The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-01-31
gfiSiaSis

2Gsiasts
other ~, pest is so easily dealt
with. oES. one-foarth of the terri
tory of theASouthern United States
originally tt ridden has been freed
from the pest during the past six
years. All of our nelghboring states
are eradicating the tick from their
territory.
Mississippi recently won worldwide
fame by sending the grand champion
bull to the International Stock Snow
at Chicago. Other awards were also
made to animals owned by W. j..
Davis & Co., Of Jackson, Miss. Jack
SON is in territory recently cleared
Of the cattle tick.
No scientific institution has done
so much good work on the scientific
| phases of the tick problem as the
| experiment stations Of the Louisiana
State University, but we are dropping
| behind in the utilization Of the in
formation that has been secured. We
can have the best cattle only when
We exterminate the tick. We can
have access to the best markets on
| ly when we have exterminated the
ticks.
The Charlton is a little more diff
| cult to manage. At the same time
there is no reason to doubt the pos
sibility of handling this disease so
as to prevent any great losses, Pro-
tective vaccination with the best
vaccine is fairly safe insurance
against loss from charbon. Standard
ization of vaccines entering interstate
commerce is required by federal
law. Regulation within the state
only is necessary. Vigilance for the
first symptoms Of the disease, proper
precautions in sanitation and the
stunning Of pasture areas known to
be infected with Charlton, should
make the handling Of cattle pretty
safe proposition.
The growing of hogs offers an OPP
portunity for the utilization of
limited portion of many plantations.
The proper cropping system would
give fair profits for the investment
in crops, and offer an opportunity
for soil enrichment that should be
attractive. Not more than two hun
one colony, for the safest enterprise
and the best profits. A large planta-
ton, however, could" have several
colonies. The hog cholera preventive
serum, now obtainabla from the State
Live Stock Sanitary Board, makes hog
growing a comparatively safe enter
prise
The experiment stations have
given rather full consideration to
pork production from grazing crops
suited to our soils and climate. A
bulletin is available giving the re-
suits of this work.
No one should venture extensively
into live stock production unless he
has had previous experience, and most
of Our sugar planters have had little
Or no experience in these lines.
Therefore, it is a wise precaution to
begin modestly. It seems imperative
that We should make beginning at
once in some of these lines.
The growing of truck crops does
not seem to offer an opportunity for
any considerable number of people.
Truck growing to the extent Of meet
ing local necessities and for cheaper
ing the cost of living should, of
course, be encouraged as much as
possible.
The dairy business does not appeal
to us strongly at the present time.
There is probably large territory in
the sugar section that may at some
time in the future devote its ener-
gies along dairy lines, and "Teche
butter may excel that of the Fox
River section. That, however, seems
remote. Yet localities where there
are many small farms should expert
ence little difficulty in establishing a
successful creamery, if the proper
cooperation Of the farmers is secur-
ed. Again, however, the problem of
the small farmer in the sugar terri
tory is a much simpler problem than
is that of the large plantation owner.
To the man who feels that none of
these enterprises Ray be safely I'M
dertaken, have no further sugges-
except to refer him to some of the
small farms of the state where they
expect to continue to grow cane,
it a money crop to supple |
ment their hay, corn, and live stock.
The possibility Of dividing the |
larger plantations into small farms |
has been frequently suggested, from |
the observation of successful farming |
on the basis of diversified crops. l !
do not expect to see such a plan |
adopted. 1t would be diff /
cult to find purchasers for these !
farms should a large number of plan
tations be so divided
To summarize my present personal
views on the situation, I would say
that the problem of cane production
in Louisiana is not of as great i'm
portance to the small intelligent farm
er as to the large one He can raise
an abundance Of grain and hay to
feed his stock; he can have poultry,
milk, butter, canned
fruits and vegetables with but little
expense beyond the labor of pro-
iucing them. He viii not then re-
luire a large money crop to make
him prosperous, for he will have few
expenses. If he feels that he is
paid a fair price for cane at the
mill, he may make it his money crop.
f he does not wish to grow cane,
le can quit without great personal
oss. Not so with the large land own
IT. He cannot go out of the cane
growing business abruptly without
financial ruin. There is
possibility that he may find a
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