leadership as the one great rice producing section of the United States, Prior to 1887, the Carolinas were the sole rice producing states. Today, production there is so insignificant that the U.S. department of agriculture did not include it in its 1938 total.

Annual Income

About twenty million dollars annually is the income derived from this single crop in the state of Louisiana. The 16 mills in the parish care for a large portion of the crop, and much Louisiana rice is bought in Crowley for milling in Texas, New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The rice industry in the immediate Crowley are supports 10 rice mills, four of which, while smaller, are just as busy the season round. There is a huge investment in any rice mill and the payrolls constitute one of the largest, if not the largest single payroll in the area. One of the chief reasons why Southwest Louisiana is THE rice section of the state is its flatness. Strangers touring southern Louisiana find the flatness somewhat monotonous, but not without its redeeming feature: its ability to be flooded with comparatively little terracing, or the building of levees to retain the water. Too, the soil is peculiar to the section. Below the topsoil – about two feet deep – is a “harden” base that helps retain the water. It doesn’t seep through as it would in sandy regions.

Mills are Seen

The tourist entering Crowley from the east or west gains sight of at least one rice mill on “Rice Mill Row.” On the western edge of the city is the Imperial Rice Mills, while on the east is the Standard. The mills are confined to one strip about two blocks wide, but running the entire breadth of the city. One enters the great Rice Belt east of New Iberia and doesn’t get out of it until he crosses into Texas – 100 miles to the west. And when he enters Texas, he sees more rice, for Texas’ production grows yearly. Prior to 1888, rice production is this area was insignificant. But when Crowley and the parish realized the commercial possibilities of rice, immigrants came here by the hundreds and it seemed at the time, the older people of Crowley say, that each immigrant planted his full acreage in rice. One can imagine how the section grew by leaps and bounds to the leadership which it today maintains.

First Mill

Crowley became a milling center, to a certain extent, cause growers in this section held no particular love for the “commission men”- buyers of rice for New Orleans mills. Squire A. Pickett and a handful of other early Crowley pioneers held that if New Orleans could mill rice, so could Crowley, in the heart of the belt. During the week of March 11-18, 1893, when Crowley was five years old, Pickett’s mill made its first run, and the milling industry in Crowley had its beginning. The forerunner of the huge mills of today was later incorporated into the Crowley Rice Milling company, organized on a commercial basis.

Produce More

Whether better methods of farming will produce much more rice – which indications point to – the Rice City of America will have further proof for the claim that Crowley is the Rice Capital of the world. Yield of rice has substantially increased, not every year, since better farming methods have been learned through government help and hard, bitter experience. Nothing is envisioned which may threaten Crowley’s leadership in the industry- both in producing and processing the snow-white grain.

Naming Festival Rice Queen Each Year Hard Task

Cities in Rice Producing Sections of Various States Always Send Their Prettiest. “I’d hate to be one of the judges today,” said a newspaper photographer when the various princesses vying for the honor of queen at last year’s Rice Festival mounted the judges’ platform. “I mean that it would be a very hard job for me to pick a queen out of that bunch of girls. They are all queens.” So it was. Surrounding cities had selected their prettiest damsels to represent them at the rice festival. When they lined up and photographer let loose with flash bulbs, the photographer’s remarks were extended by others within hearing distance. It was that way with the first festival. That is the way it will be again November 7 for the prettiest girls in the rice producing states are here representing their home cities and seeking the coveted title of Queen of the National Rice Festival. Shortly after the selection of the festival queen last year the Queen of the Rose Festival of Tyler, Texas, send her congratulations and a beautiful bouquet of roses to the reigning monarch of the Rice Festival. In the south, especially in the dominantly French sections, nearly all the lassies are brunettes. Darkeyed, dark haired and readily recognizable as girls from Louisiana, the girls paraded before the judges. But it fell to Cecil Trahan last year to catch most judges’ eyes. She’s blonde – that is, in the sense of not being a true brunette, as was the Rice Festival’s first queen, Estelle Bonin.

Sent Their Prettiest

When Cecil was announced as leading lady, the thousands reared approval of the selection. Shy, taken aback by the announcement, she accepted the mantle from Harry D. Wilson, commissioner of agriculture and then graciously posed with Queen Estelle for the photographers. This year again, all of the cities in the rice producing states will be represented by their prettiest girls, blondes along with brunettes.

