New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-09-26
CATTL.E.RAISING IN LOUISE
ANA

The Hope Plantation near jean
erette, IBERIA parish, formerly
operated as a convict farm by the
State, has finally been selected by
the Federal government as the
site for the proposed cattle DEM
onstration farm for Southern
Louisiana. The establishment OF
a demon stl alton farm Of this
character is unusual. 1t was
thought by Congress that some as
sistance or encouragement Of this
character was fair if not obliga-
tory in the case of Louisiana.
The attitude Of the planters and
farmers Of the State toward the
Federal government was peculiar.
They had. through congressional
action. received what seemed to
many serious blow to one Of
their chief agricultural industries,
sugar. Congress was naturally
DESTROYS Of relieving any injury
which it might have inflicted by
encouraging the farmers to
branch out in other lines for
which this section is best adopted.
At has long been the view Of
the Secretary Of Agric ulture that
stock-raising and dairying offered
the best chances; development in
these directions would, he insist
ed, not only help Southern agri-
culture by getting away from the
single-crop idea that prevailed,
but would prove of untold bene.
TT to the entire country by IN
creasing the supply Of cattle and
thereby tending to lessen the cost
Of living. Secretary Houston has
several times presented this doc
tline strongly in his reports
dwelling On cattle-growing in the
South. No section was better
adapted to it, he showed, as the
climate and open pasturage rem
dered it possible to raise cattle
more cheaply than anywhere in
the country, now that the ranches
are becoming more limited in area
and producing less beef. With
this idea it is not to be wondered
that when Congress agreed to
establish demonstration farm in
South Louisiana to show the far
mers of this section what they
could Substitute for cane, the
Secretary should have urged that
experiments bemade in raising
cattle.
There are some in Louisiana
who did not agree with him, who
thought that the fat alluvial
lands along the river, drained
with difficulty, was not adapted
to cattle growing; but whether
or not this objection is valid as
tn the river lands it does not ap-
ply to those in the southwestern
parishes, and it was there that
the proposed cattle farm was to
oe established. Fortunately, the
State possessed ample land for
the experiment, having decided
to sell some Of it's convict farms
and concentrate its agricultural
operations at Angola, and it mott
he'd the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture that it was
willing to give any acreage nee
essary for the demonstration.
After a very careful investiga-
ton, running over a month,
portion Of the Hope plantation
has finally been selected for the
demonstration farm.
The site is admirable in every
respect; it is on rail- Dad, on
navigable stream, Bayou Teche;
is in thickly settled and popu-
lcus country, among industrious
and intelligent farmers who will
profit by the experience they gain
as to the production and care OF
cattle, what varieties do best,
how they should be fed and 9th.
erwise treated.
The gratifying feature of the
transaction is that it will intro
duce a new and profitable agri- !.
cultural industry, in addition to
those Louisiana already possesses.
The State is fortunate in that it !,