St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-06-11
PEANUT CULTURE in
PARISH OF LINCOLN
Over 1900 Acres PIaRtsd 10 Then In Pres,
snf Sssssn.
AVERAGE YIELD $40 RACRE
nuts Bring from $3.50 10 81 4 Bushal
and The Hay Sells
Readily.

Ruston. La. MAY e. W the
coming Of the boil WeeviI to Lincoln
came the movement, fostered
by the Farmers Union, for diversified
farming. The result of this move
ment is the abolition Of the n crop
-cotton-system and the planting
Of vegetables, fruits, more corn and
a large acreage to peanuts. Upon
the last mentioned the Lincoln parish
farmers future money depends.
The initial step Of peanut culture
was made in the fall of 1908 when a
committee was sent by the Farmers
Union to investigate the crop in
Virginia. The committee reported
that the climate and soil of Lincoln
parish was far better adapted to the
peanut than that of the "0ld Do
minion.n
Last season this parish, as an ex-
pertinent, planted 1000 acres to pea
nuts. The average yield was 20
bushels per acre, or $4,000 bushels
for the parish. The first nuts sold
brought IS cents +. o. b. Ruston.
Owing to scarcity Of machinery for
hulling many were not able TO sell at
the beginning of the season. When
the nuts were ready for market the
price had risen from 85 cents to 81,
and finally they went to $3.50, and
are now selling for $500 per bushel.
Figuring che average price paid per
bushel at 81, the experiment crop
viii net the farmers $4,000, which
is better than can be expected Of the
same acreage in cotton.
GOOD PRICES FOR HAY.
The yield Of hay, which is superior
to any obtainable in this section,
sold readily at from $3.50 to $500
per ton. Buyers out Of Chicago are
offering $500 per ton, in unlimited
car load lots, for this falls harvest.
These experimental results were
obtained by men who knew praetic-
ally nothing Of the peanut, as here
tofore only small patches were plant
ed for home consumption. No es-
pecially adapted machinery was
used. Throughout the parish there
we're only six thrashers. This year
each planter will have his specially
constructed plows and own a picker
Each community will have its thrash
or that will hull the crop for toll.
Farmers Of this parish are now
busy planting $4,000 acres to pea.
nuts. The average this year vii
probably be Is bushels per acre.
with two tons Of hay. These figures
are by no means overdrawn, as tbs
banner acre last year yield ST bushels
and two and a half tons Of hay. The
price for this year. it is believed, vii
be as good, if not better, than last
year. This parish is asked by buyers
who declare the nuts superior to
those of Virginia, TO contribute its
pro rata share Of 100000 bushels
to be furnished them BY Union, Lin
coin, jackson and Claiborne.
So well is this soil adapted to tbs
crop that little fertilizer, other than
air-sIaeked lime, is needed. For cot.
ton the lands must be highly fertil-
ICED if a yield is expected. Cottof
requires six months to mature while
peanuts require four. Peanuts re.
quire a little less than half the worE
that cotton does. According to tht
statistics of the local Farmers Uniol
the average yield Of peanuts as com
pared to cotton in this parish, is S3t
to S25 per acre. From lands plant
ed to peanuts two crops q year maj
be had, as the peanut may be plant
ed as late as the middle of June
The best acre last year was planted
June II.
Potatoes, cantaloupes, oats, etc.
are excellent crops that may be har
vested before planting peanuts. Pea
nuts enrich the soil while cotton con
sumes its fertility. With cetton the
farmers children have been kept on.
Of school il spring to plant and il
fall TO pick. With peanuts thest
children will have two months mofe
of school each year and the farmer
will have more leisure in which Il
improve his farm and build goot
roads.
The peanut as a food for farm
stock cannot be over estimated
Horses. cattle, hogs, chickens. all eal