St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-02-02

gar planters of the West Indies preferred
for sugar cane. therefore determined to
give sugar cane fair trial in the pine
lands. With that purpose in view, bar.
tered a pair of window sash, at cost OF
So 90, for $50 canes. These were planted
and cultivated upon system adopted oy
well-informed agriculturists. These 3oO
canes produced enough cane to plant two
acres this past spring. L have been up
and down both sides of the Mississippi
river between New Orleans and Baton
Rouge, through the cane fields, traversed
bv the Texas Pacific railway and the
Mississippi Valley route; there is no
sugar cane better than mine on either OF
the lines of the railroads named, and now
invite any sugar planter to visit my place
and verify my statement.
Rep.-Perhaps you fertilized it very
heavily. What have you to say to that!
Mr.. S.-My sugar cane is
PLANTED IN NEW LAND
upon which nothing but pine trees had ever
grown. The stumps and roots OF the trees
were pulled out with stump Pullerr; the
land was plowed perfectly fiat: then 1t was
cross plowed and narrowed. Burrows sew
en- feet apart were made, and into these
was put little stable manure, the canes
were put down straight in the furrow and
covered When the growing canes were
about two feet high, a furrow three inches
deep was made on both sides of the grow
ing canes, about eight to twelve inches
from them and 300 pounds to the acre of
cotton seed meal was put into the burrows
and covered with a Planet Jr. A hoe has
never been in the feld-all the cultivation
has been done by cultivato- only. In my
yonth, in the West Indies, hated the hoe;
| am sorry to see it has too many lovers
among the agrculturists in louisiana,
Rep.-What have you done in the way
of vegetables and small fruits?
Mr., 81 have made some small at
tempts in that direction, but | have not
time enough to give positive opinion on
that subject Very large profits have been
realized in strawberries. lhad three acres
last spring! The season was very wet,
and very much fruit was ruined by
heavy rains and added to this, the express
company filled their car with goods at New
Orleans, consequently there was mo room
for fruit cup the road" Subsequently
the Illinois Central put on refrigerator
car, but doing their best with their fast
freight train, fruit carried by it arrived at
destination twenty-four hours after ex
pressed freight. Strawberries are perish
able in the highest degree-no big money
can be made out of them along the line OF
the Illinois Central unless that company
will compel
THE EXPRESS COMPANY TO FURNISH CARS
ENOUGH
to meet the wants of the producers. 1t
this cannot be done, strawberry culture
must stand aside. | think too many have
taken to the field of fruits and vegetables.
The demand for early fruits and vegeta-
bles is very limited. Neither eastern,
northern nor western people seek straw
berries, cucumbers, beans or other early
vegetables while the mercury is ranging
several degrees below freezing point. No
man will hunt strawberries in seal skin
cap and beaver overcoat
Rep.-How do you free your land of
stumps and roots!
Mr.. 81 have a stump puller. 1t is
worked by mule, a man and boy. The
bow remains with the mule at the lever
and the man fastens the hook to the roots
or wraps the chain about the stumps, as
required Two men can work 1t very
quickly. clean about four acres OF land
without moving the puller from its place
There is steel wire rope, running from
the drum, two hundred and sixty feet
long. This rope reaches everything with
in diameter of $50 feet-square that dl-
ameter and you will ascertain that the
area is almost four acres. | bought this
machine from Messrs. Milne Il Son, OF
Scotch Grove. Iowa. 1t is cheap and it is
very effectiv- if worked by intelligent
people. There are very few pine stumps
too large for it. 1t must be used when
the ground is wet-not when it IS dry.
Rep.-What implements do you use?
Mr.. San Illinois Prairie Queen plow
cutting a nine inch slice Blue Grass
Sulky pillow, two mule Riding Cultivator
and Planet, Jr, Walking Cultivator. l
have nv corn planted in checks, Al feet
each way, three stalks to each check, and
everything is planted in perfectly straight
lines |
CULTIVATE SUGAR CANE AND CORN ON
THE DEAD LEVEL.
Not ridge on any part of it. So soon as
the corn and cane roots begin to spread,
the implements are set very shallow, to
break the crust only, to stop vaporation
and destroy weeds. About two years ago
-
leading article, declared all ridge cultiva-
tio,l q fault. l have Away argued
against ridging corn or sugar cane. There
are no curves nor crooks in any of my
fields. If one part of a field is not so good
as another part, the unlucky spot is not
Jumped nor lodged around and left as a
| blotch and eyesore on the whole field, but
is nourished and doctored until it is as
good as the best.
Rep.-Have you seen much of Louisiana
outside the parish of Tangipahoa if so,
have you any opinion of the state gener
| ally?
Mr.. 81 have been over almost the
| part of it. l think the Texas Pacific road
runs through the best agricultural region
on the face of the globe. There are
thousands of acres of land on the line OF
that road which ought to yield a hundred
bushels of corn to the acre with only prop
or cultivation. The same is true of the
Mississippi Valley road and of the Morgan
road. | think the whole state of Louisi
ana offers to the educated agriculturists Of
the world more net money for their labor
and skill than any other state or territory
Her winter seasons are very mild bel
spring time and autumns are delightful
Her summers are long and hot, but sum
mers' nights in Louisiana are generally
cool. l have not observed hot night this
summer and at my little house in thu
woods, mosquitoes are neither heard no
felt. Mosquito bars are in my house il
the woods, but not one of them has beer
used this season, except once to keep gu
sand flies.
Representing all you say of Louisi
ana is true, why is there no general pros
perity in this state?
Mr.. S.-Many things have