davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Cotton Cultivation.
Mt. SYLVAN, Tex, Feb. s, 1856

MT. SYLVAN, lex, FEB. 3, 1889.
You request that give my mode of the
cultivation of cotton. This l consider
somewhat hard to do, as | have no regular
system of cultivation, but am always gov
erned by circumstances. Do not think
there is any stereotyped rule that should
be observed in the cultivation of cotton
| am fully satisfied that there is less sci
ence in the cultivation of the cotton plant
than in any other crop l know of, except
in the point of deep and shallow blowing.
am a strong advocate of shallow plow-
ing in fact, | never would pillow at all
after my cotton was brought to stand if
it were possible to keep down weeds and
grass without 1t. From this point on, let
the cultivation be as light as possible, and
in dry weather very frequent. Run over
once or twice every week with fine
toothed harrow, or some implement that
will thoroughly stir the surface. The
dryer the weather, stir the surface the
oftener, but lightly, being careful never
to break the roous | believe that every
root which nature gives the plant is essen
tial to its full development or it would
not be given. The most fully developed
stalk of cotton that saw on my farm last
year grew by the side of my cotton house.
IL WIS FO1uuGtcT SbOCh ludL was never
plowed or hoed-the secret being path
which was travelled every day running
near the roots of the plants. By means of
this constant travel, moisture was kept
up around the roots. Allow me just here
to remark that | have never known a
droath so severe but what moisture could
be found in horse lot where stock was
kept every day, while just outside, where
how loI Lna Sfipp Of
the dust, you ght bore twenty or even
thirty feet and find no moisture. Then
we have the Importance of frequent shall
low stirring demonstrated.
Shallow cultivation, width of row, and
frequent stirring l regard as three most
important points in raising cotton on our
common gray lands. l think that the
rows should be at least five feet wide if
the land is thin. Leave the cotton thick
in drill On our fresh strong uplauds the
width, while on our best bottom lands,
rows should be still wider. The object
of wide rows is to let the rays of the sun
to the ground.
ton raising. If any one has better the
VI WOulu NO Is TAU W uodI IL. ueoM IL
unnecessary to say anything about prepar
ing and planting.
Before closing, however, would say
that, as in many other things, there are
two ways of raising cotton. One way is
to plant the amount you can cultivate well
under ordinary circumstances, and hold
yourself in readiness to give it every
needed attention in due time In case of
wet weather, keep the grass and weeds
back. In case of dry weather, go over
often with harrow, stirring the surface,
though it may be nothing but dust
Another way is to plant about twice as
much as you can cultivate we'll, thus max
ing botch from beginning to end, and
then swear that it won't pay to raise cot
ton. Correct. However, l prefer the
first plan named.
Hoping that have to some extent com
piled with your request, remain your
friend, as ever.-J II. Wilbanks in Texas
at-Reporter.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Soapstone Paint for Iron,

Both in China and Japan, soapstone has
long been largely used for protecting
structures built of soft stone and materials
specially liable to atmospheric influences.
1t has been found that powdered soapstone
in the form of paint has preserved obelisks
formed of stone for hundreds of years,
whian would, unprotected, have long ago
crumbled away. Seeing what preserva-
tive quality this material has, it is specially
of interest to ship owners to learn that Mr..
Goodal has, in the course of his many ex-
periments, "found nothing to take hold of
the fiber of iron and steel so easily and
firmly as soapstone. For the inside
painting of steel and iron ships, it is found
to be excellent. 1t has no anti-fouling
qualities, but is anti-col rosive.- Stuart
DeanOcrnt
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
STILL PICTURED IN MY MIND.

pause behind the ceaseless din
That mingles in the town,
My thoughts go back to country fields.
Whilst streets wander down;
The restless crowd goes to and fro
They all may have, for aught 7 know
A green field pictured in the mind
OF days and lands afar behind.
Oft when the cares of life are still.
Or peacefully go by,
/ seem transported to the farm.
Beneath the country sky;
Beneath the sunset tint stand
My sweetheart's pulse throbs in nv hand
With youthful glee again we stray
Across the fragrant new mown hav
My old white hat and trowsers blue,
My bare feet hard and tan,
The eggs we stole for Easter day,
Our tow shirts, made by hand
Are scenes that still are bright and clear
AS when my boyhood painted there
And when I'm tired Of lifes great game
turn and view my youth again.
latte Banktey. in The american.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Capital Coming South.

