The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-01-10
vox PoPULI.
ADVANTAGES OF SUGAR CANE
CULTURE ARE DISCUSSED
Editor Pensacola Journal.

Editor Pensacola Journal.
In a former article / ventured to
criticise our Agricultural college, in
their demonstration work. by using a
formula allowing one O-2) of sup
posed area to be planted in cotton for
two year rotation of crops, and one
third (1-3) to be planted in cotton for
a three years rotation. and worse than
that, to be allowing no part for sugar
cane, and syrup.
Mr.. Editor, I have burdened your
columns for years with arguments
showing the comparative value OF
sugar cane and syrup, as "a money
CROP" After more than twenty COO
years of experience, and observation,
we now come to facts. Twenty years
ago but one former within ten miles
on all sides of Grand Ridge was
growing more than one acre of sugar
cane-plowing and cultivating was
done. in most cases, with single OK.
and the grounds were burned off clean
before the pillow, and the money crop
was cotton, and the farmers were all
owned by a prosperous mercantile
firm in an adjoining town. and If they
met their advances at the close of the
year. and could boast THANK God
have my bread and meat" they were
happy indeed; and this bread and
meat did not include feed for the OK
or more corn than would make bread
for the family, and this at best was
certain to be all absorbed before new
crop was gathered, and the same old
indebtedness to be met that year This
was the good old days of King Cot
ton" We then began ito practice what
we preached" and planted a fifteen
acre field in sugar cane and picture
of that field was taken for Captain
Chirley and sent to the Atlanta ex-
position. Next season there will be
twenty or more planters in reach OF
Grand Ridge who will plant from If
teen (15) to twenty five (25) acres in
sugar cane. and inside of this same
area there will not be more than the
same area planted in cotton.
The growing of sugar cane-tn ever
increasing areas-has lifted these
people into a condition of prosperity
and comparative independence. No
section of West Florida can show
greater improvement socially, intellect
ually and financially. Three rural
routes" go out from Grand Ridge and
a fourth one contemplated, and a bur-
den of mail is being distributed. among
which is a large number of The Daily
Journal. Sugar cane and syrup has
done it.
And why should Grand Ridge hold a
monopoly of this business? 1t is not
our fault that it does True, we be-
lieve this is the best soil for sugar
cane and water melons in West Flor
ida, and our success in both of these is
the demonstration, but we believe that
the poorest sand land in West Florida
will raise sugar cane more profitably
than any other crop. And that is the
prime question.
Sugar cane is an easy crop to grow.
BY the mode of cultivation practiced
by our best planters no hoe work is
required at all. The Halloch weeder
is used 1engthwise and crosswise from
the time it shows above the grown I'M
til twenty coo inches high, and thus
the fine weeds are torn UP before
rooted and the ground kept clean until
the canes are large enough to be sided
up with the two horse cultivator. One
acre of cane usually brings from $3.50
to $3.50 of syrup. and the best cotton
lands do not produce more than a
bale to two acres. or it does take eight
to ten acres of cotton to bring
the value of one average acre of sugar
cane in syrup. These are facts as we
see them here. Then why do any OF
cur people hesitate about going into
sugar cane on smaller or larger
scale2 We can see no reason at all.
But some have asked us the question.
Don't you think that if so many of US
engage in the business Of sugar cane
and syrup we win glut the market -
BY no means not in the next fifty