The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-01-31
IDLE ECONOMIES IN
SUGAR PRODUCTION.
Continued from page one.)

work toward a plan of saving ,gne-
half the Pr esent waste in harvesting
the cane crop, it will be equal an
increase in price of a quarter - a
cent per pound o. sugar.
Feeding Horses and MulB.
The feeding Of plantatioH mules
and horses absorbs d large Ar cent
OF the operating expenses o. great
many plantations. It Wo seem
that some economies might oe prac-
ticed in this direction. CHeful and
scientific handling OF this subject
would in many instances greatly re-
duce the cost of feeding and prolong
the average life for mules on the
plantation.
DR.. w. H. DaIrymple has for many
years carried on Investigations on
feeding plantation mules. He, more
than any other, has popularized the
utilization of cane molasses as a
stock feed. In his investigations he
has found an astonishing variation
in the cost of feeding plantation
mules. Some planters are spending
nearly twice as much per month as
others. Scientific feeding will effect
economy on a large per cent of. our
plantations.
If the cane acreage were somewhat
reduced, land would be afforded for
increased grain and forage crops
chat would allow the production on
the plantation of ell the grain and
hay needed for live stock, independ-
emily Of the COW peas in the corn.
The peas could then be turned I'M
der or paCtured down. It is most
likely that this practice would bring
in it's wake a better rotation of crops,
the restoration of virgin fertility to
The soil, and more even distribu-
ton of labor. We could afford to
modify our rows for corn SO as to
greatly increase the yield, and cor
respondingly the profits. There is
no doubt about our ability to mate
rally increase our yields Of corn by
giving attention to the selection and
breeding Of strains that are suited to
our conditions. Corn is not often
given fair chance on sugar plan
tations.
Experiments conducted at the Ex-
pertinent Station at Baton Rouge
during the past four years have
shown that combined crop of corn
and COW peas will produce approx
mateiy sixteen pounds of pork for
each bushel Of corn, when the hogs
are allowed to harvest the crop. The
average price of pork secured during
the past four years will give return
Of a dollar a bushel for corn. The
northern man produces ten pounds
OF pork, on corn alone, where we pro-
duce sixteen pounds by combining
the corn and cow peas. Lands max
ing twenty-five bushels of corn in
five and one-ialf to six-foot rows,
should yield nearly one third more in
four-foot rows. Again, Investigations
conducted at the Experiment Station
have shown that we can greatly in
crease our yields of corn by giving
proper cultivation.
Better Stands of Cane.
Poor stands are sometimes reslon-
,sible for poor yields, Cane borers,
fungus diseases, and uneven depth Of
planting are the leading causes of
poor stands, especially in stubble
cane. Cane borers often destroy the
tissue in the vicinity of the eye, caus-
ing the sprout to die. A more vigor-
Gus campaign against the cane borer
should result in reducing the ravages
of this insect. Fungus diseases may
be, to some extent, controlled by prop
er vigilance. Uneven planting is gen
orally due to causes that would not
exist If the soil were in perfect me-
chanical condition Good cultivation
and proper regard for preserving the
humus of the soil are necessary to
secure proper mechanical condition.
DR.. W. @. Stubs has frequently said
that thorough preparation of the soil
before planting cane was half the in
fluence that made good crops on GER
tain plots under experiment for many
years at the Sugar Experiment Sta
ton. You can't give proper prepare
tion to soil that has been abused
A soil that is naturally good and that
has been well treated, will work
easily, with the result that even
planting and even covering will be
done and the stand Of cane will be
regular. Improvement in the mechan-
ical condition of our soils will de-
crease the cost of producing cane
Better cultivation is possible on
most of our plantations. That gen
orally means deeper blowing, more |
frequent shallow cultivation, and the |
utilization Of the most modern imple-
ments. Be it said to the credit Of |
many of our planters, their least |
point in their field prac-
ice is the method Of cultivation.
Forage crops are not given the con-
sideration they deserve. Our absorb
ion in cane production has caused
IS to underestimate the possibilities
II forage production. With the prop
n attention. forage crops will give a
,ood return for the investment and
abor devoted to them, at least until
he supply is greater than the local
assumption.
There is considerable amount Of
and devoted to cane that has rarely
eturned a satisfactory revenue. Why
lay we not devote these lands to
rass for grazing purposes, Or for the (
reduction Of lespedeza, alfalfa, oats,
grass, or other hay for {
'hich there is a good demand in the t
ties. \ t
The growing Of cattle offeSa an op- .
cpr,n