New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-01


l6p00 bales but was sweed to the above amount
by remnants of previous crops.
The year closed with stock on hand and on
shpboard not cleared, OF 2O,69o bales, against 30
last year.
Sugar-Some time previous to the close of the
last commercial year it was generally anticipated
that the sugar crop would reach 100000 ihds but a
variety of causes combined to cause reduction of
estimates and al the commencement Of the past
year little increase was expected over 1869
when the yield was "a $50. The crop has Actually
turned g.. 09O hhds and il would be ditticulr 10
designate time when the results so nearly agreed
with the popular estimate. Among tie, causes
which may be mentioned for the change in opiu;on
noticed above were unsound seed, injury 70 the
stubble, insufficient preparation of the fields a late
spring, a bad stand, drouths in some parishes and
excessive rains i'll Others rank growth of rrass
poor cane and insufficient labor all of which. at
one time or another, subjects of serious com
plant. 1t viii be observed that most of the evils
mentioned originate in deficient or inefficient Ia
Dor. Want o: labor, especially OF efficient labor
is the great obstacle the success OF sugar iar
ing. But even were This want fully supplied there
are few crops subject to the vicissitudes of the
weather and o,her contingencies. In 1888. tie crop
vas 100000 hhds, and in the following year only
80 600 III 1855 i was 23l 427 ds and in 1856 1916
49 40 hhds and in 1862 223 153 and in 1868 il WAS
8. .b47 hlds but was followed next year by 81 200
Last year made Z $50 hhds and now anticipate
10000 20 10000. The crop is not only precafi0us
but involves good deal OF risk. Ii cutting be de-
ferred 100 long freeze may come and destroy the
planters hopes; iii he commenced too early the
may prove poor and yield scant returns. IL the tor
case the large amount expended for wages sub
sIstence. ANIMALS and implements may be lost III
the latter the proceeds may be hardly than SUI
ticient 10 refund advances. When however. plant
supply Of labor is not greatly deficient, there is
crop more remunerative. It's profits for series of
branch OF agriculture that offers greater attrac-
tions. Hence il is not only planters 10 the manor
enterprisng men from the West we'll Some Of
the finest plantations IN the State are owned
leased by the LATTER, and their success II not i'll all
cases equal to their sauguine auticipatons has at
least been satisfactory. In the good Old time sugar
planting WAS the basis OF OF the largest for
tunes in the State, and may be again. The sugar
lands moreover. are mostly situated IN districts
proNer;ai Tor their salubrty, with u sollal and
temperate climate, and soil Well adapted to the
culture OF fruits and vegetables, the former EN-
braclns Eot only the orange and liz, and other
Southern products as well, but also many of those
supposed TO be peculiar to more Northern aritudes
including the peach the pear and the apple and
tile latter comprising every variety OF crops.
some of them i'll extraordinary abundance. Many
of the Old plantations which were ravaged during
the war to such an extent that there was lett
scarcely trace OF their former Improvements,
have been restored, and are again highly Iroduc-
sugar houses, furnish new engines and ma
chinery, the old having been wantonlv de-
stroyed, and provide implements and animals
as well as the various necessarles III making crop
In the introductory remarks to his crop statement
Mr Bouehereau 10 whose pamphlet We i'll
debted for valuable statistics, saws: Improved
lands can now be bought in this State at prices
varying from twenty-five to forty dollars per acre
Our climate is semitropical one; the variety and
fertility Of our soil is unsurpassed and every we're
table attains here more perfect maturity than in
any other State OF the Union Our attention has
ton, which, it is well known, yield larger return
than any other products in the world. Our land
produces from 1900 to 1900 pounds say 1850 poundsl
OF sugar per acre and from 60 to 80 gallons (say %
salons) Of molasses; sometimes more as will be |
seen III my last years report. Under the present
system of labor one hand will cultivate eiglt |
acres of sugar cane (besides the corn) which at |
prices, say 10 cents for sugar and 6J |
cents Tor molasses, would be $1,000 for sugar |
l4l6 Cotton is more generally raised in the north
and northwestern portions of the State. The Weld
is from 900 to sp pounds per acre. The average |
per hand IS from 5 to bales of $50 pounds each.
The sea island is very successfully raised i'll the
most southern part of the State. Every of |
Louisiana is adapted to the culture of ice and if
cultivated on large scale enough would be pro- |
duced to feed the whole continent. An acre will |
Weld from to 10 barrels of 200 pounds each of |
barrels is the product of one hand Tobacco was |
found here growing wild by the Spanish and French
and is, therefore, indigenous to Louisiana When |
cultivated, it grows to large size. Indian corn is !
grown all bver the State, but for home consump- |
tion ONLY During the war wheat, rye, |
successfully cultivated in the northwestern |
parishes, and the yield per acre is said 10 |
have been larger than in the Western States. No |
country can surpass Louisiana in the variety of her
trlts-oranges, bananas, lemons, ctronS InespiIu-
ses, guavas, figs, peaches plums aprcots quiices,
the raspberry ana the blackberry besides MANY |
other fruits ndeenous 10 Louisiana. Tn. mineral
resources are varied and abundant but as yet uli-
developed. IN ti- pralle parishes horses. mules,
hogs, horned cattle and sheep are raised without
care expense, the spontaneous growth OF the soil
aIordln% abundant subsistence. Having shown |
the advantages OF Investments in comfortable |
homes in Louisiana now invite good en- iz.r,s and
capitalists from 0tlier sections to come and slara
them with Us. ANA / venture to promise 10 all |
good, honest and industrious men il matters NOT |
whence they come the far-famed hospitable vel |
ocne cAalacteflsIc Vi the Southern gentleman and |
planter
As we are now specially discussing sugar. we
might have confined our extracts from Mr.. Bou-
chereaus pamphlet to his remarks SUI ar and |
nolasses, but have preferred to give the entire |
passage, that immigrants may that while every
0,,port unity is offered them here for the cultiy
ton OF sugar they VIII not be debarred from rails
ng cotton, rice tobacco, and nearly every valuable
fruit and vegetable. We more cheertully give the |
space TO Mr.. BoucLereaus statement, because he is
az intelligent and disnterested witness. He is 10
and agent, Spectator. no visionary theOrist.
sonal observation. IN compiling his statement lie |
travelled through nearly every part OF the State, |
and whether his evidence gives new information,
corroborates that previously furnished by others
i is equally reliable and valuable.
We have stated that the great requisite TO sue.
cess il sugar plantation is an additional supply of
abor. Under the general laws of trade, there |
would be a strong current of freedmen from the
border and Atlantic States to profit by the liberal
wages given by Louisiana planters. But the negro
population of America presents marked exception
20 al general rules. However much they might be
2,enented by emigrating they prefer to remain in
lhelr Old homes. Tie experiments in white imni
srauon have proved advantageous to all parties
out thus far it has added little to working
force. Attention has also been given to Chinese i'm
nilsra,ion with a better prospect. Mr. Bouchereau
r a,a5 they have proved peaceful, law abiding
anu eee!seht; that they are familiar with the cul
,otaln more suitable laborers for the cultivation of
,ur Plantations. such testimony deserves the Sc
government as well. While the former
would do well to Danish all prejudices |