The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-10-14
From III. Eshbaugh, Lecturer
of the National Grange.
HIS Lahors I'm Louisiana

of the National Grange.
His Labors in Louisiana.
Editor Patron: Agreeableto re-
quest from you, and a number OF
Patrons in Louisiana, / will give a
short sketch of my travels IN the
State of Louisiana, the condition of
the Order, the cause of it's down.
fall, and it's future hope.
l entered Louisiana via Shreve>
port on the night of the 13th of
August. Here is where my first
labors began, and were continued
through the Parishes of Bossier
DeSoto, Nachitoches, Sabine, Rapi
des, Avoyells, st. Lundry, Iberville,
East and West Baton Rouge, Liv-
'ngstone, st. Helena, Tangipahoa,
and Washington.
1t will be seen that we COM
menced our work near the north
west corner of the State and trav-
eled southwark aud eastward 10
near the South and eastern por-
tions of the State, and then again
northward, leaving the State near
it's northeastern corner, thus giving
us good opportunities of seeing
much of the State.
The northern and northwestern
portion of the State is high ,and,
well timbered productive and heal
thy Cotton and corn are the
staple crops, and the harvest pom
ICES a good return to tho faithful
husbandman. The central and the
southern portion of the State has
much low land and is subject to
overflow, from which they suffered
severely last spring, indeed nearly
the entire country lying south of
Alexandria and to the Gulf, and
east to the Mississippi river was
overfowed from three to ten feet
deep, doing great damage in the
destruction to fences, buildings and
stock, and as result much sickness
prevails, from which in some Sec
tlons scarcely a family escapes.
Much of the fencing and the build
ings are again repaired OR rebuilt,
and crops of cotton, sugar cane and
corn look fine and promise a heavy
yield if the remainder of the seaso o
proves favorable. Rice, bananas
ard oranges also promise well, the
soil through this last named dis
trict is very rich and fertile. That
portion of the State lying east of
the Mississippi river and north of
Lake Pontchartrain, is mostly on q
higher elevation although in places
known as fiat lands, varies in quail
ity and much of it is productive.
Cotton and corn is. the main crop
and promises good yield this
season, and this section is gener,
ally reasonably healthy.
Louisiana will this year, not
withstanding the terrible overflow
produce a largo surplus for export
Of cotton. sugar, molasses, rice, orr
anges and bananas, and produce
corn enough to bread her people.
Farmers are slow in improving
their stock. A few short horns,
and sprinkling of the Jersey and
Bramma are seen, and mostly in
the eastern part of the State. Cat
tie, hogs and sheep are generally oi
the common or scrub kind. Goats
and gees should judge do we'll and
pay a good per cent on the invest
ment and the labor. / counted 30
of the former in one herd, and over
100 of the latter In one flock.
The Order of Patrons of Hns-
bandry in Louisiana at one time
seemed prosperous, but its thrift
was a fcticious one, and while il
had many good members, who were
it's warm friends and earnest work,
ers, but at the same time It had too
many uncongenial elements in it.
who realized that the success OF the
Grange organization meant greater
intelligence to the farmers and
smaller profits to dealers and specu
iators, hence the efforts employed
by these elements. together with a
very serious mistake in their gen.
eraI business arrangements, caused
it's downfall. So great was the
shock, and so faithful were the ene-
mics OF the Order in taking the ad
vantage of the misfortune that il
nearly drove it out of existence in
the State, and but lew Oranges
were kept in q live state, but these
had their influence, which wai
greatly exerted for good and al
they thought the time had come fol
more earnest work they called upon
the National Grange for help
y hich was sent them, and while
our efforts were feeble yet We Ief
the State with nineteen working
Subordinate Oranges, With sever