The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-11-15
Diversification in the Sugar Section.

| some or the most peSSlmlSClc plant
ers in the sugar districts Of the
state are taking time by the forelock,
as 1t were, and are making prepara-
tlons to meet any contingency that
may result from the change in the
sugar situation as q result OF the
new tariff, says the Country Review.
All over Louisiana, but more particu-
| 'larly in the southern half of the
state, all kinds of forage crops grow
in almost tropical protusion, which
would seem to indicate its peculiar
adaptabiIity to live stock production.
1t often happens, however, that there
is extraordinarily heavy precipitation
during the harvest period, a circum-
stance which led one planter to re-
mark: South Louisiana is a great
country Tor growing hay, but not
such a good one for saving it.
The perfection of process for the
artificial drying of hay would very
greatly simplify the problem of
curing the hay and forage products
II taat at grew Il Il such profnsion in that
section, and when accomplished it
ought to make the live stock indus
try become more important than SUI
gar ever was. OF course, there are
other obstacles to overcome, such as
the cattle tick, charbon, etc.; but to
men who are accustomed to doing
large things, as is the case with the
Louisiana sugar planters, immuniza-
ton against pests and contagious dis
eases can be readily effected.
Moreover, it is proDable that the
sugar industry will not become ex-
tlnct, although it may become neces-
sary to modernize it, to introduce
the most rigid economy and, to a
much larger extent than ever before,
to separate the manufacturing branch
OF the industry from the purely ag-
ricultural branch. Such a plan will
tit in most readily with system Of
dlversification, scientific crop rota-
ton, and live stock breeding, by
means of which the cost of cultiva-
ton will be reduced and the produc-
tivity of the soil very largely in
creased. When the sugar cane plan
ter produces on his own farm practi-
cally everything needed to feed his
II
stock-and grows his own work stock
theres also-he will be able to pro-
duce sugar cane much more cheaply
than under present conditions, and
when the sugar manufacturer learns
to make grade of sugar that will
not have to pass into the control of
the sugar trust in order to make it
marketable, it is conceivable that the
Louisiana sugar industry may take on
a vitality and attain an altitude of
prosperous independence it has never
known since slave labor was super
seded by free labor.
But whether or not these be mere
theories, the fact is that the sugar
planters are not idly Faspining and
trusting to luck to fIna a way out
Of their difficulty. Always the most
scientific agrieulturists in the United
States, and possibly IN the world,
they are putting their scientific in
formation to account in preparing to
offset the shock produced by the new
tariff. And they are considering live
stock breeding, scientific diversifi-
cation and crop rotation, together
with the placing Of cane growing and
sugar manufacturing upon a basis
where ii can be done profitably and
disposed of through their own selling
agencies in successful competition
with refined sugar handled by the
trust.