Lower coast gazette., 1914-11-14

Plant Oranges, Make Arrangements
Now.
AS we are now entering into the winter sea-
son, every resident of the Parish of Plaque
mines who has a piece of land, large or small.
to spare should keep in mind the orange indus.
try as the coming industry of this parish. There
is no doubt but intelligent pecan culture would
bring many thousands of dollars Of revenue to
the Parish of Plaquemines, if the best varieties
were selected and if they could receive some
attention and were brought to bearing within
any reasonable time. The long time required
diminishes interest in pecan culture and it does
not receive that attention it deserves, because
it is certainly the best nut known. On the 9TH
er hand orange trees can be bought out of nur.
sery stock, one, two or three years old, and get
ting in this way quite a start, one can get into
a paying culture of oranges in a comparatively
short time. The next ninety days should de-
ter1nine what we are going to do in this direc-
ton and a years time will be saved and.a year
that can not we'll be spared if we intend to 90
into this culture.
1t is better to begin in a small way than not
to do it at all and almost any land owner in the
parish could have anywhere from ten to fifty
orange trees, all of. which in due course would
bear the lucious fruit that commands general
admiration throughout the whole country. There
is a constant inquiry now for orange lands in
Louisiana and we are led to infer some over
confident persons may make serious mistakes in
engaging in the culture and find themselves
seriously disappointed in the final results. 1t
won't do to pasture cows in an orange orchard
and the present belief is that the fields should
be kept just as clean and free of grass az can
be done. Here in Louisiana. where COW peas
grow 80 prolifically, orange orchards that can
be kept comparatively clean can be planted in
peas tolerably early in the season and in this
way the whole body of the lands get q thorough
fertilization, the ground is kept shaded and is
very materially benefited and this is becoming
the general custom on the Lower Coast.
Years ago it was said that the best thing
that could be done with an orange orchard was
to let it alone and not try to cultivate any gar
den crops in it, nor do anything other than to
let the grass grow. The success of the orange
growers in Florida in keeping clean orchards
and the corresponding success In California have
led numbers Of our planters to try. this method
of work and it seems to be a success and we be-
lieve meets with general approval among the
orange growers. We have learned now to take
care of our orchards by killing the trees up with
earth in the winter time to insure them against
any great freeze, but this earth should be taken
away as quickly as practicable after the freez-
ing season has passed, as it has been found that
each hill becomes an ant hill, the ants rendez-
vousing in these hills at the base of the trees
tor the purpose of keeping up out Of the moist
ground.
We may say, incidentally, that intense cul-
tvation has raised the sugar industry of Louis
Jana to such q high estimation that Louisiana
sugar experts command respect throughout the
whole cane sugar world. These experts have
learned here in Louisiana Of the difficulties that
have environed the sugar industry and have
utilized every expedient to protect the industry
and advance it by the best industrial methods.
Let US apply in q like manner intense cult
walton to the orange industry and we shall build
up our parish much more rapidly than could be
done If we followed the old laisses faire method.
A number Of Plaquemine citizens have already
gained eminent repute, conspicuous among
whom is our friend Robert S. Moore, president
of the Citrus Growers Association, who for
some 20 years has been making q most earnest
study OF the orange industry and has probably
learned more about it and, developed it to a
higher degree than any other Louisiana man.
Let US all endeavor to initiate him and let US
hope that we shall realize quick success.
Every southern farmer should grow enough
oats to feed his work stock during at least a
portion OF the year. In addition to furnishing
feed grain at less than it can be purchased, fall
sown oats prevent the washing of the soil. by !