The Opelousas courier., 1894-04-21
Haasville.

April 17th, 1894
At last the season is beginning to
grow brighter-warmer and more pleas
ant. The farmers in this and neigh
boring localities are now feeling more
hopeful
Corn is about all planted and much of
it up to a beautiful stand-wiI soon be
large enough to work the first time
Every available acre of lard has been
planted in corn, with the object in view
to grow as much grain as is possible to
be done in this climate.
The acreage To cotton cannot in the
true sense of the word be termed small,
yet it can't be said that it has been in
creased. One reason why so much cot
ton is grown in the South is because it
is u bread and meat crop and that
nothing else will pay rent and debts but
cotton. Speaking of the fiat money"
gold standards" "bi-metalism," etc,
cotton is the money of the South. Like
silver, it may be deprecated by specu-
laturS and legislation, but supply and
demand cnts no figure when it comes to
its true value as a money crop, to aid in
keeping HE wolf from the door, etc
Moving the factories south to where he
cotton is grown would tend to bring
about many changes, ,ot alone With the
Eul uiI1S CtuSScS Dut among hll ilues Oh
trade and business New methods and
about, the people wUnld sell and buy at
home, sand better prices and wages
would be realized from the products of
labor and toll.
Plant cane is beginning to grow nice
ly with every prospect to date for
heavy yield this coming fall. The acre
age is larger than that of last year.
Here we stop to inquire. with the boun
ty to sugar killed what will the planter
get for his cane9 Look at the mat
tel us you may, the prospect is gloomy
one indeed for the cane grower.
IT we must have free trade, and moth
ing else will do, better far to at once ac-
cept the single tax theory of Congress-
man Tom L. Johnston and Henry
George and be done with it.
There is no more profitable crop to
be grown south than the sweet potato.
Its tue value is really not recognized
as it should be. Prof. Massey of the
agricultural college of North Carolina
says that there is no reason why the
sweet potato should not he grown and
d-"evnpolated'--on the same plan
and principle that our fruits are day
and like the evaporated apple OF peach,
when placed in warm water would re-
sume its pliancy and freshness for cook
ing Since the subject has been placed
before the public, Prof. Massey says,
Northern canitalists are investigating
and looking into the matter, aud he be-
lieves that ire long the growing and
evaporation Of sweet potatoes will be-
come il paying business in the South.
wish to say that in writing this of the
potato my object is only to bring out
the advantages this country possesses
in soil and climate for enterprises of
this sort aud all manufacturing indus
tries.
One great trouble in regard to our
sunny land, is that we are not known
away from home. We don't advertise
Excuse the Eve" | am not to say
"native of the soil" but wish for the
success of all parts of it.
There is very little building going on
in the country at present.
The stave factory at Eola has started
with every prospect for growing busi
| ness.
The farmers of Elm bayou have their
crops we'll under way.
Gardens in the country are improv
ing.
The last freeze left US a few peaches
and plums.