The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-05
THE SUGAR PLANTERS.
MEETING OF THE AssOCI ALTON LAST
NIGHT.
Very Interesting and Instructive Discuss
Sims Had.

There was meeting last evening of the
Louisiana Sugar Planters Association ut the
office Of the Crescent City Oil Company. Pres
ent, Hon. Duncan r. Kenner In the chair and
some thirty gentlemen.
Mr.. Dymopd chairman Of the Executive Com.
mtta e. reported that 1t might be seen how much
The sugar interests were depressed when the
fact became known that two refneries In the
North had failed.
The President reported that the committee to
whom had been referred the question as to
which system was the better the open kettle
and the vacuum pan process, were not able to
report. but when they did the results OF their
labors would be received with much interest by
every planter.
The president then stated that a number lad
expressed themselves az DESTROYS of speaking
on the subject OF seed cane. Only one gentle
man had prepared a paper ON the subject, and
that was Hon. w. w. Pugh.
The secretary. Mr.. Giffen then read Mr.
PuRhs letter on seed cane and the effect OF last
years weather:
WOODLAND. La. March %. 1878.
Hon; D. =. Kenher, President Of the Louisiana
sugar Planters Association:
Sir-Your letter requesting me to give nv
views on the subject OF the preservation Of seed
can. has been received, and being fully I'm
pressed With Ire itpor,anee Of the subject to
to repy doubtful iu am ' abe to oa sbed
much additional light On the subject; ,,.
can ps ny wnea
shall have taken an important step towards
diminqt on Of the great risks which accompany
out by your association looks to the gathering
Of inFormation on the matter relating to cane,
lis cultivation and manufacture. from all re-
to tell what he actually knows about It. and al
'hongh his Information may not cover much
ground. yet the miss OF fasts collected from DIFF
OF great use to all engaged In the cultivation OF
cane.
Our interest IL an important one. by no means
re 1triced IN value or usefulness to the limits of
our ate; the use Of sugar has become neces-
sity OF the household instead OF a luxury, and
every hogshead made In the State sarv-s to re-
market. 1t is undoubtedly true that the uuan-
tity of sugar we can annually produce can be
materially ines,eased and nothing will better
diffusion 81 the Information to be collected by
your association.
The psst year was sSsceponal II many
md the earth was unusually loose and friable
when the September storm swooped down on
the cane: The effects Of that visitation may be
thu cane and cutting its roots the rains which
.fterwArd tell IN such quantities stimu ated
TO its maturity. / have experienced dam .ee
from wind In former vars, but not to the same
extent last year It's growth had been r, tarded
checked untl the severe spell Of weather which
on the twenty. ninth OF November,
and continued for several days.
TO the. twentieth of October, and last year it |
must have been very. green. and making rapid |
gro with at the time. From the feet that bad seed
us to the conclusion that 1t was brought about
BY Some tuse which existed In the entre sec
ion Of country Ia which cane is. cultivated. and
as 1T Was generally immature after the storm
this must be. the secret of Its keeping so badly
We heard of bad seed in sandy land. black land
and In some instances on the banks OF deep
canals. where there could be no question as to
pc, feet drainage.
There are more or less complaints every year
,reasing with each passing year. Want of
thorough drainage will account for some of the
failures, but not all; From observation | have
De found frequently In the Gene itself-a want
II sufficient development OF the eye... Ia former
md wh. n put up for seed rarely gave q pood
cane sas seors frost Sa r bs a
Year before last us7e) planted few arpents
# cane in the fall. leaving a portion 81 the
vas planted paintings failed 10 give give a
olerable stand. The cana planted was OF good
ength and size. as 1t had been fertilzed with 400
ounds OF cotton seed meal, and was not over
will some one tell us the efrAct Of fertilizers
n cane that Is Intended for seed +
anuary planting. l Inferred that The defect
aust have been In the cane and not In the dry
easOn.
As a general rule. have found that flrst
ears stubble Of fair size and we'll developed
yes Is most likely to keep in ..wnhrow;
he oa r hos gd n IKE p,od o not
ize and length and well covered with leaves If
snted !, in moderately rich land rarely fails to
an degree Il rpeness is es to make
GOD seed. and a deviation from this rule
ither way is apt to cause failure.
latter how roughly they may be laid down; in
ther years the opposite result is seen, not
1t, ithstandng the exercise Of the greatest care
lore depends on the condition of the cane
hen put down for seed than the season which
blows. or the manner In which they are wind
ected to this point. we shall soon learn II my
leory BE- correct and then be able to decide IN
d S as, as to the cuts to be laid down for So
nd cay that 1t s the most certain way Of saving
. Some few Ipractieed this method before The
resume, that the advantages did not compen-
ate for the loss of time.
Seed cane being portion Of our active capt.
rder to avoid the annual loss from this cause.
is extremely difficult to place any money
alue on this annual loss, but feel assured II
oes not fall much short Of the losses sust aimed
y frost aud Ice This loss not only embraces I
le cane actually rejected but it also includes |
le extra quantity placed In the row to secure
nod and regular stand.
knew of an instance In this vicinity, In ,
hich the seed was laid down late In November
nd kept well. and another instance In which
me was laid down but few day before the
eeze and nearly all Of 1t spoiled In the first case
is probable the cane was toerabIy ripe. and
| the second. 1t must have been immature. bu,
"a n har mia I anr
OF speak "a to its condition.
Respectfully. yours, ETC.,
WIN. w. PUGH.
The president invited criticism OF the paper
g said that two most successful planters o.
ur State. Messrs. w. p. Welham and M. ID.
ringer, were in the habit of planting tops
nd never failed to get a good stand. This
ould seem to initiate against Mr.. Pughs the
~. He said Mr.. Bringier would. as a rule. I
1T the stalk in half. planting the tops and he
got an excellent stand. Some have
aid that such paintings would produce good