The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-12-18
Small Industries.

The operations of another year are
drawing to a close, and the planter fnds
Ills balance sheet in no very fatterine
condition. He commenced the vearj;
operations on a lien. He bought fertil,
lzers on credit, bought corn, bought
bacon, and bought everything at high
prices to run the farm. He has had
drouths, rains, and inefficient labor to
contend with, and now the prospect of
a short cotton crop stares him in the
face, with only corn enough to run him
to Christmas and everything else in the
provision line upon the same footing.
For eight long, ,dreary years has he
been plOdding on in this track, hoping
luck" Is it not time to think of some
change for the better? Is it not time
to dovetail some other industries into
our system? All cotton will not do
everybody ought to be convinced of
that. Can't we convince our people of
the absolute necessity of getting out of
the old rut and diversifying our indus
tries Can't we convince the farmer
that going in debt will be his ruin in
the end?
The wild cherry tree, in Vienna, is
considered the best pipe wood. Or
chards are planted for that urpose, the
products of which amount to $3.50, 900
annually. Half a million of dollars
worth of pipes are annually exported to
France, England and the colonies.
The wild cherry grows wild all over
our old fields, and We have hundreds Of
men who are lOafing about our towns
and railroads waiting for something to
turn up, who could be profitably en-
gagged i'll making pipes, and kept out of
the way of temptation, for "idleness is
the devils workshop.
HE sugar production from the beet
root IN Europe amounts to 81, 24O, 900.
The beet grows well in all parts of the
south, and a wide field here is open 70,
experiment. Thousands of dollars are
annually sent north for brOOms. Broom
corn grows all Over the south, and any
body who can tie a shoe-string can learn
to make a broom.
Thousands of dollars are annually
sent north for willow baskets. The
willow grows wild upon every branch
IN the south almost, and beautiful bas-
ketS can be made out of it by women,
as has been demonstrated about Glenn's
Springs.
The gross produce of the grape in
france amounts to more than three
hundred million dollars. This industry
employs six millions of men, women |
and children, and nearly two millions
of merchants, agents and traders. The |
vine grows we'll at the south, and our
scuppeTnOng makes a more delicious
wine than most of the imported stuff,
yet we send north annually thousands
Of dollars for champagne made out of
Newark cider, Or, what is worse, some
chemical compound. The world can
show no better pastures than some por-
tiOns of the southern states, yet we
send north for English dairy cheese
and Goshen butter. Our vinegar, our
mustard and Il cayenne pepper are
grown and made for us.
Thousands of dollars are annually
sent north for garden seeds, fruit trees
and shrubbery, which could just as we'll
he grown at home. Millions are sent
north for black walnut furniture, while
have seen walnut trees split into
fence rails in South Carolina. We have
the best Of timber for sp0kes, felloes,
hubs, etc, yet our mechanics send north
their timber. We can grow fine
potatoes, yet we send north for
our seed potatoes, and often for eating
roots. A vast field is open in the Gull
ovation of fruits. The markets of the
north are open to lis, and soon we will
connected by rail with the great wes-
5ern markets.