We extract the following from an edi
torial in the Louisiana AdUaa1ce:
The destruction of the chief means oil
investment in the South by the late wal
setting the slaves free-had for time
the effect Of demoralizing all branches OF
industry in the South, and also of placing
the southern people in a position, as q
rule, of moderate means. There was little
or no surplus capital to invest in new en-
terprises, but now, twenty three years
later, we find a different state of affairs.
The southern people, or at least many of
them, have accumulated fortunes which
cannot only be used to inaugurate new en-
terprises unsided by foreign or transient
capital, but it can be used to link with the
monied interest of the more fortunate and
prosperous northern part of the United
States, and induce capitalists from there
to help us develop our resources, which
are too many and varied for our men of
capital to handle in this era of prosperity.
When we have men of nerve and fine
business capacity who have the capital
and are willing to invest it in colossal
ventures, it is equivalent to saying to the
capitalist of other sections We are not
afraid to risk money On projects that can
not fail to pay in our southland, and we
are only short of money to make the sue
cess the greater, and we do not ask other
men to invest where we are afraid to ven
ture.
This action begets confidence, and that
confidence has not been abused. Northern
men who have come South and invested
their capital and made millions +; and they
have made it by enhancing the value of
southern property, in which they had in
vested largely before the rise in values.
In Georgia, Alabama and other southern
States, this plan Of operations has been
adhered to, and those States have expert
enced q rapid transformation heretofore
what was only barren mountains and hills
of Alabama and Georgia, is to-day the
great iron, coal and mineral region of the
United States. Its advantages were never
known until few years ago, when capital
found it out, and it soon became the CEN
ter of attraction for all the surplus capital
of the United States, and did more to
bring it to the South than any induce
ment our country could offer.
Louisiana, like Georgia and Alabama,
has great mineral possibilities, and her
agricultural possibilities are greater than
any other State in the South but all our
riches stand for naught unless we can
start the ball to rolling by men of capital
in this State putting their money in enter
prises here and calling for outside capital
to push the work forward until it is upon
such colossal basis as to insure its sue
cessful competition with the great centres
of other sections engaged in the same en-
terprises.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Prunes.

Prunes are very ancient and were grown
ages ago in the East. Eleven varieties
were known to the ancient Roman horti-
culturists. and in the region around Da-
mascus vigorous and wild variety thrived
that was much used as stock for graft
ing, and is so used to this day. France
got the prune from the Crusaders, and it
was first cultivated near Clairac by the in
mates of convent Some of the best and
most famous prunes are now grown in the
extensive French orchards. The prunes
of commerce are classed by numbers. No.
1, the smallest, taking 80 to 80 to the
pound, the largest, 10 to 81 to the pound.
Good housekeeping. y
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Washington and Household Matters.

Washington looked after his household
concerns-the arrangement of furniture
the hanging of pictures, and the locating
of vases, brio. a. brac, china, cut glass, sill
verware and linen, which Mrs Washing
ton had sent by sea from Mount Vernon
with as much precision as he ever directed
his farmer or steward how to pillow, plant
seedasbuy nails, scissors, grains, gloves,
buttons, shingles, hats, dishes, soap, hoes,
rakes, horses and other necessaries, all of
which appears in his well known hand
writing among the 1T folio volumes of
Washington papers" in the state depart,
ment at Washington.-Magasia Of inner
icG71 HSst0ru. =
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Little Bonnie Lee.

