The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-01-07
SUGAR CROP OF 1904.
Planters Experience the Most Success
full Season in Years-Work of Har-
vesting the Splendid Crop
Practically Completed.

yeSClnR UNG Sp1GHW1N crop
Practically Completed.
New Orleans Picayune.
Although some factories will be at
work for several weeks yet. the task
Of taking off the sugar cane crop OF
1904 is largely completed. It has been
record crop in many respects, and
although the total outturn will not be
known for some time, there is good
reason to believe that the total yield
will be found to exceed slightly the
largest Louisiana crop heretofore
grown. Although the weather recently
has been rather cold, there was little
cane left standing ia the fields to be
damaged.
The grinding season has been all
that could be desired. Practically
without rain. the season permitted the
work of harvesting the crop TO go on
uninterruptedly, and plantation roads
were kept in such good condition that
the task of delivering the cane from
the fields to the mill encountered the
minimum of difficulty and expense.
The fine growing season resulted in
the tonnage Of cane proving excep-
tionally large. Sugar-house results,
that is to say, the yield Of sugar per
ton Of cane handled, was hardly up TO
expectations, but the large tonnage
reconciled planters to this fact. The
warm weather experienced during
September by keeping the cane green
and preventing maturity was largely
responsible for the comparatively de-
ficient sugar contents, although it no
doubt helped to increase the tonnage
per acre.
Despite the few drawbacks, the sea-
son was an extremely favorable one,
and sugar planters have 40 cause for
dissatisfaction. but, on the contrary,
should feel highly encouraged to look
forward with confidence to the future
of their industry. Not only havethey
produced a good crop, but they ex-
perienced the advantage OF excellent
prices. They have. sold their large
yields at prices nearly cent a pound
higher than last season. Any planter
who failed to make money this year IS
clearly in his wrong sphere and should
tempt fortune elsewhere.
Without doubt the acreage devoted
to sugar cane will be somwha at IN
creased during the coming season.
Those producers who were Induced TO
give portion OF their lands to cotton
and rice will undoubtedly return to-
sugar, and as the small cane growers
have made money, it is probable that
many small farmers will embark IN
the industry, and those already grow
ing cane grow more Of it. The small
farmers have experienced unusually
heavy tonnage results, and as prices
permitted a good price for cane de-
iivered at the mill, the seller of cane
found no reason to complain.
The worst enemy the sugar industry
has to fear is the tariff tinkerer and
the reciprocity crank. The danger of
hostile legislation is the most difficult
problem confronting the sugar pro-
Queer. IF that difficulty could be over
come the planter could afford to risk
the fckleness OF the weather and the
other ills to which all agricultural IN
terests are more or less exposed, not
the smallest Of which is the fIuctuatlon
in price.
Hardly has the sugar industry ad-
iusted itself to a tariff when somebody
wants to make q change, or somebody
proposes reciprocity with Cuba or a
special reduction in the tariff on Ma
Mia sugar. These dangers can be met
only by constant vigilance and vlgor-
Gus fighting in Washington. A fine
crop has put the planters in better
shape to safeguard their interests from
hostile legislation, and they will no
doubt keep aselose watch on the pres
ent session OF Congress.
The many friends OF @. H. Hausan, engineer
l.. Z. and w. e. B.. at present living at Lima.
O.. will be pleased to know of his recovery from
threatened kidney disease. He writes: s was
cured by using Foley's Kidney t'ure, which !
recommend to all, especially trainmen who are
usually similarly afflicted. For sale By Rich
ard 6 ST Martin.