St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-09-25
SUGAR CANE ON The
AmTCHAFALAYA RIVER
~. II. D" Tells Of the Possibilities Of This
Crap in Northern 81. landry.
FACTORY At OPELOUsAs
lie Thinks would PAY, As II EouId Def All Of
the Cane It Wantsd..LaFgsF Acreage
Hext FEAR.

Ne. Editor.-Ths writer spent seye-
ral days last week on the Atchafalaya
river. and had the pleasure Of going
over the Goodwood plantation that is
owned by Mr.. +. I. Goudeau Of Mel
vile.
This plantation is a large one con-
tanning about 1900 acres of land,
some Of it ID woodland, but is being
cleared for planting in the future.
You will find no finer farm land in the
country than the fertile lands of this
Abig river. II is some Of the finest
sacotton lands in che state, much Of It
produuing a bale and a half to the
acre. This year though / was told
that there would not be ten bales of
cotton made on the GoodWcod place.
This is due to the ravages of she boil
weeVil. The corn crop is excellent
and | had the pleasure of being in it
every day. Some portions Of this
crop which ii considered extra good,
viii produce from so to 70 barrels
per acre. A much larger acreage
was planted in corn this year than
has ever been before, consequently
these Atchafalaya farmers will have
some corn for sale.
And now, sir, let me tell you Of
another crop that you will find along
this river this year, CANE. / have
spent several years on the sugar
plantations Of this State, but | have
never seen any of this crop any better
anywhere, if as good, for most Of the
sugar lands Of the State have to be
fortified, while this cane did not re-
ceive an ounce of fertilizer and was
alI worked with medium sized mules.
You know it is claimed that you have
To have extra heavy mules to make
sugar cane proitably, but / think a
look at this crop will prove that it
ii d profitable one. This cane is
planted BY Dr.. A. j. Strange Of Mel
vile Oh land rented from Mr.. Gou-
deau this season, or at least it has
been leased for FIVE years, and the
acreage is something over three hum
dred acres. This cane is thick and
tall, some stalks measuring over ten
feet ID length, that is, the length of
tie red joints chat will be ground.
AIS To the sugar bearing quality Of it
/ can say nothing, but there is no
doubt that If will compare f~avorably
With cane grown anywhere else.
Every ton Of this cane has already
beea contracted for and at a price /
understand that will yield d good
profit to the Doctor on the first
years venture. | understand that
next year the acreage will be in
creased BY several hundred acres on
this place and that other places viii
plant cane also. Now, don't it seem
10 you that a good sugar refinery Oh
This river would be q good paying
proposition That this land will sur
pass The sugar belt ii productiveness,
y 4 fact, and production is what a
man that invests bis money id sugar
lands Is looking for.
There ought to be- a big central re-
fnory too in the parish, and the best
place for that is right here in Opel
ousas. There was some talk of such,
i time back, but Il dropped for want
W backing it seems from the people
Of tho community.
This year there will be about four
car loads o. cane used BY the farm
era Of this vicinity for canning syrup
of home making. There il an in-
creased acreage of cane planted here
Also, and there would Be . great deal
more planted # the farmer was as-
sured of means Of working same into
marketable products or disposing BIT
same tn s refinery at ! profitable
price j. T. d.