It was raining very hard. Poor little
Bonnie Lee walked along the street all
alone, and shivered in the cold, wet wind.
His feet were bare, and his clothes were
not very thick. Bennie's father had died
so long ago that he did not remember him
a; all ; and now his mother was dead too.
So Bonnie was all alone in the world. 1t
is no wonder he felt so loanly and sad that
he could not help crying as he walked in
the rain. Then he saw q window, from
which the light streame& brightly and as
be stopped, he heard people singing In.
side. The window was SO high he could
MOI look in but he listened to the voices.
Then he put his toes in the cracks of the
stone wall and climed up, so he could see
who were singing. They were little boys
and girls no older than he was and they
looked very happy as they sang:
Jesus loves me-this know,
For the Bible tells me 80.
When he got down, he stood there in
the rain, and said 81 wonder If ne loves
me too7 guess he don't" He did nos
know that he had said this out loud, I'LL
somebody answered him. pretty lazy
who was passing stopped right short
and did not seem to mind the rain at all,
as she asked: "What makes you think
he don't love you?" So Bonnie told her
how lonely he was, and that he had noDoay
to take care of him-not even Jesus tna'
he knew about. Then the pretty lazy
looked very sorry; and Bonnie saw her
wipe tears away from her eyes; but sne
only said, then "May be God sent me 10
take care of you. Come with me tor 70
night" Then he went with her into inc
very house in which he had looked: anu
God gave him good, kind friends IN snSt
house, who took care OF him, ana sausHS
him that Jesus did love him and everybody
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Notwithstanding the fact that we have
had good weather enough to give good
roads, we hear complaint about impassa-
BILE places or dangerous holes in some To-
calities. We hope our parish will move
in the matter of State road convention,
and thus secure some better legislation
about public roads. Sugar Boaol.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Sailed the Calf Externally.

A Henry county farmer, says the Clark
son (Ga.) Cultiuator, told green hand to
salt the calf, and the boy took about a
quart of salt and rubbed it all over the
calf, working it into the hair. A gang of
colts in the pasture scented the salt and
got after the calf. They licked the hair
all off the calf's back, and tried to lick the
hide of, too. Jimmy tried to catch the
calf to wash it, but the creature thinking
Jimmy wanted to lick too, kept out of his
way The boy, the calf and Jimmy are all
unhappy. The colts are the only ones that
got any fun out of it.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Bad company is like nail driven into
q .,ost, which after the first or second blow
may be drawn out with little difficulty but
being once driven up to the head, the
pinchers cannot take hold to draw it out
but which can only be done by the destruc-
ton of the wood. st. Aasgustine.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

A cat crawled into the muzzle of loaded
cannon in the British barracks at Cape Col
ony short time ago. When the evening
salute was fred she was thrown distance
of 200 feet, but, strange to say, lived for
two hours after her involuntary flight.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Uncle Pete aSay, parson, where is
President Harrison found in the Bible 7"
Rev. Mr.. Hencoop Don't be foolish,
Pete Dere's no mention OBJ him. Eyes
dere is, parson. It's where Isaac spoke..of
Esau as his Hairy sony. 7. Mercury.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

No man has right to do 8 business
which corrupts the morals of other men.
Nine tenths of the crime in this country
spring from the rum traffic. It corrupts
the young, debauches the old, destroys
families, cripples workmen. makes poll
tics vicious, defies the Sunday laws,
wastes the peoples substance, Injuries
trade and produces pauperism, theft, muir
der and insanity. If society has no right
to NEEDLE with such monstrous public
nuisance as this, then it has not the ordi-
nary right of self preservation.--Ex.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

The Prohibition convention held at
Huron, OAK, recently was great success
When the question of finances was pre-,
sented over six thousand dollars ~. were
raised for campaign expenses. bisnop
Ireland has been secured to make addresses
before the election in May. Inc conVen-
ton was largely attended.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

