The Donaldsonville chief., 1921-08-27
SUGAR CANE CROP.
Present Condition Higher Than at
oone Time in Past Ten Years.

aonae Time in Past Ten Years.
A slight falling off COMPARED
WITH last month in the condition of
sugar cane is noted in the monthly
report covering the sugar cane crop
IN Louisiana, by Mr.. Lionel L,
James, agricultural statistician at
New Orleans of the bureau of mar
hets and crop estimates, United
states Department of Agriculture.
The. condition of the crop on
Aug. l was higher than at any cor
responding date during the last ten
years, excepting on August l, 1916,
when it was 81 per cent.
The condition Of sugar cane, ac-
cordlng to the average of reports
OF a large number of well informed
cane growers in all parts of the LOU
lSiana cane belt, bearing an average
date cf August 1, is 81 per cent of
a normal, which compares with 81
per cent June l, 1921; 92 per cent
July l, 1921; IA per cent August /,
1920; so per cent August 1, 1919,
and with 81.1 per cent the 1O-year
average of condition on August /.
A condition Of 81 per cent on
August /, forecasts a probable pro-
duction Of approximately 3,338,869
tons Of sugar cane on the acreage
to be used for sugar this year, and
a yield for the state of approximate
" 23l, 200 short tons of sugar. In
1920, 169,127 short tons were pro-
duced; in 1919, 121,OOO tons; in
1918, 100000 tons; in 1917, 243,-
600 tons. The average annual pro-
duction during the last seven years
is 214,000 tons.
larger or smaller than 231 ,29O short
tons, depending upon conditions
hereafter, whether better or worse
than average conditions.
The slightest decline in the con-
dition of the crop during July may
be attributed in part to somewhat
unfavorable weather conditions
which have prevailed in certain sec
tions Of the sugar Dalt. II portions
Of the belt there has not been rain
enough. There is some complaint
Of cane borers. The plant cane in
general is doing very nicely and
where sufficient rain has fallen is
jointing very rapidly. The stand is
generally good except in places where
drouth affected the plants, mostly in
black lands. A serious menace is
coming to the attention of many
growers in the form of Mosaic dis
ease, which stunts the plants con-
siderably and causes the leaves to
turn a pale yellow. The stubble
cane gives promise Of an excellent
crop except that mosaic disease is
reported more prevalent in some
sections, with corresponding damage.
The percentage condition of sugar
cane in the cane belt by parishes on
August /, 1921 is as follows, com
parison being with a normal condition
Of growth and vitality giving promise
of full yield per acre represented
by 100 per cent:
Iberia 81, Lafourche 81, ST.
Mary 94, Assumption SO, 1berville 81
St. James 80, Terrebonne Sc, La.
fayette 90, ST. John 90, St. Martin
90, West Baton Rouge SO, Ascen.
sion 88. Avoyelles 95, Plaquemines
8S, Rapides SO, St. Charles 80, St
Landry "a, Vermilion 88, East Ba
ton Rouge 81, Jefferson so, Pointe
Coupee SO, and West Feliciana 95
The Southern Methodist church
lreeently held weeks institute a
Birn ninghanl, Ala, for colored min;
listers. Dr. NJ exan,ler Of At.
lanta ctol Of the Inter Rsaef
Comm issii was I'll charge; and tn
/ con we're given by leading me
.Iof the two churches, white and col
/ ored. Two hundred ministers from
4 fourteen conferences ATTENDED
1.-THE expenses were met by the South
dtern Methodist Board of Missions.