The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-02-23
Small Farming In Louisiana.

From the New Orleans States1
The experiment which is being made
with the Adeline plantation in st. Marv
Parish, of dividing it up into small farms
and selling it to Western farmers, will be
watched with great deal of interest. The
chances are that it will justify the faith of
its promoters and that out of the experi-
ment will grow an extension of the idea of
small farming in the sugar districts of the
State.
Recently some eighty five Western and
Northern farmers, seeking new homes,
Journeyed to Louisiana to visit Adeline
and survey the opportunities offered. They
have been eking out an existence under
disadvantages in the bleak sections from
which they came and are now casting
about for new fields where life will be
more comfortable and the dividends on
their labor and scientific training larger.
The party spent two full days at Adeline
and, according to the reports, they were
so much impressed with the land, that
twenty or more of them purchased farms
and others are likely to follow suit. The
purchasers will bring their families to Lou
isiana and take up their permanent resi-
dences here. They will begin as sugar
planters and inducements offered to them
are that their product will be taken at not
less than 49, so ton at their sidings.
The success of these pioneer colonists
will doubtless attract others from the same
sections of the country. It is likely to
lead also to Investigation in the sugar
section and the opening up of many lands
that are now lying idle. That is condi
ton much to be desired. When South
western Louisiana is properly developed in
an agricultural way, there will be some
thing to fall back on in seasons of sugar
crop failures and the reign of terror will
not be so accute as it is whenever tariff
tinkering is under way.
Mr.. P. H. Payne is president of the in
vestment company, which is dividing up
the 10000 acres of Adeline. He declares
the farmers who came from the North and
West to make the inspection went back to
their homes elated. They had never seen
country or land so capable of produc-
ing diversity Of crops with so little effort
and expense. Mr.. Payne said he did not
believe there was a State in the Union
which offered such remarkable opportuni.
ties for settlers. That is the opinion OF
most of the farmers who come here and &C
over the ground.
The trouble in the past has been that We
have done little to advertise our. advantages
at home and our principle effort has beer
to attract immigration from abroad. In
the past eighteen months, however, there
has been formidable effort to get the
American farmer to come here and look
US over and the effort is beginning to beal
fruit. The indications are that the move
ment to the South from the farming Sec
tons of Canada and the Northwest viii
bring many thrifty homesteaders to Loui'
siana. Few who come will fail to be i'm
pressed with the fertility of our soil, th'
genialty of our climate, the almost year
round opportunity for outdoor work AM
the hospitality of our people.
During the past decade Louisiana in
; creased her population at about the aver
age rate for the country. During the mex
ten years, unless all the signs are decep
tive, her gains will be abornal.