Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-21
SOUTHERN CROPS.
from the New orleans True Delta. lsth ips

IRrom the New Orleans True Delta, 18th inst.l
The regular appearance of the army
| worm. and the destruction TO the cotton
| crop caused thereby, has induced many of
our contemporaries to discuss the question
whether partial abandonment of the Gull
tivation of cotton by our planters would
not be decidedly advantageous and profit
able, provided the same labor, skill and
| attention were bestowed upon the growing
| of other crops.
That diversifcation of labor would be
| attended with beneficial results we have
| always believed. The policy of throwing
| nearly the whole operative force of the
South upon the cultivation of two or three
leading staples, we have never looked upon
as correct. Our labor should always have
been if-sustaining-we should have pro-
duced nearly everything we required for
the support of our plantations-but instead
Of that the system has been to cultivate
sugar or cotton, as the case might be, and
purchase everything needful in the open
markets. This plan has led to innumera-
bic bankruptcies, much suffering, and has
had an impoverishing effect upon the
States of the South generally. d
But "cotton on the brain' has been q
disease of long standing in the Southern
L
raging new with greater intensity than
ever. Every one who owns piece of land,
a pillow, mule and hoe, shas got it bad"
The idea of raising corn, wheat, pork and
other indispensables, which could be easily
done without materially lessening their
crops of the staple, never enters their
minds-e verything is merged in cotton,
cotton, cotton. We opine, however, if the
army worm continues its rayages much
longer, that an efectual cure of the nalig-
nant disease referred to will be effected.
The Southern States should produce an
abundance Of breadstufs, not only for their
own use, but for export. In all the Gulf
States rice, in ample quantities, can be
grown. We should pay particular atten-
tion TO the raising of cattle and hogs. In
stead of buying pound of bacon, pork,
lard or cured beef, we should become large
sellers instead of purchasers. No people
on earth have equal facilities in these par
ticulars. The best tobacco known to the
markets of the world is grown, cured and
manufactured in Louisiana.
This product could be increased fifty or
hundred fold in this State within brief
period, and it would yield more profitable
returns TO those engaged in it than either
sugar or cotton. On this point the Frank
lin (St. Nary Planters Banner, makes the
following suggestions, which we take
pleasure in subjoining tsfake eight of the
best acres Of land and plant it in tobacco.
From the eight acres six Thousand pounds
of tobacco can be made by saving the last
crop, most of it good tobacco. If necessary,
employ some one accustomed TO work in
tobacco to help save the crop. Then en-
pIoy some one who can make carrotes and
cigars to teach all four of the employees to
work up the crop in good shape. All can
then become cigar makers and currote
makers. Those eight acres ordinarily may
be worked up and sold for five Thousand
dollars. The party might divide out $1,000
apiece for their years. work. IN July, Au-
gust mud September they would have but
little Or nothing to do with the crop. The
tobacco crop Is harvested early in July.
Gy Ill means, let US Diversity our labor,
and become self-supporting, self-aus-
tanning people. We may not make Us
much Of the great staples Us formerly, but
they will bring larger prices, which will
be sufficient remuneration; and if they
should happen to be cut short by some &C
cident or other, to which they are pecu-
liarly liable, the other crops will support
our farms and people, and enable them to
live Independently. 1t appears to us that
this course is dictated alike by sound
policy and genuine wisdom.