Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-11-26
LIKE PREACHING m TMEl
DESERT.

DESERT.
So much elOquenee has been vast
ed ip try ing to induce the people Of
Louisiana to adopt some practical
method to attract a proportion Of the
thousands Of immigrants daily ar
irving in this country, that with many
other journalists, we've grown weary
Of hammering away at this subject,
one however, in which 10 involved the
future not only Of every citizen, but
that of his children, and wefear, even
ofhis children.
II must be admitted that the plant
ing system, proper, is, generally
speaking, a failure, despite tho un-
questionable fertility Of our soil.
The lessons Of the past few years
teach us that planting must give way
to farming, which latter means a d.
versity Of crops, stock raising and
the production Of as many articles for
home consumption as can possibly be
obtained from our soil.
We do not mean that the culture OF
cane and cotton should be abandoned,
but We do mean that our agricultur-
lists can no longer afford to stake their
all from year to year in such culture,
on large scale. First, a freeze ruins
the sugar planter, then the caterpillar
or an unfavorable season does the
same to the cotton planter.
1t can almost be said of our plant
ers that they are engaged in gam
bling.
Farming would not stand in the
same position.
The man who would begin opera
tons by cultivating vegetables, escu-
Tents, fruits, corn; raise poultry and
stock of every variety, could afford,
when the worst came, to stand a
short yield from his well cultivated
surplus of cotton and cane; when he
can't do it, now that his all rests upon
either of these two products.
The immense tracts Of cultivated
and uncultivated acres must be sub
divided into fans. In the cane
growing regions, central factories
must supercede the many ill-managed
and costly mills that eat up a great
proportion of the product in expenses
which would not be incurred by cen
trail factories, which, with improved
machinery and skilled engineers and
sugar makers, would manufacture the
article at the least possible cost.
We would then have two classes
The sugar manufacturer, who might
not earn as much in disastrous years,
bnt would not be totally ruined; and
the cane grower, who would have
something to fall back on when the
cane failed him, in whole or in part.
The same rule, as far as it goes,
will apply to the cotton producer.
The transformation from the plant
ing to the farming system, it must be
conceded, has become almost an alb
solute necessity.
This can only be effected by sub
dividing the lands under cultivation
and those lying idle.
Then we must set about to p0pu-
late them.
This cannot be done, unless price
is set upon them and they are made
ready to receive the settlers.
Individual action cannot effect the
purpose in view.
Neither will cooperation based or
donations, which may do well enough
in a moment Of enthusiasm that can
not however, be expected to last.
Cooperation must pay in order tt
be permanent.
A few weeks ago the CApIroLIAA
suggested the idea, which the Fell
ciana Sentinel and other energetic
journals have caught up.
1t is the only one that seems Il
promise success.
We will again develop it in a few
words:
Stock companies should be formed
in every parish, for purchasing land