Growing Of Rice Interesting Process To the Individual Unfamiliar With It

Harvesting of Crop, However, Is Very Similar to Harvesting of Wheat. Growing of rice is an extremely interesting process to the individual who is unfamiliar with the crop, but the harvesting is the same story to that person familiar with wheat production. It is not unusual for someone unfamiliar with Southwest Louisiana to travel through this section during the harvest season and to discuss the “wheat” which they saw in the fields. Wheat, of course, is usually threshed during June and July, while the harvesting and threshing of rice gets underway during the latter part of August and extends through the months of September, October and frequently in November.

Many Crop

Rice is planted during the spring months. The Early Prolific rice, which is the early crop, is the first to be harvested in the fall. It is not considered of the highest grade or quality for eating purposes as Blue Rose and Rexoro but it is planted as a money crop to provide money with which to harvest the Blue Rose crop.

Harvesting of Prolific usually gets underway in August.

The Blue Rose crop is the big crop. It is planted later than Early Prolific and requires a greater period to grow and mature. Harvesting of Blue Rose usually does not get underway until about the middle of September or from two or three weeks later than Prolific. The greater number of farmers in this section plant the greater part of their crop in Blue Rose and it is safe to say that the more than 100,000 acres of rice in this parish is for the greater part Blue Rose.

Rexoro Crop

Besides the Blue Rose variety, there is considerable Rexoro, which is a long-grain rice, planted now too. It has a little higher market value than Blue Rose and it, too, requires a greater period to mature, although not much longer than Blue Rose. From the time that the rice comes through the ground almost until the time to cut the rice, it is covered to a depth of about four inches with water through the vast irrigation systems over the parish. When the rice is up well early in the spring it is flooded. The water is kept on the rice then throughout the summer months. Approximately a week to 10 days to two weeks, depending on the weather, before time to cut it, the water is drained off the rice. When dry enough a binder is sent into the field and it is cut and shocked. Following this process, it is then hauled to the separator as soon as sufficiently dry and threshed.

Put in Bags

At the separator it is put into bags weighing 200 pounds or more. It is then either sold and hauled to the mills or it is hauled to public or private warehouses, where it is stored. There are warehouses scattered all through the rice belt, where rice can be stored. Frequently the rice is sold at the separator. On other occasions it is sold from the warehouse. Rice is not sold by the bag, however, but rather by the barrel. Barrel means 162 pounds of rice and is only a figure of speech, since rice is not measured in barrels

Rice Is Used By Millions As Chief Food; Dish Prepared In Many Ways

Contains Vitamins in Quantity Not Found Sufficient In Ordinary Diet. Although rice is regarded as one of the little know grains, it is perhaps one of the most valuable grains in food value, furthermore, is enhanced by the many ways in which it can be prepared and by the fact that it is made to serve as a staple article, acting as a basic vegetable dish in combination with other foods, such as meats, gravies, sauces, fish and vegetables.

Aside from the variety of ways in which rice is consumed, both in America and in the far flung countries of the world, the grain itself is know to contain many ingredients which qualify it as a food necessity for the millions of families who eat it daily. As with all grains, starch is the principal ingredient of rice. Starch is known to be an energy and fat producing food, but the other ingredients of the grain are also valuable to the consumer. Minerals, vitamins and proteins are also present in rice and contribute their share toward making rice the important food that it is. Rice is easily digestible and properly prepared, no more delicious food may be found when it is used in combination with the gravies and sauces for which this part of the country is known. It may be eaten at any mean and may appear on the menu in any guise. Rice is adaptable to use as a breakfast food, as a cereal, as dessert and as a vegetable to add body and bulk to the diet. Its versatility alone should make it one of the most sought after of the grains if it were as well known as some of the other similar products.