The South produces about seven million
bales of cotton year, which at $50 per
bale, makes the sum of three hundred and
fifty million of dollars. About five mil
lion bales are exported to foreign coun-
tries, two million bales being consumed IN
the United States, principally in New
England. -Sugdr-B Bout
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

The Chattanooga brakeman says that
the first quarter Of 1889 shows continu-
ance of the remarkable industrial develop
ment of the Southern States. During the
quarter there have been number of
strong corporations organized in the South,
resulting in the influx Of millions of North
ern capital. Tennessee, Alabama and
Georgia seem to have received the most
attention at the hands of Northern capital,
lists, although much outside money was in
vested in Kentucky and Virginia. A COM
pilation aade by. the ITodesman from
actual returns received by it shows that
SOL industries were established in the
South during the past three months,
against 625 new industries established
during the same period of last year.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

The northern limit of corn shows some
curious things as to the temperature of diff
ferent countries On the northeast shores
of Asia corn will not grow north OF 80
degrees while in the interior it can be cul
tivated at a latitude of 60 degrees. In Amer
lea the limit of it's cultivation extends from
SO degrees on the eastefh shore, and 81 on
the western to 65 in the interior. Norway
produces it farther north than either of the
continentsnamed, the northern limit there
being 10 degrees. But at these limits it
may be noted that very little corn is grown.
The South Fla. Progress.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Poultry Diseases.

A writer in the Albany Caztioator says
Epidemic diseases are unknown; once
or twice a year sporadic case of cholera
appears, but the affected fowl is at once re-
moved from the flock and confined until it
either dies OF gets well. The best remedy
for sick fowl is to take it to the wood
pile and chop off his head. The others
take warning and keep themselves well.
But occasionally / like to try an expert
ment. The last invalid was large Plym-
outh Rock hen; we first administered a
compound cathartic pill, and for a week
after fed her upon -four bread and sweet
milk, when she appeared as well as ever
and was turned out with the others. Now
she comes to the dining. room door every
day to beg for crumbs and looks as lively
as any chicken in the yard. She will not
be allowed to live another season, though,
for it is not good plan to raise from
fowls that have ever been sick.
When fowls are brought through the
winter in good condition, their usefulness
in the spring is greatly increased. So
many country people among my acquain-
lance pay little or no attention to their
poultry during winter, occasionally throw
ing them handful of food at irregular in
lOINdi, AOs cNcu giving tAcA W6tcI W
drink, when the ground has been frozen
for weeks, or providing them q shelter
from the snow and the sleet. When the
ground is covered with snow the poor
things viii remain on their roosts in trees
until they freeze to death and fall to the
ground. The few that survive are then
poor and weak, with their vitality at such
low ebb that it is late In the season be-
fore they begin laying, still later sitting,
and often, before their owner is aware Of
i, the whole flock has contracted that
dreadful disease called roup, which is
brought on by exposure to the severity Of
winter and the scarcely less trying damp
ness OF spring. This is what they call
..bad luck"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Ella Wheeler Wilcox's husband, says
the New York Graphic, has fine black
moustache, is inclined to badness, and is
heavy set. l met him recently bowling
down Broadway, looking the ideal L am at.
home anywhere drummer that he is, and
with anything but an ethereal, dreamy gaze
from his eyes. He is on the road great
deal selling goods, while his wife is at
home writing poetry. AS story teller he
ranks high with the members of his pro-
fession, and his fund of humor is much
greater than his wife's. He carries in his
travelling valise twenty seven pictures of
his wife, taken by different photographers
during her rise in poetical fame. The re-
semblance of the pictures to each other and
to the original can easily be imagined by a
remark made to him by fellow. drummer
in Cincinnati. Mr.. Wilcox put the twenty
seven photos on the mantel board of his
room in order to remind him of his absent
spouse. When the other drummer entered
he exclaimed: "Well, Wilcox, must say
that you have the pictures of many deuced
fine looking girls what towns do they
live in 7"
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
Wool.

