The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-11
LOUISIANA SUGAR NEWS

condition. This is the
opinion of one of the most promi-
nent sugar men in the State and the
basis for it is the reports received
from evrey section of the LOUISIANA
sugar belt. The fall plant is up to
splendid stand, generally speaking
and although in certain places 1T is
a little pale and yellowish from the
protracted period of cold weather
this year it is fast throwing off all
signs of delay and with continued
very favorable weather conditions,
such as are now obtaining, it will
not be long before all evidences of
the cold weather injury will be en-
tirely obliterated. The first spring
cane is coming up well except on
the black lands, and there full
stand is not expected. Eighty-five
per cent Of the acreage devoted to
cane this season is expected to pro-
duce full stand while the other
fifteen per cent is expected to
average almost a full stand.
The sugar production of 1917, it
is estimated, will be at least 10 per
cent greater than the 1916 oroduc-
ton. Although this year for all
kinds of cane it not expected to
equal last year is extremely favor
able growing conditions, the subtle
crop this year is showing unmistak
able signs of superiority over
the stubble crop of last season,
and this is one Of the reasons for
the predictions of larger crop this
coming season.
larger crop this coming season.
There has been an increase in the
acreage devoted to cane in the Par
ish of Pointe Coupee and in the par
ishes west Of Morgan City of almost
20 per cent, but only slight in
creases has been noted in the other
sections and in some instances slight
decreases all Of which average up
make the acreage in cane of 1917
little over 10 per cent greater
than the 1916 cane acreage was. In
all cases of increases acreage the
reason therefor is found in the very
active campaigns waged by certain
sugar manufacturing companies
who depend for the most part upon
the growers for their cane supply.
This is especially true in the Par
ishes Of Vermilion and Pointe Cou-
pee where all sorts of inducements
were offered the land owners to
raise cane for the several central
factories in those two parishes.
The corn crop is about two weeks
! behind. This was due to the unfav-
orable field weather of February
and March. Up to Thursday of last
week it was estimated that 60 per
cent of the corn crop had been
planted. Some planters had to plant
corn three times.
The peavine crop this year will
be larger than last year, although
prices are higher and ordinarily this
would mean a reduction. The plant
ers have adequate backing and the
matter of price, unless it is amaz-
ingly high, is not cutting much fl
cure. It is very probable though
that commercial fertilizers will not
be quite so popular this year as
! they were last year. There are
many planters who prefer natural
fertilizer like COW peas to the man.
ufactured fertilizers and they are
the ones who are buying peas this
year. The western parishes Of the
sugar district will record the great
est increases in pea planting this
year.
A third increase in the price OF
commercial fertilizers is initiating
against the large purchases Of thi:
kind Of fertilizer this year more
than anything else.
The American Cane Growers AS
ISOLATION has called a meeting Of
cane growers and planters in the
St. Charles Hotel on Friday after
noon at 4 80 at which the following
very important topics are scheduled
for discussion: The protection 0.
levees; the exodus Of negro labor
the fight against the fifteen pc
cent increase of the interstate rat
on molasses, sugar and other plan
.tation products; the proposed suga
trade laboratory and the excise ia,
that has been suggested to be LEAF
on sugar by Congress as wa
measure.
The American Cane Growers
Association did not call this meet
ing as a meeting Of its member
only, but made it wide open at
fair to everybody interested in tn
sugar industry of the State.