The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-03-22
MY COUNTRY
OF THEE
By S. J. FULLWOOD
LOUISIANA

Louisiana is located IN the
west south central portion OF
these United States. 1t is bounded
on the north by Arkansas and
Mississippi; on the east by the
state of Mississippi and the Gulf
of Mexico: on the south by the
Gulf of Mexico; and on the west
by Texas. The topography of the
state is mostly low lying. there
being no hills Of any consequence
in the state. Some of the land is
lower than the Mississippi river,
and this land requires the pres
ence Of large and powerful
lcvee system to prevent an over
flow of water into vast portion
of the state lying nearby. In this
connection it is well to remark
that in the burial grounds in New
Orleans, it is necessary TO bury
in vaults above the ground, mas
much as water is struck but few
feet underground. However, be-
cause Of this ground being so
much lower than the river, the
soil is of tremendous richness.
The state of Louisiana has been
likened to the delta Of the Nile
river in Egypt. Both sections have
Overlooking river banks which
carry into the low-lying flat lands
an abundance of rich silt, which
enriches the food value of the
soil.
The seal for the state of Lou
isiana is two and a quarter inches
in diameter. 1t is prOnged around
its circumference. Between the
pronged edge and an inner circle,
at the top is inscribed: state Of
louisiana" The center of the
seal is marked with figure Of
the Pelican. Below the figure is
written confidence; above the
figure, reading from left to right
Union, Justice The seal Isl
gold in color.
The state flower of Louisiana is
the magnolia" (magnolia grandi-
flora). The state song is entitled
Song of Louisiana, words and
music by Vashti Robertson Stoph-
cr. This song was officially cstab-
lished in 1882. The state. is
known as the Pelican State. No
motto has been given us for this
state, but the words found on the
great seal could undoubtedly be
interpreted to be the motto. We
were given no information con-
corning either a state flag or state
banner for this state. The popu-
lation of Louisiana is 2.l0l,593.
Due to the climatical conditions
Of Louisiana and the character of
the rich soil, many various crops
are grown in great profusion
there. Among the major ones are:
rice, sugar cane, corn, sweet po-
tatoes, tobacco, and many fine
fruits, especially those usually
found in tropical areas. We are
given the following information
concerning crops of the state from
the commissioner of agriculture:
ave grow more rice than all the
other states combined. More cane
sugar and pure cane syrup. More
strawberries. An average of be-
tween 100000 and 100000 bales
of cotton annually. About Is mil
lion bushels Of corn. Over three |
million bushels. Of sweet pota-
toes" Thousands of cars Of the |
following crops are shipped out
of the state annually: snapbeans,
cabbage, cucumbers, onions, toma-
toes, spinach. peppers, beets, car
rots, mustard, turnips, elephants,
etc. Field crops grow in great
abundance in the state. Fruits OF
all kinds and varieties are shipped
annually. Even wild fruits and
nuts are prolific in the state, as
well as wild flowers of every de-
scription.
The major mineral Of the state
is petroleum. Other major mineral
resources include: natural gaso-
line and gas; carbon; salt, sui,
phur; oil; clay products; sand and
gravel; limestone; mineral waters.
Practically every type of trans
portation in existence is found in