The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-01-18
A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

sent in their written views, and we find
that in spite of all discouragements on
the subject Of small Industries in Lou
isiana, some men have been steadily at
work testing the experiment Of fruit
culture. I
They have a satisfactory experience
to chronicle.
Strawberry culture seems Il OF the
most profitable experiments when in
proximity to a market. The profits to
the acre are vast, the crop requiring
little attention save at certain seasons,
and in gathering and packing for the
market. Peaches, pears, plums, nee
t~arines, Japan plums, oranges and
apples (the summer v~arieties) received
due attention. Oranges under certain
conditions of climate and locality are
pronounced the most profitable crop.
In Florida the most successful orange
culturists graft upon the Seville or
soul stock which make the tree more
hardy and the fruit larger and finer.
1t is the first time we have torecord any
thing like an association for this branch
of industry, and there has never before
been an attempt to organize a society
whose labors and experiments will be
directed to small industries. It is quite
time that fruit culture should meet with
the attention it deserves.
The old Biblical picture of happiness
under ones own vine and fig tree is not
a mere figure Of speech, but beautiful
reality. In the strength Of his man
hood a man plants an orchard for the
enjoyment and support Of his old age.
1t is not ceasless labor year in and year
out like that required by the staple
crops, but a little labor when the trees
are young, and after that you take your
ease, and reap the rich reward.
We have always thought that if a
tenth part Of the money which since
the war has been sunk on unsuccessful
crops of cane and cotton, had been di-
verted into the channel of smaller i'll
dustries, the State would not have been
found to-day in it's impecunious condi-
ton.
People from the North and West who
visit our State look around in surprise
and ask-"what is the reason you have
so little good fruit? You have soil
climate, every thing under the sun tc
compete with Northern and Western
fruit growers, and yet the markets OF
your metropolis are almost entirely
supplied with fruit from Western
farms. Why is thisW
And we answer "The Aaron's rod
The cotton and sugar has swallowed
all minor industries"
As it has now swallowed up all the
available funds Of the country, ant
does not disgOrge them, it is probable
people will begin to look around, anC
this question of fruit culture take it,
right hold ON public attention. The
difficulty of ccess to markets, which
has hitherto been one of the objectioni
to the transportation of delicate fruit
will we trust o o be done away Will
by the railroads which in @ short tim.
we must see established in different Dbor
tions of Louisiana. At least the spiri
of railroad enterprise is awakened, ant
it seldom pauses long before maxim.
itself felt in visible works.
We are glad to see many well know
names in this industrial Association
Among them men of science and o
skilled labor, who will carefully ant
faithfully send out their reports.
The grape, meispulis, and apple ar
receiving much attention. The sum
mer varieties Of the latter do as well i
Louisiana as in Ohio and Illinois. TIL
cherry has not yet met with the motto
| it deserves, but the finest varieties cal
; be raised in Louisiana which is th
home of the indigenous stock-the vii,
; cherry.
We hope to see st. Landry taking a,
active part in this fruit-growing enter
: prise, No place under the sun ha
: greater advantages of climate and sol
: No attention save in one or two in
: stances has ever been paid here to frui
: culture, but it would richly reward til
experimenter.