The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-05-21
IRRIGATING CANE.
Interesting Experiments Bsine Carried out
on The Godchaux Company's Reserve
Place General System of Irri-
cation Planned Notes
And Personals.

And Personals.
The Chief learns that some interest
ing experiments in irrigation are being
made at the Godchaux Companys Reserve
plantation in St. John parish. These ex-
periments comprise both corn and cane
irrigation, and are regarded as the pre-
cursor of general system of irrigation to
be established at Reserve and doubtless
on the other Godchaux places in As
sumption and Lafourche as well.
At Reserve small tract in which it
was intended 20 plant corn was ploWed,
then covered with water, which was al
lowed to stand on the land for several
hours After the soil had become suffi-
GENTLY dry it was narrowed and put in
proper condition to receive the seed corn,
which was then planted, and seven days
afterward the shoots were showing above
the ground in a full and promising stand
Fifteen hundred acres of cane are be-
ing irrigated On Reserve this season, and
thus far the process promises abundant
success. The cane is small, of course
owing to the backWardness of the season.
but the stand is good, and every sugar
planter knows that the first and most i'm
portant essential of a profitable crop is a
good stand. MIR. Edward Godchaux will
make thorough investigation of the sub
ject of irrigation this year, and with that
purpose in view contemplates visiting
various irrigating plants in different parts
of the United States and the Hawaiian
Islands. He expresses great confidence
in the success of the preliminary opera
tions being conducted at Reserve. and be-
lieves that a general system of irrigation
of Louisiana sugar plantations is not only
feasible, but is destined to become vital
factor in the maintenance and prosperity
of the sugar industry of the state.
B. j. Bingay, successful farmer of the
sixth ward, says the crop prospect in his
neighborhood is quite promising, despite
the unfavorable atmospheric conditions
which have prevailed since the opening
of the spring period He says but very
little cotton was out of the ground when
Vie cold snap occurred, and therefore COM
paratively little damage was inflicted on
this crop. The cane is in fair condition,
Mr.. Bingay declares. Notwithstanding the
Bng dry spell, and corn and rice are
holding their own and making normal
progress. With favorable weather from
now on Mr.. Bingay thinks there is no
reason why the sixth ward shouldn't
make as large crop as it usually does,
and he says that if the farmers would do
a little less complaining and little more
work they would be a whole lot better off
in every resDect
Advices from Charles C. Maher. sugar
boiler for the Nipe Bay Company at Pres
ton, Cuba. were to the effect that up to
March % 10000 bags of sugar had been
made. the average weight being about 800
pound to the bag. A little rain fell March
%, but it was regarded as only a passing
shower.
Col Richard Mccall, ofdcManor planta-
ton, visited New Orleans on Thursday of
last week to attend the regular monthly
meeting of the Louisiana Sugar Planters
Association.
8 Hon. Henry Mccall, the efficient col
kctor of the port of New Orleans, spent
last Saturday and Sunday at his home on
Evan Hall plantation.