The following remarks are from a circu-
lar just issued by James Lynch, wool bro
ker, 1874 Church St., New York, who
estimates our national production of wool
at 337, 800 900 lbs. in 1884, 329, 800, 900 in
'S5, 322, 305, 900 in '86, 1888, 500, 900 in 81
and 322, 300 600 in '8S:
A review of the wool business of 1888
shows it to have been, on the whole, salts
factory, in marked, contrast with the pre-
ceding year. Opening with a weak and
declining market and lower values than
for a period of years, it's closing was sig
nalized by complete recovery from the
stagnation and weakness ruling during the
earlier months.
My estimate of the product of the United
States shows total decrease of about
II ZOO, 900 lbs. from 1887, partially caused
by the unremunerative price, and also by
an unusual demand for mutton in the
early part of the year. The effect will
probably be more apparent in the COM
ing clip.
Fifty millions of dollars was Americas
contribution for the single year of 1888, to
the foreign wooden manufacturer and the
foreign dealer in the raw material benefit
ed to the extent of $4,000 The total
costs15road of wool and it's manufactures,
Imported into this country, for the year,
reached 1854, 100000. Of the above, IA 63
per cent represents what was paid for car
pet woods, and 1.57 per cent. for manufac-
lures thereof. Of the remainder but 1853
per cent. went for clothing and combing
woods, and 1922 per cent. or $4S. 639, 800
for the product thereof. The latter classes
only, enter into competition with our
homegrown woods, less than per cent
of the domestic clip being of the kind
known as class 8, or carpet wool.
The price of fine American fleece wool,
for the average of year, has never been
SO low as in 1888. The imports of class
(clothing) and 2 lcombing) for the year,
amount to- 90, 100, 400 pounds. or in a
secured state, say 1880, 1873 pounds and
our domestic clip of the same class in the
ordinary condition is estimated at about
800, DOC, 900 pounds. It is evident that we
are growing nearly all the clothing wool
we need, if the present rate of increase in
the importation of manufacturers of wool
is to be maintained. stf
At the present writing, the market for
wool and wooden goods are quiet and
rather unsatisfactory. While the advance
in wool, which reached it's highest point
in December, has been fairly sustained,
transactions to a limited extent have taken
place at some CONCESSIONS Cultiuator and
I0u7tTu GentLe9nGn "
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13
A Fascinating Vocation.

To those engaged in the business of
orange growing is truly fascinating. The
beauty of the tree, the beauty and frag-
rance of the flower, challenge all rivalry
among ornamental trees and beautiful
flowers. The aesthetic cultivator becomes
true lover of his sweet and beautiful pet
which he looks upon as relic and re-
minder of Paradise. But when this beauty
is accompanied with useful, golden and
gold bearing fruit, ,affording living and
promising all other material luxuries then
the lover appreciates his orange grove only
less than he appreciates his wife. who has
brought to him not only the accomplish
ments of sweet and cultivated woman,
but with herself an ample fortune And
though he may have waited as long as
Jacob did for his Rachel, he doesn't re-
gret the toll and waiting since the reward
is ample. do not know but that the toll
and waiting demanded by the orange does
not increase the ardor of the planter, and
increase his pleasure when once the tree
has been brought to full beauty and bear
ing for we love best those that need to be-
courted earnestly in order to be won
When thus won we feel that the bride is
more fully our own.-South Florida Pro
gress. a.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

In Glasgow it is said that 81, 900 people
go to bed drunk every Saturday night.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

There Is more spiritual restitution preva-
lent among million Of the jewellers in
New York and Brooklyn than exist among
dozen whole States and Territories ct the
Vest. IL M Sserscood.
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Why is a school teacher ike an eye
Because both have pupils
St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-04-13

Enthusiasm is necessary to success in
any profession or business. Especially is
It needed in teaching. Teachers who are
called "cranks" in any one line of work,
are always excellent teachers in that par,
ticular study.