New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-24

SEED CANE.-The only salvation for this section
of country, says the Iberville South is to return
to the culture of cane at the earliest practicable
day.
of four lines. This season has settled the cues
ton, we believe, in the minds Of our planters.
Cotton don't and won't pay, when cultivated on
the auvial lands of Louisiana. The reasons for
this are too well known to need repetition here.
The main difficulty with our planters has been
that they thought the freedman labor was not
sufficiently reliable, and that if they succeeded in
stocking their plantations with cane, it might be
lost for want of aborers to preserve it. There is
much in this, we must admit; but not enough to
prevent an attempt of the experiment. We have
seen our lately liberated slaves toll partially
throughout the season on cotton plantations,
engaged in far more difficult work than cultivating
cane and yet they seem contented with the result
of their years labor, unless where lost by the
caterpillar or worm Sugar cane is almost GER
| tain crop in this State, yielding at the present
time greater remuneration for labor than cotton,
taking everything into consideration. There is
diversity of operations on a sugar plantation that
is far more pleasing to a freedman than the dull
and dry details of making cotton crop; be-
sides in the cultivation Of there isan attrac-
ton TO the negro which seems to be lost sight of
by our planters.
All negroes like "sweets," which they must
have as an Offset to the vast quantities of salt they
consume in their picked pork. To furnish this
now is an item in their expenses, it not being
given by the planter as part Of their rations On
cotton plantation he gets neither sugar or nolasses
unless he buys it. The difference liesi this when
making sugar, he can eat as many canes as he
pleases he gets his syrup, his sugar, and his mo
1asses at trifng cost, if anything. And if the
planter is willing, to do so, he can make the entire
srolling season. one of frolc and amusement.
The negro objects to working on Sunday No ne
eessity for that unless imperatively necessary in
order to save a crop, and then little extra pay
and encouragement will do wonders. The lower
parishes are planting cane exclusively this year.
: Surely those planters must have assurances that
their labor will be reliable or they would not have
3 attempted it. We can do the same in West Baton
o Rouge if the trial be made.
r Another point: Merchants will hereafter make
J. but little advances upon cotton crops The
e reason is obvious. AS before stated, cane is almos
certain crop in this State, and the merchant vii
feel perfectly secure in furnishing such supplies a
: are wanted well knowing that he runs but little
y more risk now than he, did before the war. Herr
!, is where merchant and planter canspay into eacl
others hands with benefit to both, and OF course
e to the whole country. There is not seed cam
>, enough in our parish for planting next year, bu
,, with what there is, properly cared for and re
is planted, many will be enabled to make sugar tn
e year following. Besides seed cane can be bough
to assist planters. Consider well this matter an
d at once decide.-[W. Baton Rouge Sugar Planter