The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1886-08-28


to be saved ?" we find the following mos
sensible contribution, from Linn Tanner
in an Alexandria contemporary:
Editor Torn Talk::
The present gloomy outlook of on
farmers, now that the catterpllars pro
mise to eat our crops by the l0tl
of September, by which time, owing t.
the backwardness of the crops, caused
by the late cold, wet spring, the cror
can not yield perhaps more than thirc
OF crop, causes the thinking portion Of
our people to look about them ON the
search for some method, or means by
which their liabilities can be met, and
their necessities for the coming year be
supplied. The corn crop of the South
promises to be more than an average one
therefore the price will be greatly low.
cred In our markets; so that with the
high transportation rates, and other
charges added thereto, but little more
can be expected than the bare cost OF
production. 81 @s
To say to the Southern people "You
ought to plant less cotton" is as useless
as it would be to sing psalms to dead
horse. 10 tell them they should tliversi-
fly their industries, is equally unayaihnp.
to offer any other plan except Cotton
causes the speaker to be regarded as an
idealist, or visionary, and may possibly
as a crank" and yet we find those coun-
tries which produce other articles, than
cotton, even though low prices prevail,
are far above the cotton States in mate
rial wealth. Why? do you ask. The an
swer when sought out would be, their
industries are varied; when disaster falls
upon one, the others escape, the blow is
felt only by few who are most directly
concerned, the larger portion of the peo-
pie escape and therefore the country at
large is not impoverised.
2 But right here the inquiring mind
might ask How can we find an industry
suited to our soil, our inclinations, and
,ur climate? AT the risk of being con-
'idered visionary, l will take the liberty
)f mentioning few of the very many
plans or pursuits which may be followed,
either alone or combined with all, or
everal of the employments, which at
irst might be thought trifing, yet ON re-
eiving the necessary attention for their
ull development would prove that they
re. capable in themselves of paying as
veil, II not better than cotton, and. if
ther Industries are encouraged it win
'e readily seen that the cotton industry
'ould be benefited, because less cotton
7ould be planted. therefore less supply
7ould be made, and consequently a
reater price could be obtained. The to- |
acco crop or Louisiana could be easily |
1ade Leading crop. We have. all kinds |
I soils, long seasons, and a climate in |
'hich the tobacco crop ripens to perfec-
on. The planters who have moved here |
'om other States confirm us when we say |
lat we can make more to the acre and |
lily as good an article as the celebrated
Durham of North Carolina, or the to-
acco of Virginia. fa
The cost of raising tobacco, does not
Iceed the cost of raising cotton, and on
le rich soil of Red river valley two crops
year can be matured, and from these
100 or 1000 pounds would not be an ex-
aordinary crop. The writer has seen
alks which would yield a pound each
merchantable tobacco. The average
ice OF tobacco in our markets through
1t the year leaves a plenty of margin
us to make handsome return on the
vestment required. A great aid in
tobacco is the domestic tur-
y. Flocks OF these birds can be easily
ised, and have the run OF the tobacco {
Ids, and after reaching maturity and !
cir services no longer needed as worm /,
stroyers, they can be readily sold at |
I'm 50 to $12 per dozen, thereby swell G
3 the bank account far above the ex- !
nses Of rearing them.
The hay crop of Louisiana can be :
lde leading crop. ALI kinds of gras- !
grow luxuriantly. The alfalfa of Cal
rnia finds home here. The red clio
:, red top herds grass, Bermuda, or
ard grass, johnson or Guinea grass, \
'th about the same) all highly priced II
Northern and Western States, thrive b
l flourish when sown in our soils, Ger z
n and Hungarian millet yield heavily a
1 will produce large crops ready for n
ting as hay in from six to nine weeks |,
m sowing the seed. The sorghum cane Il
all its varieties does as well here as :.
Kansas, and will mature two crops. "
h having enough sacharine properties 7
pay for its cultivation and conversion :.
, sugar and molasses. Although our q
tie makes no pretentions to being q .
: producing State, yet we find by re- IL
ing to the Agricultural Report of 1885 t.
{ the hay crop of Louisiana for the | L.
T 1884 was 47,S10 tons, on 81, TT acres;
ing one ton and thirty one-hundredths, b,
800 lbs per acre. Average price OF NJ
at 81 per ton gave a return of :,
30 cash per acre. The cotton crop
same year was 485,200 bales from r
,5Sl acres. Total value $2l, Az, 423 or !. =
ilue OF $23,22 per acre. The cotton 60
p having a surplus per acre over the TX
crop of $8,92. This would in all m
liability be not 50 great il as much 10
} was taken in selecting grass seeds, 10
pairing soil, etc, as is shown in the hi
AVIATION and management of the cot ia
crop. And, besides this, the valua- tn
OF the cotton crop is given at an IN
rage of 8 cents, while the hay crop an
ally 81 per ton. which is greatly below "a