The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1915-01-09
CITY AND PARISH PRAISED.
Fine Seno-off for Donaidsonvile and
Ascension by Editor of Northern
Agricultural journal Who Toured
State Last Summer.

State Last Summer.
]. w. JARNAGIN in Iowa Farmer.
4 In our last article we took yot
east from Monroe through the par
ishes of R:chland and Madison and
then down thJ west bank of the Mis-
sissippi river to Pointe Coupee par
ish. Our journey now will be through
Iberville, Ascension and Assumption
parishes, lying along or adjacent to
/ the Mississippi river between Baton
i section We returned to New Orleans
/ after having made the journey to the
western limits of the state to Lake
Charles, thence to the northern part
of the state to Shreveport, down to
the central section at Alexandra,
| thence to the northeastern part at
Monroe and on eastward to the Mis-
sissippi river opposite Vicksburg, and
thence southwark to the starting
! point. From New Orleans we took
| a trip down the west side of the
Mississippi to point not far from
the Gulf of Mexico into the heart
/ OF the citrus fruit region, and then
Dack to the city along the east side
| of the river.
IberVille parish has an area of
nearly half million acres and the
capital of the parish, Plaquemine,
is 20 feet above sea level. Wooded
loWlands have occupied large Sec
! ton of it, but the lumber industry
has given the parish considerable
section of cut-oVer lands, and for
years and years the clearing pro-
cess has been in vogue, so that
now there is a large section of till
able land composed of rich alluVial
soil and wonderfully productive. su-
gar cane and cotton have been the
principal crops for "a century, but
now diversified EARNING is becoming
popular and ID bid strides are being
made in raisfrr stock and producing
large crops dmeorn. oats. lespedeza,
Or Japan cloI /, potatoes, tomatoes
and other vegetables. Potatoes yield
300 bushels to >eae acre and are dug
Ill March CT April and sent north at
time when new potatoes are such
a luxury as to command high prices.
One man raises 100 acres of toma-
toes and these are sent north at
time when such things are a luxury.
The oats are soWn in the fall, har-
vested in April and then the ground
is planted to corn and from so to
IS bushels will be gathered in Sep
tember.
Lands can be had at from SIS to
$50 ana acre, and with good shipping
facilities by both rail and. boat the
opportunity for Satisfactory market
ing is ever present. 1t must not be.
overlooked that peanuts are raised
everywhere in the state and they are
valuable crop. A ton or two OF
peanut hay per acre is cut, but this
does not interfere with the maturing
of the peanuts. The nuts are sent
in large quantities to the north and
in the south hogs are fattened for
market upon them.
G. r. Murrell was chairman and
j. NJ. Supple secretary of a commit
tee that had lined up 28 automo-
biles for the purpose of showing the
visitors abouHlEberville. Mr.. Muir
rel told Of ths1 hopes and aspira-
tions of the Hstple and the desire
to interest nG aern farmers in the
cheap, fertile f,,InIm f,IIm lands in that sec
ton. The Muhaall group Of planta-
tions, composed Of the fine estates
Of Glenmore, Tallyho, Augusta and |
were visited Red elo-
yer, alfalfa. lespedeza, and other |
grasses were growing in great abun- |
dance, and cattle and hogs were |
smiling in the richness of their |
possessions. At Blythewood there is |
a large pecan orchard. George w. |
BoWles, formerly president Of the |
Swine Breeders Association of In
diana, has purchased a fine farm
and is raising hogs on large scale |
at about one-fourtl the amount that |
he expended in finishing his ami
mails for market in Indiana.
1t was delightful auto trip from /
through Whitecastle and |
several other villages to Donaldson
The entire distance was down the |
west bank Of the Mississippi river, |
but the high levee all the way pre- |
vented view of the Father of Wa I
ters. Some fine old plantations We're |
passed and there We're evidences on |
every hand of the wonderful oppor-
tunities that are awaiting men who |
are 'habitual'' farmers and know |
how to get the best returns from fer
tile fields. The roads the entire dis
tance were like pavement, gravel |
having been used to give them !
hard, smooth surface. Some fine old |
mansions, surrounded by great live
oaks covered with Spanish moss,
We're passed.
DonaldsonYille is a splendid little
city. 1t is surrounded by a good
country and has a lot of enterpris-
ing citizens There is an old land
mark in the place that connects
ante-bellum days with the present.
It was market before the war and
it is the only house that remained
after Admiral Farragut got through
bombarding the tesAgn because some
.snipefs" persisted in firing from
ambush upon his gun-boats as they
guarded the Mississippi at this point.
The town has good railway facilities,
has fine wharf at which numerous
steamers make landing, and it is at
the head of the famous Bayou La
fourehe, which is naVigable from its
beginning until it reaches the Gulf.
The city has a live commercial club,
splendid Hotel Donaldsongood
enough for CITY of 100, 000-opera