New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1912-12-21
POSSIBILITIES OF LOUISIANA

That this parish may develop
into veritable wheat field is not
at all a wild dream; on the con-
trary there is good probability
that it will do so, if the efforts
of one prominent business man
OF this town bear fruit, or rather
produce grain.
The latest information anent
this idea comes to the Courier
from a very reliable source to the
effect trat Mr.. j. c. Dupont has
ordered quantity of wheat which
he intends to plant on the Bayou
Blue Ridge on some property
which he owns in that part Of
the parish.
1t is just an experiment, but it
may be of lasting benefit to this
section of Louisiana, and Mr..
Dupont is going to make the Ell
fort. Should he succeed, the re-
suit of his efforts will possibly
revolutionize the farming indus
try in South Louisiana.
Mr.. Dupont has for long time
been am advocate Of diversified
farming; he believes that the time
is coming when the small farmer
will be potent factor in the agrl-
cultural development of South
Louisiana, and the only way that
the small farmer can hope for sue
cess is by diversifying his crops.
The farmer who can raise his own
feed, his own hogs, his own cat
tie, his own potatoes, his own veg
etables, without having to pur-
chase them for his own use, and
raise some other products as a
staple crop, is the man who will
save South Louisiana from the
grip of the present day environ
ment which had instilled into the
mind Of the planters and farmers
the one idea that the only way
in which farming can be carried
on profitably in this section u by
raising sugar cane on an 9ften-
sive scale.
If there is any portion Of this
Parish which can be adapted to
the raising of some other products
than sugar cane, the parish will
be the better off for that product.
If the experiment. which Mr.. Du-
pont intends making proves a sue
cess there will be opened d new
field of agriculture to thousands
Of western and northern farmers
who are looking with anxious eyes
for a place to locate.
Appropos of the subject, we call
attention to the statement OF Mr..
John D. Shaffer's in last Satur-
days Courier, that he is going to
experiment with cotton. He hopes
to be able to raise a good staple
cotton on his place, and during
the coming year a portion OF his
plantation will be devoted to ex-
perimenting with trat product,
Mr.. Shaffer is q practical planter,
and it is needless to say that the
perimenting with that product,
the most scientific application OF
the principls Of agriculture.
But there are other things that
can be raised here, and time and
necessity will eventually disclose
to the world the adaptibility OF
South Louisiana soil to the culti-
vation Of many other staple crops,
such as corn, hay, potatoes, cab
bage, etc.
with the necessity for the quick
marketing Of the products, and
working in sympath y with the
farmers. and for their mutual BEN
eft. will be found the Business
Mems Association Of Houma
which will have among its num-
erous duties the securing Of cheap
freight rates and quick transpor-
tation. These are requirements
that the truck farmer must have
in order to market his products
nrofitably.-Houma Courier.