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How
Rice Was Grown |
| Slave workers in the rice
field began work at daylight, with breakfast at 7:00. Work
resumed at 8:00. Generally tasks were completed by 2:00, with
workers free to hunt, fish, or tend their own private
vegetable gardens. Rice fields were divided by banks and then are
subdivided by ditches and small canals to aid in
"flowing" the fields and to draw off the water when
required. Rice could be planted at any time from April 10th to
June 10th. |
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After the ground was
'trenched,' the "sowers" come with gourds
filled with rice, and drop it into the trenches. This
work was done by young women and boys, who work
rapidly, going almost on a full run, stooping over and
watching their gourds. This job was important, so
great care was taken in the selection of sowers. Another
important job was that of a "bird-minder."
It was their job to keep away rice-birds, the greatest
pest to the planter. They could ruin a crop in a short
time. After the planting,
the fields were flooded and kept under water until the
rice was up. Weeding and hoeing followed until a good
'stand,' was begun. Hoeing was done by experienced
workers because the new rice plants resembled grass so
closely. After
weeding, water again flooded the plants for the
"long flow." |
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The "trunk"
was used to hold back water. It was under the special
care of the overseer, as the entire year's labor
depended upon his knowledge of the condition of the
crop and the proper time to flow or draw off the
water. The flood gate controlled the main
canals from the artificial ponds since the water from
the Cape Fear River was salt, which is poisonous to
rice. |
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| The rice crop
matured in about four months, as then was cut by hand.
It was then thrashed, either by hand or by a
thrashing machine, then was run through a fan-mill and
taken to market. |
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