Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1856-03-15
The Sugar Prospect for '56-7.

We In We before on several occasions made
reference to the prospect Of the forthcoming
crop, and expressed our fears as TO the result
We have become iirmer in our convictions,
that but little sugar will be made in Louis
lana this year. Our country exchanges from
all parts OF the State unite in the same dread
full cry Of the almost total destruction Of the
cane in their vicinities. We have conversed
with planters from the different sugar grow
lug sections Of the State, and they mourntully
confirm all previous accounts. Accounts from
the West Indies report short crops, from the
inability to procure wood, and the condition
of the weather being such Us to prevent the
drying Of basyasse for that purpose.
We know our city papers are loathc to be-
lieve these reports Of short crops, for reasons
best known to themselves, but when we as
sure them we write from knowledge that
knows no reintation, we trust some credit
NAV be awarded our assertions. We have
seen acres upon acres OF faA plant, ploushed
up, fields Of stnbblc, rotten aud decayins-cart-
loads Of m"t-kaid, soft and pithy-act"ally not
worth the trouble Of hauling away. On Mon
day last some ten or fifteen cart loads of mat
laid cane passed our office on its way to a
%neighborins plantation to be planted with
the faint hope Of raising enough seed for
next year curiosity prompted us to examine
it, and we found upon some twenty-five or
thirty, an average ofone good eye t"eve'y five
stalks! One Of the planters in our immedi-
ate vicinity, planted for eight hundred hogs
heads, and the probability is, he will not
make ono hundred; and another who has
been accustomed to make from five to six
hundred hogsheads, does not expect to make
enough to plant for next year; and thus we
might continue citing instances until the read.
er grew tired Of the recital. Lucky is indeed
he who can make a full crop this coming
season.
Competent judges assures us that we will
not make one half of the crop Of last year.
Below will be found a letter from "Anacon-
d." who gives a true picture Of the prospect
for the ensuing season; it is well worth u
~perusal aud may be implicitly relied upon.
Wet BATON RoecE, MARCH ., 1885.
Mr.. Editor:
You have doubtless heard much Of late in
regard to the prospect Of the next Sugar crop
| deem it nv duty as one Of the unfortunate
growers Of sugar cane to give youa few facts.
Facts are said to be stubborn things and figures
we are told will not lie. Last year we
told the spectators that the crop would be
short, they did not believe US, but said it was
the old cry OF roy-woy-when too late they
find it to be fact. This year we tell them
that our seed Cane is frozen and our ratoons
are dead. The coming crop THAT is if any
comes) will be one half of the last. speak
not only from the book" but from the field.
I have seen acres Of plant-cane in this Parish,
with but few sounds stalks in them. W. ex-
pect nothing at all from our r~atoons, and
many are already p|oushins them up On Red
River | Am told. many Sugar Planters are
abandoning the culture Of cane and going
back to cotton. This is certainly a melan-
choly, but true picture Of the sugar crop. l
have 300 acres in plant-cane, which ought to
make me 600 hhds. If any man will give me
100 hhds, he may take my crop. know Of
others who will make the same bargain. |
do not cry woy now, because II hear tell OF
him. or because Il smell! him." but because
see him every ~dsy-onall occasions-every
where. He is in my field and my n~eighbors,
field. His horrid howl is not only heard on
the back concessions, on the Lake and Bayous
but his ruthless tracks are seen on the high
sandy lands of the front proprietors. The
cod long rains, the severe, biting, killing
frosts-these have ruined. US. Unless we
can BY some means run up the latitude s a few
degrees, or run down the State within the
Tropics, fear the days of the Sugar Planters
of Louisiana will soon be numbered.
Truly your friend,
o ANACONDA.