The history of rice, both modern and ancient, shows the importance with which the peoples of the world regard it. Rice had its origin in the dim pages of history, coming from light in the ancient manuscripts of the early Chinese civilization. From what time to this the Chinese, Japanese, Hindus, Burmese and other oriental people have regarded rice as an important article of diet. Indeed, in many cases it was the staple article of food, constituting the “staff of life” for the vast majority of the people in such countries. Rice is thought of almost synonymously with China and Japan. Curried rice is still a popular dish in India. And the scene showing Chinese laborers planting rice in picturesque “paddies” is familiar to every geography student.

Outside the rice producing areas of America, unfortunately, rice is regarded principally as a breakfast food or an ingredient for rice pudding. This fact, more than anything else, prevents rice from being America’s most popular grain with the sole exception of wheat. For most Americans do not realize or appreciate the value of rice as a staple article of diet. On the other hand, in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and California, and even in the Carolinas, no meal is regarded as complete unless rice is included in the menu. It is the dish around which the rest of the meal is planned. Other foods are chosen in many cases with a view toward how well they will combine with rice and gravy, the staple food of many parts of the Southland. If all parts of America could be made to understand rice and appreciate it the way southerners do, the crop would be far inadequate to the demand and it is possible that much rice would have to be imported.

One of the reasons for rice’s lack of popularity, outside from the lack of advertising in the north, west and east is the fact that few housewives know how to prepare it. In the hands of an inexperienced or uninstructed cook, rice may become a very unwholesome looking mass of glutenous grain. However, the fault is with the cooking and not with the grain. For when properly handled rice is snowy white, each grain separate and firm, with no sticky mass to disgust the eater. Opinions vary regarding the proper method of cooking rice, but each method is equally as good if the proper results are achieved. The important thing is to cook the rice with sufficient water to soften it, but not enough to permit the grains to be come sticky and adhere to each other. Nor should there be hard, crumbly grains which are unpleasant to taste or hold in the mouth.

Rice is not boiled, in reality, but steamed. And when the cooking is complete it should be kept warm in a covered pot and permitted to dry out before it is removed to the serving dish. The appearance of rice is enhanced by adding a drop of lemon juice or vinegar to the water in which it is cooked. A small speck of fat or a drop or two of cooking or salad oil is sometimes added to insure that each grain will be separate.

The quality of rice is also an important factor in its appearance, flavor, palatability and the ease with which it is cooked. Each variety or rice, also, has its own properties in regard to flavor and the success with which it may be cooked.

The Southern housewife regards rice, also, as a valuable addition to the dishes, such as stuffing, dressings and puddings. Baked chicken, turkey, duck or goose with rice stuffing is famous the south-over. Few important festive occasions in the South are celebrated without rice dressing or stuffing having an honored place on the menu.

Fritters and many types of quick breads may be prepared by using rice, particularly as a left-over.

Rice lends itself valuably also to hundreds of different dishes which may be devised by the inventive mind of the housewife. Dozens of foreign dishes call for rice and it forms an important part thereof. The number of ways in which this versatile food may be used are so small factor in the importance and value which it may have to the diet of the world.

Rice Products May Result In More Livestock

Natural Advantages of Climate and Available Food Value Being Learned. The potential value of livestock and poultry raising in the parish of Acadia and the rice producing sections of Louisiana has been the subject of many articles and editorials. The facts regarding the possibilities of poultry and cattle raising in these sections cannot too often be brought to the attention of the people. At present over 90 percent of the poultry and eggs sold on the New Orleans market are imported from Texas and Mississippi. The same or similar figures apply to the dairy products sold in Louisiana’s largest city. With the vast agricultural lands of our state and the almost unlimited possibilities, it would seem that a valuable potential source of revenue is being neglected.

Hard to Conceive

Such a situation is hard to conceive when one knows the nature of the rice industry and its features which make the profitable raising of cattle and poultry hand in hand with rice farming. Rice land is farmed one year and permitted to lie idle the next. This fact keeps one half of each rice farm open for pasturage either in stubble or in specially planted forage crops specified by the federal government in its soil conservation program. Such a set up is almost perfect for raising cattle. Rice straw provides a winter forage crop which does not cost the farmer a cent more than the trifling cost of baling the straw. Other rice by products are valuable for use as feed for cattle, poultry or hogs. It is the fond hope of Louisiana’s farm leaders that one day the natural advantages of the rice section will be used to take advantage of the large market open from farm produce in our large Louisiana cities.