The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-03-04
Preparing for the Crops.

Under the above caption the New
Orleans Picayune of Feb. p contained
the following timely editorial:
"The advent of comparatively fine
weather, after about six weeks OF most
trying winter conditions, has permitted
farmers and planters everywhere to
give some attention to the prepare
tions for the crop of 1905. The severe
winter cannot yet be stated to have en-
forced late start for the crops, but
it certainly has delayed the prepare
ton of the ground and other field
work, which the sooner undertaken the
better for the future welfare of the
crops. There has been some compen-
sating advantage from the long and
heavy rains, as we'll as the snow and
Ice, in that the ground has been thor
oughly saturated during the winter,
and therefore should be in prime con-
dition for cultivation now that the
weather has become more propitions.
1.-THE cotton farmers have as yet been
able to do little In the way Of prepar-
ing land even in the extreme south OF
Texas, SO that the season may be de-
scribed as late as far as farm prepa-
rations are concerned. The delay is
not such, however, that it cannot be
made good later. That the farmers
will generally observe the plan of re-
ducing acreage, even If all OF them do
not GO the full extent of Is per cent,
seems certain. They are undoubtedly
preparing for crop diversification on
considerable scale, and this alone
will bring about reduction OF acre
age devoted to cotton.
"It Is difficult to predict just what the
rice farmers are disposed to do. The
past season has not been an especially
prosperous one, and this fact, if
nothing less, will predispose farmers
to conservatism. Some rice land Ii
the river district will return to sugar
cultiv alton, but this will not prove a
particularly large movement. For the
moment the rice trade is more inter-
estea In disposing of the old crop than
in making calculations as 60 that yet
to be roWn.
1.-THE sugar planters have taken adj
vantage of the recent fine weather to
resume field work, which has been
sadly neglected during the protracted
periods OF rain. Some anxiety has
been felt as to the condition in which
the seed cane reserved for the spring
planting would be after the wet and
cold weather, but such observations as
have been made have been reassuring.
Even the stnbble cane and fall plant
have not been found to be damaged.
That the acreage will show some in
crease in 1905 there is no room for
doubt, and if the crop gets a good
start with SO much rain in the ground,
a good yield later in the season can
be confidently expected. Planters
have learned that, despite its draw
backs, sugar is the best paying OF
staple southern crops, and the tendency
ofeyen those who have gone into other
lines is to return to sugar-growing.
Referring to the conditions prevail
ing in the sugar section, the Louisiana
Planter says: Our reports from the
country this week indicate that such
examinations as have been made of
the seed cane have shown it to be in a
good state of preservation, and we
therefore feel able to announce that the
severe and wet weather of the past few
weeks has not inflicted material injury
upon the cane put down for seed. Some
apprehension seems to be felt con-
corning portion OF the fall plant and
also concerning the stubble, and it
may be found that some injury has
been done in this direction, though no
widespread harm is anticipated. We
have enjoyed during the past few days
most excellent and genial weather,
and plantation work is now about to
be inaugurated and rapidly pushed
throughout the cane belt. 10