The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1905-03-09
The Picaynne, discussing e.
Pneparinn for the crepe

The Picayune, discussing crop
conditions throughout the State,
says:
The advent Of comparatively fne
weather. after about six weeks Of
most trying winter conditions, has
permitted farmers and planters
throughout the State to give some 1t.
tention to the preparations for the
crops of 1905. The severe winter can
not yet be stated to have enforced q
late start for the crops. but it certainly
has delayed the preparation OF the
ground and other field work. which the
sooner undertaken the better for the
future welfare Of the crops. There
has been some compromising advant-
age from the long and heavy rains, as
well as the snow and ice In that the
ground has been thoroughly saturated
during the winter, and therefore
should be In prime condition for cult
walton now that the weather has be-
come more propitious.
The cotton farmers have as yet been
able to do little in the way OF prepar-
ing land even in the extreme southern
portions, SO that the season may be
described as late as far as farm prep
arations 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 II all of them do
not go the full extent of 25 per cent.
seems certain. They are undoubtedly
preparing for crop Investigation on a
III Ia
bring about a reduction OF acreage de-
voted to cotton.
1t 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, II moth
ing less, will predispose farmers to
conservatism. Some rice land in the
river district will return to sugar cul-
tivation. but this will not prove a par
ticularly large movement. For the
moment the rice trade is more in
terested in disposing of the old crop
than in making calculations as to that
yet to be grown.
The sugar planters have taken ad-
vantage of the recent fine weather to
resume field work. which has been
sadly neglected during the protracted
periods of rain. Some anxiety had
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 reassur-
ing. Even the stubble cane and fall
plant have not been found to be DAM
aged. That the acreage will show
some increase in 1905 there is no room
for doubt. and if the crop gets good
start with so much rain in the ground,
q good yield later in the season can be
confidently expected. Planters have
learned that, despite its drawbacks,
sugar is the best paying Of staple
Southern crops, and the tendency of
even those who have gone into other
lines is to return to sugar-growing.
Referring to the conditions pre-
vailing in the sugar section, tie
Louisiana Planter says:
Our reports from the country this
week indicate that such examinations
as have been made of the seed cane
have shown 1t to be in 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 appre- |
hension seems to be felt concerning a |
portion Of the fall plant and also con-
corning 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 excel |
lent and genial weather. and planta- |
ton work is now being rapidly pushed |
throughout the cane belt.