St. Landry democrat., 1890-09-27
GREAT PROFITS.
Louisiana Rice.
WONDERFUL PRODUCTIvENEss OF THE
CALCASIkU PRAIRIE LANDS.

Louisiana Rice.
WONDERFUL PRoDUcTIvENEss OF tn
CALCASIkU PRAIRIE LANDS.
Some time ago Rev. Gellert bought
considerable tract of land from the Wat
kins syndicate, near jennings. Calcasle
parish, at SIS per acre. Last year he i'm
ported quantity of the seed of "Whit
Honduras rice, and sowed 3l5 acres O
} his land down in it. The seed was laid OF
virgin land, on the sod. no blowing bein,
DONE In the cultivation of the crop Mr.
dellert relied entirely on natural irriga
tion, using no pumps. The land wa:
sowed on the 18th of May, and by the Is
of September the crop had matured anc
was ready for harvesting
The result of Mr.. Gellert's planting
shows the wonderful productiveness Of
Louisiana's soil and climate THROUGHOUT
his field the rice has grown to the height
of five and half feet, and has headed
| beautifully. Those who have seen the
field say that the top of the rice is as level
as the fiat ground underneath, showing a
| remarkable uniformity of growth The
extensive field of waving, golden grain,
unbrokeD throughout its entire extent by
sparse or stunted stalks, presents lovely
picture.
But the agriculturist is chiefly interested
in the financial success of Mr.. GeIlert's
venture At $5 per acre his tract of 81
acres cost him $1575 The cost of cultivs-
tion, harvesting and threshing will be
$4,000. making his total outlay $6O75 A
careful estimate of the yield places it at
twenty barrels 20 the acre, or $500 barrels
for tract At 81 per barrel the crop will
sell for $25 200, leaving Mr.. Geliert
net profit including original cost of land
OF $l9, l25 specimen of this rice
will re exhibited at the Sioux City Corn
Palace Exposition.
We give the above clipping from the
Times Democrat. as a sample of what can
be done IN Southwest Louisiana. This
may seem TO Northern farmers almost in
credulous, but can be verified in svery
particular
There are thousands of acres of good
rich lands yet lying vacant in this region,
which can be bought for from S. 90 to
$1,000 per acre, upon which similar re-
suits can be obtained. The question
which naturally arises to q Northern
mans mind when this statement is made
is, why is the price of such lands SO low?
or, why do not the present owners utilize |
those lands themselves
We answer that as yet, there are but |
few people, comparatively speaking, in |
this part of Louisiana.
Calcasieu parish is 60 miles BY 70 miles |
in extent, and has about 25, 600 inhabi-
tants, large proportion of whom are en-
gagged In lumber and stock business, and |
hence there is yet very much more land
than can be utilized by the present in
habitants.
Then, we have some large lapdholders,
whose entire wealth consists in unim-
proved lands, which they are unable to
improve without selling a part This
places large amount of land on the
market, and Is the law of supply and de-
nand rules in land as in other things, the
'rice is ridiculously low. Lands can ba
purchased in this country at from $500
o $1,000 per acre, on such terms as to
liable the purchaser to put most of his
apitai in Improvements and seed, and
'ay the greater part OF purchase price out
f the crop
1t is an easy matter to make enough out
the first crop to pay for land, fencing,
itching, reasonable house aad other
III dings, and still have reasonable
for the use of the money in
ested at the start.
One hundred and sixty acres of land at
8 90 costs $500. It. will require say,
500 to fence and ditch it. and erect a
nall house. Another $500 for seed, put
ng in and caring for the crop At ten
arrels per acre, which is small crop.
g have 1900 barrels of rough rice, which e
i'll bring at least $4e00
Allowing $500 for harvesting and thresh. :
G, we have cost of land and expense of
aprovements and making crop, $4,000.
alue of crop, $500. Clear profit, $4,000 :
bis allows for everything. If man
Ill do his own work he can come out
ith much more clear money.
Then, it must be borne in mind that
Q give high estimates for expenses, and |
W estimates of yield. {
We regard Mr.. Gellert's case. as not e
ausual, but as among the best; but the
timata we have given above is a mod.r-
Q one, and any industrious, careful man .
ay reasonably expect to realize it.
But we are aware that there are many
40 would like to come here and engage u
raising rice, who have not sufficient
pital to purchase land. To such we say,
at there are several large holders of rice &
ads, who are offering such terms of
1eo as VIII onaoie al enerSetlc man,
thout means, to make a competent for
ne during the five years the lease con- y
ues.
When our rice lands are all utilized the
Ice must necessarily go up to $50 and
% per acre at once. Our sugar, cotton
fruit lands will be equally valuable. =
Therefore, we say to the intending inn :
grant, you had better come here as soon 80
sou can, and secure some of these lands n
lile they are che ap-Er.