The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-08-06
4esrriptire Artitles.
From the Nelo Orleans Democrat
The Sugar Region of Louisiana.


water course extends more than 100 miles
further towards the north northwest before
it combines with the Bayou Beuf, the su-
gar district proper covers the land between
the two first named points, with the village
of Jeannerrette as its centre. Some su-
gar cane is produced at the extreme points
of beginning, opposite New Orleans, and
as the other extreme as far as Vermilion-
Vile. Almost parallel with Bayou Teche,
and northeast from it, is the Grand Lake
located, beautiful water sheet, connect
ing with its inuumerable arms and bayous
both the Red River aud the Mississippi.
Before the introduction ofrailroads these
bayous, lakes and rivers formed means of
transportation equalled by nothing in the
world. But for another purpose they were
and are of the greatest importance, and
gave great value to the adjoining lands,
namely, to drain the land. In cutting the
main drain through any plantation the land
was surface drained, and also connecting
link made with water communications, so
that the produce of any plantation could
be loaded directly from its storehouses on
TO boats, bound either for any inland point
or for New Orleans, to be transhipped from
there to any part of the globe
The soil Of the Mississippi bottom land
this alluvial deposit with its almost mex
| haustible fertility, is too we'll known to re-
quire any further description; it is the
heaviest nearest the river. aud becomes
/ lighter aud more porous as one proceeds up
Z Bayou Tcche. As the soil changes so
change also the crops, both in kind and in
quantity. The richest land produces the
I largest crops Of sugar cane Of the best
( quality, but very indifferent corn crops !;
! although the cornstalks grow to the height
T Of from twelve to sixteen feet regularly,
the cars Of the same are 10 no proportion,
aud the yield seldom more than from TWEEN
{ ty to twenty-five bushels Of shelled corn to
the acre. Corn raising is not considered
I profitable, aud mostly practiced TO recuper-
ate the land. Between the corn, peas
/ generally called clay peas are drilled,
and when the corn has been harvested, the
green pea vines are plowed under, making
an excellent fertilizer
The difference in ~. cost Of raising an
acre Of sugar cane and an acre of corn Is
very slight, it any al all, outside of the
seed. Both are planted on ridges on ae-
count Of the imperfect drainage of the
fields, and the occasional extensive fall of
rain. The cultivation Of both IS about the
same, with this exception, that corn once
neglected, on account Of rain or otherwise,
Is certain failure, while sugar cane suf-
fers comparatively little, aud extra care
afterwards viii make good former neglect.
The cane is, therefore, By far surer crop.
But the lighter the land, the higher up
the bayou, the surer the corn crop be
comes aud the less profitable the cane.
On the lower extreme Of the bayou rice
fields are oftener met with than sugar
cane, while on the upper extreme cotton
takes the place Of both rice and sugar cane
THE YEARS PROSPECT.
The extreme cold aud excessive wet dar-
iug Fast winter aud spring have nearly de-
stroyed the cane stabble, aud many fields
show not more than oue-quarter stand,
while these same causes have combined to
make the plant cane very late but the
stand generally is very good, and, although
small, looks very vigorous and healthy.
According 10 the best information obtain
able and 10 my owa observation, the yield.
Of sugar cane, both stubble aud plant cane,
will be probably between IS and 80 per
cent. Of the average Of the last Eve years.
Much, Of course, will depend upon the
weather TIL harvest At present the
weather IS very favorable, and the fields,
with rare exception, are very clean and
free Of grass,
While many sugar plantations, even in
the mos, favorable districts, are entirely
abandoned, growing to grass aud brush,
plantations, the value Of which were counted
10 ante bcllum times By the hundreds of
thousands, even million Of dollars, other
plantations, equally as valuable, are partly
aban ioned, aud very few, il any, have as
much laCd under cultivation, or raise as
much sugar cane as they did before the
war
Some Of the most costly mansions still
bear the impression as il they had passed
through a long war, and the cabins on
these places look either very dilapidated
or have entirely tumbled down, fences
have disappeared, and the lawns, with
their once beautiful shade and ornamental
trees, look wild and deserted But, not
withs,anding all this, the progress during
the latter years has been very decided
one. Cozy cottages have taken the place
Of DESTROYED mansions, neat and eommo-
dous cabins, with flower and vegetable
gardens around them, have taken the place
of the dilapidated and destroyed ones.
Many Of these cabins are inhabited by
tenants who either work on shares or for
wages, and who have been before the war
slaves on these same places.
Some planters work their places entirely
by hired labor, others entirely by tenants,
while still others have both hired labOrers
and tenants on their places.
Leaving the wholly aud partly abandon
cd plantation out of the count, of the 9th
erwise rich and arabic land in the sugar
district of the Bayou Teche, not more than
one of every ten acres is under cultiga-
tion. and of the cultivated land certainly
not one-fiith, aud probably not more than
one-tenth, is cultivated in sugar cane.
The sugar industry on the Teche could be
increased to a most surprising extent.
RATES or RENT, &C.
have, during the last three days, Wis
tied almost every sugar plantation between
Franklin and New Iberia, distance of
thirty miles by the bayou, by the railroad
twenty FIVE Every planter is bent on re-
storing or improving his place, and the
only complaint you hear of him is the scar
city of hands have made close inquiries
regarding terms and conditions on which
men are employed on sugar plantations on
the Teche, and on which terms thousands
of families would be welcomed. They are
more or less according to locality, but sub
stantially the same One of the most
successful planters supplies his tenants,
without any distinction, with good, sub
stantial house, generally two rooms and
kitchen, etc., garden to the house, and
as much land as he wishes. The land is
all we'll cultivated, fenced and ditched, and
has to be kept so He furnishes the first
year all the seed cane the tenant requires,
which he has to return when the tenant
leaves the place. He furnishes him with
the frewood he needs, and allows him to
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