Show chance brought wild rice to united states rice came to america by accident la the year 1004 a rice laden vessel from madagascar bound for liverpool put in to charleston harbor in a raging storm the captain noting that the land and soil near charleston resembled that where the rice was grown gave the governor of the colony a handful telling hint him that it might grow tf if planted relates the washington star the governor planted the rice and several months later harvested the first crop ever grown in america since that time rice has steadily advanced until now it la Is a leading product of the southern states it first spread into georgia from the caro iduas and with the beginning of the tha civil war it entered louisiana now the leading rice state of the union it gradually found its way to florida mississippi alabama texas and fival ly into arkansas later its ita cultivation was tried with success in california |