The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1880-11-03
DOES FARMING PAY,
What Has Boon Accomplished In Ra'
pides Parish.

What Has Been Accomplished In Ra
pides Parish.
A NEW AND IMPORTANT INDUSTRY
Tho stereo.yped ideas which hav.
long prevailed at the South, that t.
farm meaDs to plant, and very imper'
fectly cultivate, 90 many acres Of cot
ton and corn, patch Of potatoes and
perhaps, few rows of tobacco, which
lis clsssed among the Injuries by 8
certain class, are, happily, giving way
to moro enlightened and progressive
views. In q State 90 highly favored
in soil and climate - Louisiana, Il
may truthfully be said that there il nc
branch Of farming which may not be
made highly remunorative, far more
90, for tho labor expended, than in
any Of the Northern and Western
States, and considerably greater, in
tho average, than in other States Of
the South. This 10 not bare asser.
ton, - is shown BY statistics from the
Bureau of Agriculture at Washington
ia which Louisiana IL classed first il
the exhibit, made by States, Of the ~.
erage value; per acre, Of agricultural
PRODUCTIONS. If it were possible Il
mako . comparison, from actual data
of the difference in favor Of tho alluvi.
al lands in this State, over The best
lands in other States, tho cont,as,
would be astounding.
The present season, which has no,
boon 20 favorable for cotton as the ~,
erage, shows what can be accomplished
BY moderate exertions, and render
indisputable the fact that, in Rapids
Parish. energy and skill may achiev'
results that the farmer, 10 less favore,
regions, would scarcely credit. A ain
gle instance, which has fallen uuds
our notice during the present season
not yet closed, furnishes one amonl
many others that We could cite, of th,
prodts Of farming 10 this section. A,
old colored mar, who owns sxaetl,
five acres Of land, lying contiguous Il
the Corporation Of Alexandria, has, (,
tho present date, gathered and ginned
from i've measured acres, tel
bales Of cotton, and there Is attn
considerable quantity open yet 70
msining IN the fsld, which competen
ljudges estimate At one-half bale Do
acre, giving an average of two and
half bales to tho acre. The land o,
which this crop has been raised il Cd,
oldest in the Parish, having bee,
cleared. perhaps . hundred years, an,
has not been enriched by the appliea
ton Of fertilizers Of any kind, nor ha
tho modes Of cultivation or implement
used been other than thoso that .r,
common on every plantation. TIL,
proceeds of this crop will roach 4I2!
per acre, or $625 on this mini.tur,
dve acre farm.
Another instance Of >h. ! isid a
corn, the present season, ur Bayo,
,Lamourie, will suffice to show tb,
adaptation Of our Parish to tho bro
duction Of that grain. Mr.. suowden.
planter on Bayou Lamouris, has gath
cred, on large neld, eighty bushels Q
corh to tho acre, on land that has 40
been fortified.
We desire to call attention, befor
concluding this article, to compare
lively now and highly proatabI
branch of agricultural industry in on
Parish, that promises q assume larg
proportions In the future. On IL
Cfapp estate, near this Town, thor
arc some three hundred acres Of dn
land that 10 set apart - hay farm
The following figures will show I'll
comparative cost, expenses and prof,
In this very attractive and safe branc
of farming which, it-should be born
In mind, il psrmansncy after th
land is once put in order, requiring n
cultivation and no labor save such 4
10 required in harvesting and marks,
ing. Taking tho farm Of 800 acres. {
which we have above alluded, ~ . b.
sis, the following reliable exhibit b,
been furnished Us by gentleman vi
10 acquainted with all tho details. n
allowance being made, however, te
tho first cost Of blowing and harrow
ing the land, which ID only done {