New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-01-31
(Communicated.1
SUGAR CULTURE.

EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
In your valuable paper of Tuesday last,
twenty-seventh instant you ask, can the
culture of sugar be continued in Lou
isianal
That is the question. am an old planter,
and answer in the Affirmative, uuhesita-
tingly, yes; and protitably. too, to the
planters and the labOrers, provided the
difficulties created by the late industrial
changes be removed, and nothing can be SO
easily done if we apply ourselves and sub
NIT to our destiny. Planters as well as
laborers, we are all in the same canoe, and
must work together to save ourselves. Our
interest is dentically the same.
We have the best laborers in the world
shillful and robust, Ubedient and well dis
posed; the most fertile soil known, and best
natural advantages for getting to market.
We make the best molasses in the world,
and have the best domestic market for it
and our sugar. We have the most improved
agricultural implements used to save labor
In short, we have all the advantages man
can ask for, and vet agriculture is sinking
in our favored State. and the culture of the
richest branch of our varied crops has
brought ruin and bankruptcy among our
planters. The shrinkage of the sugar crop
is enormous. In 1862 we made ASS, 410 hogs
heads of sugar and 81 So, 600 gallons of mo-
lasses, and since 1864 the crop has been
diminishing annually, SO that this year we
may not realize $4,000 hogsheads, shrink
age of about 1000 hogsheads, and 400, 900
barrels of molasses annually. Sugar at six
cents and molasses at fifty cents, on the
average, to $40, 900, 900 year for nine years,
will amount to the enormous sum of $780,,
900, 900, sum which is dead loss, and has
caused all our troubles.
It's all owing to the degeneracy of the
cane. An exotic plant from warm country
is bound to decay-that is the secret
One or two years more of such in
dustrial disturbances will surely put an
end to the culture of sugar cane in our
country, and then God only knows what
what will become of US. Nearly all the
sugar factors, planters and spectators are
more or less embarrassed. Our laborers
are in intimate sympathy with the embar
rassment of their employers, and all must
admit that result so serious demands in
quiry, and, if possible solution.
Permit me thus through your columns to
explain to those charged with the admins
tration Of State affairs how, in my opinion,
this important object may be attained.
The Legislature now in session can make
an appropriation of $4,000, and employ
some person perfectly competent to visit
India and other countries famed for the
culture of sugar cane, and procure seed
cane, and see that it was shipped in season
to correspond with our climate. 1t would
require experience and personal attention
to effect this object, for the cane must be
put up carefully, and forwarded with dis.
patch, to insure that it will be received per-
fectly sound. 1t should then be distributed
pro rata among all our planters, gratis, &C
cording to the crop they raised in 1884.
in time for planting this fall. There is
no time for waiting. Tho expedition
ought TO sail at the latest on
the first of April, and I have no
no doubt that our able delegation in Con-
gress will get a steamer of our navy, well
fitted up and commanded, to 90 after the
cane and bring in cargo under the direc-
ton of the person you will employ. The
of such supply of the best
cane, now yielding from 1000 to 5000 pounds
sugar per acre in India, Africa and Egypt,
will gladden. the hearts OF all, and you will
have the satisfaction Of having made the
best appropriation ever made to benefit all |
classes and save us from general ruin.
have not exaggerated this picture. |
Many among you know as wei! as do that |
large plantations are played out. In Au-
gust last-on the sixth, seventeenth, twen- |
ty-fourth and, lastly, twenty SEVENTH |
wrote several articles to demonstrate the |
Of small plantations, and that |
there is money in sugar planting, and that
we are bound to do something for our Ia
borers and planters, whose interest is the |
,ame ResDectfullv p M L.