St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1889-02-16
Cane Growing in the Prairie Parishes

Cane Growing in the Prairie Parishes.
In the Jennings Reporter of the oath of
January, may be found the proceedings of
meeting of the citizens in the interest of
cane growing in Caleasieu. This is move
that should be encouraged Not that we
need an experimental farm to prove that
cane growing is success here. This is
an established fact but to grow it because
it is one of the Taall,ost pfohiitable crops we
can eress;W In this section. We are glad to
see the Reporter coming out editorially on
this subject, as it needs to be more thor
oughly discussed and brought before the
minds of the people. 1t has been thought
by some that cane cannot be grown sue
cessfully in the prairie region On this
subject we give an article from that reliable
Sugar. Bouz aud Farm Journal. 1t says
1t is fact not generally known that in
years gone by the most prosperous sugar
planters of Attakapas were those located
on the prairie lands, back from the wa er
courses, and employed horse mills and the
this prairie sugar always had an objection
able grayish tint, yet it sold fairly well,
and the economical method of manufacture
mostly by the labor of the planters i'm
mediate family left good profit. Now,
however, since improved evaporators are
coming into pretty general use, the color
of prairie sugar is easily overcome, and we
believe the time is near at hand when
thousands of acres of our rich prairie
lands, now devoted principally to cotton
and other crops, will become green with
cane.
Hitherto the difficulty of obtaining fuel
has prevented more general cultivation
of ou- prairie lands in cane. Now we have
two reasons for expecting great change
in this respect; first, because begasse
promises soon to furnish the bulk of the
fuel required for evaporation, and secondly,
beause the extention of railroads through
the country will enable the delivery of fuel
almost as cheaply in the interior as on the
rivers AS an instance, Lafayette gen.
tleman lately told us it would pay to put
up sugar works at Scott Station, to accom-
modate the numerous small planters who
wanted to grow cane, since wood could
be delivered there at So per cord. This
being the case, we do not know of a better
field for capital than to establish central
sugar factories on our prairies. Who will
stsrt the enterprise?
Some have gotten hold of the idea that
it was abandoned because it could not be
successfully grown. When we are con-
stantly shown specimens of cane grown in
the prairie and timber regions of Calcasieu
equal to any grown on what is termed
sugar lands on the Teche and other bayous,
we are forced to hunt. about for other
causes as to why cane has not been cult.
waited on the prairies. The SugarBoso
gives one reason for the abandonment on
the prairies-lack of fuel-to which we
will add another, namely, hauling to ship.
ping points. If any one will take the
trouble to visit the sugar estates in the
prairies six or eight miles out from the
Teche, they will soon be convinced of the
great difficulty of hauling sugar even that
distance Both of these hindrances may
now be easily overcome. In the diffusion
process, with the necessary roller machin-
cry added, bagasse will supply the greater
part of the fuel necessary, and the use OF
| tramroads, together with good dirt roads,