St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-04-30
TRUCK And FRUIT
GROWING IN
LOUISIANA
Interesting Talk With Valuable
Information by ]. L. Keller
of Decatur, Ill.

interesting I&hk with 1AuaWA
Information by j. e. Keller
of Decatur, Ill.
]. 1. Keller Of Decatur, III, Wit
has been visiting his brothers. ]. G
Keller of Lake Charles and J. 3
Keller of jennings the past few
weeks, was requested by ]. P. Haber
TO make some remarks on the subject
Of truck and fruit growing, says the
Jennings Times-Record Mr.. Keller
has made extensive observation q
methods and conditions in a number
of Western states and in louisiana is
therefore quite an authority on this
particular line of agriculture. He
has also in company with Mr.. Haber
made a tour Of the agricultural dis
trict surrounding Jennings, and when
he spoke to the small crowd that had
gathered in the parlor of the Calca-
sieu Trust and Savings Bank Tuesday,
it was as a well informed man. The
following is a synopsis Of Mr.. Kellers
remarks:
lyon have me of the finest coun-
tries and climates under the sun.
You can grow almost everything
known to mankind and you can grow
it to perfection.
Originally this section was a vast
expanse of Prairie covered with cat
tie when We came here eight years ago
was the OILY product. All new coun-
tries have the one crop period Of
their existance as this has been up to
the present time. You had no roads,
but drove across the prairie in all
directions whenever and wherever
you pleased. Now the roads of this
community r not equalled by any
state in the Union. Only a few years
ago your yards were bare, you bought
all Of your vegetables, fruits and
poultry and raised neither cattle nor
hogs. What is it Today? Rice is
your main crop and you are feeding
some Of it to hogs and other stock
which you are marketing at big pro-
fits and poultry is receiving a LOT Of
your attention, as it should. Your
pastures consist Of native grasses
coupled with Vetch and red and white
clover which grow luxuriously and
produce good cattle. Corn, cats and
millet and coWpeas are adding value
to this section as a stock raising
country, cane and cotton are proven
and all vegetables and fruits
can be produced here abundantIy and
at great profits if proper care is given.
In preparing the ground for fruit
and vegetables drainag3 is the
principal point at the beginning; deep
surface drainage is what is needed
here; then pillow deep and do not
merely skim the surface as has been
habit with many; go down into
she hardpan with the plow and turn
t over and you will be surprised at
he good results. In planting trees
large, deep holes and gil with rice
itraw and surface soil. In November
$ the proper time to plant. Canning
md shipping figs the Keifer pear,
'astuma and Mandarin oranges Japa-
iese persimmons, various peaches and
White Niagra grapes are good fruits
Q produce here for market.
PLANT fig trees Is feet apart I
'hich will give 10 trees to the acre.
he first year cut back to sixteen
lches in height. The second year ;
ut back one-half che growth and
ave only three limbs. The third Z
ear cut back one half again and t
ave about six limbs. Cultivate i
thoroughly up to this time and grow :
~ crop Of vegetables, chen mulch
18th rice straw and prune only sufff- y
to keep a synetrical head. q
The Keifer pear shobld be plant y
& in large deep holes filled with :
ce straw and surface soil, "a feet J
part, which gives 76 trees per acre.
ut the trees back to 18 or 20
Iches in height, cultivate thor
lghly raising any crops the same as
18th fgs, bu5 prune differently. keep
g an open head for the sunshine Y
hich is necessary. Kiefer pea d
'ees will bear at four years old and
lonld bear eight to ten bushels to d
Y tree at eight to ten years old. At
cents per bushel a ten acre or 81
lard will bring d net income Of