The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1910-08-20
Growing Wheat in Louisiana.

The cultivation OF wheat in the
parishes of North Louisiana has at
tracted the attention of number of
the hill farmers and river planters.
1t has been discovered that it will
grow on both the hill and alluvial
lands alike. A number of expert
ments have been made in growing
this grain and the production has
been equal to, and in many instances,
more productive than the wheat
fields of Kansas. The experiments
made during the present year have
convinced the growers that wheat
can be successfully raised in this sec
ton.
Many farmers have expressed a de-
termination to plant this grain more
Extensively during the coming year.
Outside of furnishing an article for
home needs, it provides splendid
pasture for the farm animals during
the winter, thus saving expense to
the cuitivators as we'll as supplying
them with neejful family food.
The cultivation OF wheat will stimu-
late the erection of mills to grind it
into -four, which can be purchased
at less cost to consumers than buy
| ing it from Western mills. Thus ex-
pertinent and demonstration are
gradually expanding the field of en-
deavor i'm this section and constant
lily increasing the areas OF production
| in the necessities of life, which have
heretofore been purchased in distant
markets. Such results ouly go to
prove the immense possibilities OF the
South togrow nearly every article of
food for home use. Another benefit
arising from this constant expansion
in the production of articles for daily
consumption. is the inevitable in
crease of capital at home that has
heretofore been sent abroad for these
things.-La. State Farmer.
The La. State Farmer should not
speak OF wheatgrowing in Louisiana
as thing that has been just dis
covered" In the years 1864-65-66
wheat was grown throughout the
northern parto Of Louisiana, especial
ly in the territory from West Monroe
(then known as Trenton) to Shreve-
port. A good portion of the bed or
dump of the Vicksburg, Shreve-
port & Texas railroad was thrown
up at that time, but the completion
of the road WIS not accomplished
through that territory until few
years later Hundreds of acres Of
wheat we're grown, aud those who
were fortunate enough to escape the
damage of trust" AMI ''smut" found
it quite profitable. There were some
varieties of wheat Known as rust and
smut proof that did especially WELL
Large quantities of this wheat were
hauled to mills in South Arkansas to
be ground into -four. In fact, any
of the older citizens of North Louisi-
ana, who have recollection of con-
diti0ns ia that section forty anG fifty
years ago, will tell you that quite an
extensive caravan" or wagon trade
was done between Louisiana aud
Arkansas in those days, and the prin-
cipal things hauled were salt aud
wheat. The salt WIS made ut brakes
Salt Works and other points on Lake
Bistineau, where salt was made from
water by "A process OF boiling and
evaporation. That WIS before the
discovery of the salt mines in South
Louisiana. the greatest deposit OF salt
in the world.
There is no doubt about wheat be-
ing grain that will grow all through
the hill regions OF Central and North
Louisiana. 1t has been grown and
can be grown again, and there are
hundreds of old chaps all through
the country that can show you ex-
actly how it eau be done.