New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1907-08-31
LOUISIANA BECOMING KNOWN.

'S'NhieHt u on loot 10 transfer
the peppermint industry of
Michigan TO Louisiana. This
may not mean much to the aver
age person, but those who are
familiar with the industry know
that 1t means a whole lot.
In the first place, the center
OF the peppermint industry is in
Southern Michigan, and is
worth several millions of dollars
every year to the people there.
Michigan supplies good por-
ton of the world, civilized and
otherwise, with the old fashioned
extract which is obtained from
the paint by distlIIation.
Louisiana capitalists, through
Edward Wisner, the swamp
drainage promoter, have been
making Il strong effort to obtain
a slice OF the peppermint indus
try tor Louisiana for more than
a year, but with the visit OF
Michigan capitalists here last
week there now seems TO be
chance for the center of the in
dustry to be brought to Louis
lana. II Is all matter of bust
ness; there will be no sentiment
IN it. It Louisiana can raise
peppermint more cheapIy than
than Michigan, louisiana in
stead of Michigan, will supply
the world with extra of pepper
mint just as 1t supplies the
world with tabasco sauce.
+. l.. Page, Thomas Haas
and Milton Haas, OF Vicksburg,
Mich, have Just left New Or
leans for their home after having
looked over the agricultural re
glons of the State thoroughly.
They have purchased lands and
have made arrangements to
carry out extensive experiments
to determine whether pepper
mint can be raised here more
cheaply than it can be raised in
Michigan. An important tea
ture OF their purchases is that
they decided upon buying re-
claimed swamp land located in
St. Charles parish and but a
short distance from rhe CITY. |
which have been
made on this land indicate that
that three crops of peppermint
can be raised upon it every sea
son insead OF the one crop, or in
the most favorable seasons, the
TWO crops that are raised in
This is but another instance
Illustrating in how great esteem
he rich, black reclaimed swamp
ands of Louisiana are held by
experienced agriculturists from
he North.
Edward Wisner has been
on experiments in rails
ng peppermint on reclaimed
wamp lands for over year and
lie said this morning that they
bowed great success. He is
onhdent that valuable indus
ry is about to be firmly estab- |
shed in this state. He said:
"Once planted, peppermint |
cquires comparatively little :
'bor and the plants will last tor
our or five years. Land plant !
d in this crop will produce ,
bout the same gross return per |
ere as cane, but it requires ;
,uch less labor and, therefore ,
luch less expense than cane. +,
is good business for a small {
rmer. The still does not cost
'uch, S2oo will put up small
ne. y y
"lhe peppermint we have II
ised," continued MIR. Wisner, % ?,
1as been examined by experts m
I'd pronounced to be equal TO IN
" produced in the United tn
ates. 1t is classed as strickly u, IN
st class. We sent it to w
|ichigan to be tested. s sv
The interest created in Lou is
ana as mint growing state is eli eli
no means small. Many fo'
ople are coming down here to W W
ok into the matter. We ex- Dr
CT a number OF mint growers I"
KIT week on homeseekers'
from Michigan. ;,
hey will be shown the same =
ng that interested the mint -
overs who have just lett tor II u
,ir home. ::