The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-09-12
LEST We FORGET"
.tojnt Meeting at ST. James Empha-
sizes Importance OF Crop Divessi-
f!catioa ldea-Eig Opportunities
in Live Stock Industry.


ss HERMAN J. sHITHHTH, in Timespicayuns
As a result OF q double meeting
held in ST. James Sunday the parish
farmers decided not to permit the
olamor OF prosperity's promise tC
fura them away from diversificatior
and development.
Victor Loisel presided over the St
lanes Farmers Cooperative Associa
tion and Vice President Walter Lem
ann of Donaldsonvjlle conducted the
South Louisiana immigration Associa
tion,s session which followed. The
meetings were held despite the fact
that most OF the people Of the sec
baseball hOnors at Plaquemine.
Mr.. Loisel outlined the plan for
narish progress, anC asked for vol
unteers to work for it's success. He
said he intended to have the mem
bership raise $500. and then to ap-
NV to the police jury for an equal
amount. This would induce the Unit
ed States Agricultural Department to
contribute $1,000, and an expert
would be obtained to conduct dem
onstration farm, teach the farmers,
direct the selling of products, and
lead in general advance Of the farm
ers cause. He said he intended to
donate fifteen acres between the
railroad and the river, close to the
station and school, with three build
ings on the tract, for the govern
mept's free use for a term of years,
and would contribute in various
ways. He urged that the need for
greater economy and efficiency and
fuller cooperation be not lost sight
of because sugar and rice happened
to be bringing good prices just now.
The tariff was just as threatening,
and diversification just as vital as
if war had not occurred. The war
itself was not responsible for the
rise in prices. This rise was due TO
the temporary halt III transporta-
ton, and might not last long. This
was the very time TO seek avenues
of farm profit, and he urged the WIS
dom of getting together often and
exchanging views. He related an in
cident which had occurred a few
days ago, when he permitted Mr..
Morrison, an Indiana farmer on OAK
Alley, to thresh some oats with his
equipment Mr.. Morrison brought
thirteen loads of oats four miles in
wagons, and had fifty sacks, which
he thought would hold the yield. He
was surprised to find that he needed
lis sacks instead, as the yield aver
aged fifty-five bushels to the acre.
The average all over the section was
that high.
Land over-BountiFuI
That was the trouble in Louisiana,
Mr.. Loisel said. The land was over
bountiful, the people ovel-prosperous.
They were like spoiled children. They
thought they knew sugar cane and
corn, and would not try to learn any
Thing else, or any better way of
farming.
Right now, Mr.. LoiseI said, was
the best opportunity for diversified
tion, because the farmer was finan-
clally able to make the change, and
may not be after the war is over
and sugar drops. He urged the put
ting in of an acre or so of oats, pea
nuts and other crops, so as to test
the most profitable things to raise.
He did not advise abandoning all
pleasure for work, but said he be-
lieved meeting and discussing prob
lens, and agreeing on cooperation
for mutual benefit, should be count
ed among the pleasures. The farmer
must read more, study more, suggest
and listen to suggestions more.
Mr. Loisel also devoted a few min
utes to the live stock industry, which
he said he deemed one Of the most
vital phases Of diversification. AsI
live stock state none could COM
pare with Louisiana. But the farm
er mere sells his cattle for seven and
eight cents, while the northern farm
ers get nine and ten cents. There
must be a reason With poorer land
and worse climate. they produce the
KIND Of cattle worth more. They
take the trouble and 60 to the ex-
pense. Each farmer, no matter how
small, should have COW or two, but
must start with proper cattle, give
lhem the proper attention, and mar
ket properly. With such long and
superb grazing Louisiana should be |
sthe greatest cattle state, but it can
not become great with scrub stock.
Mr. Loisel told Of his own expert |
enee in cattle. beef and dairy. both
profitable. but he had erected silos. ,
perfected ensilage, and taken pains |
20 learn the business. Now, he said
ne intended TO take up hog raising
ne read in the Times-Picayune that
George w. Bolds. an Indiana expert, !
mad settled near Plaquemine, and he |
took the train and went there to see
#Wnat MIR. Bolds was doing. Mr.. Loi-
SCI said he was putting what he
learned there into immediate use. |
and believed he would be able to do |
as well as his teacher He again |
urged cooperation, and warned |
asalnst any backward step.
walter Lemann said that Donald |
sohVllle and the west bank Of Ascen-
SION would like to join the section |
~ st. James on the same side of |
sae river in the government demon
stratlon farm fund.
Visit to BoIds' Hog Farm.
=. Z. Ayraud of Ascension detail |
81 visit he also had paid to Mr.. |
5otus hog farm. The former presi- |
un uent OF the Indiana hog raisers, he
saia' was enthusiastic about Louisi- |
ana Mr.. Bolds said this was the
s.ea.est state in the union, and al |
- ~ tne healthiest. His doctors bill |
,.as soV0 year in Indiana. In this |
a,e aaa ne had not been i'll at all. He
asolared he could raise more in four
inohths ihs in Louisiana than in a year
IN another state 49,
W Il ELL