, 1911-08-02

making sugar as it IS known to-day n large
percentage was also lost. This statement il
meant as no reflection on the planters of
those days; for he was as bright, intelligent
and energetic then for his times us the sugar
planter Of to-day is for his times it simply
means that the world Lus improved its mo-
thods Of making sugar as II has its manufac-
lures along other lines. III 1856 the yield
of sugar per ton of cane in Louisiana, by
weight, was bat / : , today it is easily
8o/o, an increase Of 100 Z : showing
that, had methods of manufacture been
equal III 1856 to what they are to day, the
output Of the State then WOuId have been
far greater in proportion than it is to-day.
In 1850 Louisiana had but $4,000 popu-
Iatlon and produced about 200, 900 tons of
sugar-to-day she has I,60D,O 600 and pro-
duces but $3.50 0 tons de 'pite improved
methods both Of culture and manufacture.
In 1850 Louisiana produced Is / , Of the
worlds output OF sugar-to-day she pro-
duces a scant 2 H., this certainly does not
show q large increase. That there hns been
no great increase in the output Of sugar in
Louisiana has not been due to lack of either
energy or intelligence on the pa t Of the
planter but has been d0e to divers cnu5e5,.
chief Of which has been the ravage3 of in
sect pests and the largest plrt to the borer.
The increase of insects hos been, in my
humble opinion, due to the determination OF
the birds, and III this respect the agriculture
lists OF the south have been pursuing Il very
Bhortslghted policy by allowing AMI permit
ing the destruction Of their little feathered
friends, as birds are tho natural enemy and
foe to insects l am happy to see that re-
Gently there has been a change Of sentiment
in this matter, and the farmers in a great
many localities are not only protecting birds,
but are endoayoriug to propagate them,
50 that they can once more resume
their useful function of catching and de
stroying insects and thus be a most valuable
ally to that farmer who has to till the soil
to make IN honest living.
As to the cane borer not doing the dam
age to the sugar crop that the Dol! weeyil
has to the cotton crop, l will say for
"Rambier's' information, that the boll woeyjl
is n very hardy insect and can stand all kinds
of weather and harlships except very hot
weather, whilst the borer moth is a very
delicate insect, is not hardy and rarely goes
beyond q radius Of fifty yards from its breed
ing place. While it does not destroy sugar
cane rs the weeyil does cotton, it makes it
20 dry and worthless that there is absolutely
no profit IN it either to the grower or mum
ufacturer. "RambIer' thinks that in de-
stroying the cane boror that the planter, rs
he expresses if, is 'barkin2 up the wrong
tree but the Intelligent planter, who is
pnrsuing this policy, knows that he is not
only not "barking mp the wrong tree" but
that he 'has the varmint on the ground and
is taking big bites out of him"
"Ramblor," in his I%otter, said that he had
looked over the sugar district, but think
that he meant that he had overlooked it he
is evidently q "Doubting Thomas and APP
parentIy is from Missouri and has to be
shown, therefore, would | like to tell him
some Of the things that my very able lieu
tenaLts and myself have observed about the
cane b0rer in connection with its damage
and destruction to sugar cane. Notwith-
standing 'Rambler's opinion on the subject
that the present damage to sugar cane is
being done by the beetle, know and speak
by the card, that the damage to cane in
Lafourche Parish is being done by the cane
borer and not by beetles. How? AS fol-
lJws: | have taken the grub worms from
mature and damaged canes, put them into
glass jars, aud have seen them develop into
the beautiful sdver-gray moth which is the
typical cane borer fly. | have seen these
same moths in windrowed cane, which had