The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-07-10
THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR FIGS.
A Profitable Industry for Imperial
CalcaSicu-AlWays Good Yield.

Mr.. c. D. Otis is worthy the attention
not only of every farmer and gardiner
in Caicasieu, but of every one who
has a little spare ground to plant
trees in and little time to give them
proper attentions;
Editor Americana: | wish to call
the attention of the people of Lake
Charles and vicinity again to the fact
that they are not working up to their
opportunity in o"yeloping our re-
sources. No one doubts the advant
age of diversified farming, nor do
they question the benefits of diversih-
cation when applied to fruit growing
Years ago people thought that
southwest Louisiana was suited for
the growth of nearly all fruits but
time has proved the mistake 1t has
also proved that some fruits can be
grown prOtitably here. Among these
| shall only speak now of the fig 1t
grows here to perfection, never has
been known to miss a crop entirely,
although some years the crop is re-
duced some by drOuth, but we always
have q fair amount of fruit.
The tree has no insect enemies thus
far in this locality, is easily grown
and begins to fruit at an early stage
For years | have been trying to
induce commercial planting, but with
little success. Those who are best
acquainted with the situation know
that there are hardly enough figs
grown in this vicinity to supply local
demands. Many of your readers
know that for several years | have
canned my little crop of figs to prove
that they can be proftahly handled in
this way and also to test the demand
| have proved the profit in canning
even in small way and under many
disadvantages.
In regard to the demand | will say
that | know of nothing that takes so
we'll where introduced as choice pre-
served figs, such as | have put on the
market for the last few years.
Some ten years ago sent a sample
of figs to large fruit canning com
lany in Michigan to see what thew
thought of fruit then unknown. They
wrote me that they could handle Two
carloads wear. But as | stated
before, there are hardly enough ties
grown for vhe local demand, and SO
far | have only been able f. induce
the planting of one permanent fig
orchard Chat Of DR.. Perkins who has
Zoo or 1900 trees set out Some
others were set out but by neglect
have not proved successful. | should
add to DR.. Perkins orchard that of
Mr.. Barnett, who has about POO trees.
But what are these when compared
with the demand? We ought now to
have $4,000 bearing trees, and when [
say that trees five to eight years old
properly cared for, should Weld S.
per tree each year, you can see what
we are missing. Do you think nv
estimate high? There are plenty of
trees thai average here in Lake
Charles yielding SO each year.
A few days ago | offered my crop
to a merchant of our city, thinking it
would be better for one house to han,
die il, than for me to sell it in small
quantities, but when he learned that I
would only have five or six gross of
jars, he refused to take them: would
not pay them to handle less than tiftv
gross, and would like to buy car
load.
Think wit it would mean to Lake
Charles if We had $4,000 trees in this
vicinity, Sl25, 600 to the grower, $3.50
600 to the canning company, employ
ment to at least 1000 pickers in the
orchard and as many more in the
canneries. Solid and lasting pros
perity comes to the place having a
large number of manufacturing in
terests rather than a few great ones,
especially when they are all in the
same line. Diversifcation in manu-
facturers is good thing also.
Let me join to what Texas is doing,
although Louisiana both grew and
canned figs first. Texas people knew
a good thing when they saw it, and as
the result are now planting fig trees
by the 10000 and | believe there is
one orchard of 10000 trees not far
from Houston. Let us show as much
as our sister state in grasp
ing opportunity when it comes to our