The St. Mary banner., 1919-08-23
LOUISIANA CROPS
ARE UN|MP PROVED
FIELD AGENT REPORTS "PESSl.
MIsM AND RICE" AS BUMPER
CROP OF THE STATE.
HAS BEEN TOO MUCH RAIN
Labor Situation Enters Into Problems
Of Farmers-Negro Farm Help
Unwilling To Work Under
Pre-War Conditions.

New Orleans.-"Pessimism anil
Yice' are the bumper crops in rural
Louisiana at the close Of July, accord
ing to John S. Dennee. field agent at
New Orleans for the United States
Bureau Of Crop Estimates. For the
most part" said Mr. Dennee said in
discussing the situation, farmers
are down on their luck and they have
good reason to be. There has been
entirely too much rain for the crops,
and. while rice IS In its glory. it is
true there has been too much rain
even for rice, for the late planted va
rieties are not so good as they should
be at this time. and the fields are
weedy.
Labor shortage Ia also para
mount issue. Negro farm help shows
a positive unwillingness to work un-
der pre-war conditions. There is
marked disposition to cling to the
cities.
Corn is spotty in condition. Fields
range from excellent to poor Some
marvellous corn may be seen just now
on the reclaimed lands OF Southern
and Southwestern louisiana Cad
do and Bossier farmers, too, have
learned to make real corn, and the
fields up there are staggering to the
eye in their prolific prospect New
erthelees there are vast areas in 9th
er portions Of the state where the
outturn will be only fodder.
Cotton shows poorly and is tho
weakest spot among the crops. Stalks
are rank and not fruited well: roots
are shallow; fields weedy. Not much
over half a full crop is In sight.
"Sugarcane at this time is Of para
mount importance and cane is max
ing unsatisfactory progress Plant
ers have been waging a war Of ex-
termination against the grass and the
end Is uncertain Seed cane was
mostly poor in quality.
Rice reports from all parts of the
rice belt are in the superlative de-
gree. Planters are optimistic over
the bright prospect and the big prices
rice is bringing. Late planted is not
altogether promising in stand. Some
Of the late rices may not mature by
reason of the lateness OF planting
Hay promises we'll. Grass lands
are seldom better. but considerable
difficulty attends the curing by rea-
son of the intermittent rains. Pas
ture condition is the best in over ten
years. Alfalfa where grown is good
to best ever.
"Oats were splendid at cutting
time, but have sustained damage IN
shock from the showers while await.
:. ing threshing. The crop is short, al
Afo account Of continued bad weather
At planting time.
Sweet potatoes are promising 4
big yield. yet weather conditions
were not altogether favorable during
July.
"Cowpeas and field beans fair to
good.
Peanuts are showing up well on a
short acreage.
"Watermelons and cantalocpes
verv poor; too much rain. Fruits
generally are in splendid condition.
Truck gardens on the whole have not
Jared we'll"
Conditions are as follows: Corn
bushels, 70; cotton, bales, 81; rice
bushels, so; sugarcane. short tons
go; sweet potatoes, S5; hay, short
tons, 95; oats, bushels, IT; peanuts
bushels. SO; pasture, 1903; alfalfa
81; cowpeas, IS; field beans, rs,
peaches. 75c: pears, 90; watermelons
81; cantaloupes, 55.