The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1913-10-03
DRAIN AGE.

fall Of the past few days, with the
resulting conditions, he's caused the
most thoughtless and Indifferent and
skeptical to sit in pensive silence ana
WONDER what the results would have
been had he given respectful attention
to the matter when it was presented TO
him.
Drainage is a necessity everywhere.
Particularly is it a necessity IN that
section that is favored with the water
supply necessary to meet all require.
mentS.
1t is true that we have heavy rain
fall in this section, but it is also true
that it is a necessity. In the first place
the soil and climate require it; and, in
the second place il SCOurS out our
sluggish streams and adds largely to
the health of the country.
But this water must be taken care
of, if we are to get the best results, and
profit by the GoG.given advantage,
otherwise that which God gives for
our advantage will become detriment.
Water is necessary to the soil for
the production of crop, and yet if
allowed to remain on the soil until It
evaporateS, it damages and even some
times destroys the crop; and sourS the
land and thus units it for the produc.
ton of the next crop. You need water
for rice, and plenty of it for time,
but there comes time when you want
it off just as rapidly and completely as
possible.
And so it is with all crops. Di.
versif1ed farming is the only surety to
the future of the country, and all kinds
of products require drainage.
The successful applicant for the
management of sugar plantation Sc
cured his position on the strength OF
his answer to the question: What do
you consider the first, second and third
requirements of successful cane grow.
ing?" His answer was: 1.-THE first re.
quirement is good DRAINAGE, the
second requirement is GOOD drainage,
the third requirement is GOOD DRAIN.
AGE" And what is necessary to sue
cessfuly produce cane is just as neces.
sary to the successful growing of any
crop.
But the growing Of the crop is not
all that is facilitated by good drainage
1t is worth little to grow the crop il
you can not harvest it and then
market it.
Many an acre of rice will not be
harvested in the usual way this year
because of the water.
Many pound will grade low because
of the water.
Many dollar will be paid out fol-
extra labor because of the water Ant
many an extra trip will be made t
market with half load over muddy
roads because of the water.
Yes, all for lack of Good Drainage
Time forbidS the discussion of the re
lation OF climate and health to gooC
drainage. The water that God send.
to purify and cleanse our streams ant
our atmosphere as well, may become
stagnant, filthy and germ.laden anC
thus cause sickness and death for wan
of good drainage.
And now we come to thesgreat ant
dread monster that has terrorized thi
country, and driven many a man int
his own little hollow log only to b.
twisted out by the same dread hand.
The expense of drainage is not /
circumstance to the loss sustained thi
year. For example, the drainage ta2
would not exceed $500 per acre witt
10 years to pay it, whereas the ad
ditional expense for labor alone il
harvesting this crop will probably ex
coed that amount, while. the damag
and loss will probably more thai
double and even thribble that amount
If your land is little high, and you
loss has not been so great, just re
member your water is down on you
neighbor, and your are prof1ting at hi
expense.
Now what are you going to do abou
it? A call is issued for Drainage Nee
ing at the Auditorium in Welsh, Satur
day at 3p, m.
But there are several districts il
Jefferson Davis Parish where sucl
meetings ought to be held.
What will you do about 1t?
Will you attend and lend your in
tiuence and help for good drainage.