New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1917-05-05
.3EE{;E3
LOUISIANA SUGAR NEWS.

The cane and corn crops are in
satisfactory condition. This is the
opinion Of one of the most prom
In2pt sugar men in the State and
the basis for it is the reports re
ceived from every section Of the
Louisiana sugar belt. The fall
plant is up to a splendid stand,
generally speaking and although
in certain places it is a little pale
and yellowish from the protracted
period of cold weather this ''ear
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
entirely 0bliterated. The first
spring cane is coming up well eX-
cept on the black lands, and there
a full stand is not expected. Elgh-
tv-fve per cent Of the acreage de
voted to cane this season is eX-
pected to produce a full stand
Nhile the other fifteen per cent IS
Mpected to average almost full
rssned.
The sugar production of 1917,
it isl estimated, will be at least 10
per cent greater than the 1916
production. Although this year
for all kinds Of cane is not ex-
apected to equal last year is ex-
N eirely favorable growing con IL
tnons, the stubble crop this year
is M&pwing unmistakable signs OF
supeMoritv over the stubble crop
of last season, and this is one of
the REASONS for the prediction OF
larger crop this coming season.
There has been an increase in
the acreage devoted to cane IN the
Parish of Pointe Coupee and In
the parishes west of Morgan City
of almost 90 per cent, but only
slight increases has been noted in
the other sections and in some in
stances slight decreases all OF
which averaged up make the ac
reage in cane in 1917 a little over
10 per cent greater than the 1916
cane acreage was. In all cases OF
increased acreage the reason
therefor is found in the very ac-
tive campaigns waged by certain
sugar manufacturing companies
who depend for the most part
upon the growers for their cane
supply. This < especially true in
the Parishes Of Vermilion and
Pointe Coupee, where all sorts OF
Inducements were offered the land
s@.egs to raise cane for the sew
eralFcentral factories in those two
parishes.
The corn crop is about two
weeks behind. This was due to
the unfavorable field weather of
Hdsmlary and March. UD to
TKnfsday of last week it was estl-
mated that so per cent of the
corn crop had been planted. Some
planters had to plant corn three
times.
The peayine crop this year will
be larger than last year, although |
prices ale higher and ordinarily |
Il IS would mean a reduction. The |
planters have adequate backing
and the matter Of price, unless II |
is amazingly high, is not cutting
much figure. It is very probable |
though that commercial fertlllZ-
ers will not be quite so popular
this year as they were last year.
There are many planters who pre-
fer natural fertilizer like COW peas
to the manufactured fertilizers
xsul they are tho ones who are |
hing peas this year. The west |
IN parishes of the sugar district |
will record the greatest increases |
in nea planting this year.
A third increase in the price of /
commercial fertilizers is militat |
sipa~aRainst the large purchases |
of fhis kind of fertilizer this year |
more than anything else.