The tobacco growers have formed an association for mutual benefit and for the promotion of this branch of crop cultivation. It is to be called the Cigar Leaf Tobacco Growers’ Association, and intends publishing a paper in the interests of Texas tobacco.
O. A. Smith, of Willis, is president; H. F. Malone, of Willis, vice-president, and J. F. Irvine, secretary and treasurer. The executive committee is composed of the following: Clark Arnold, of Galveston; J. M. Buckley, of Willis; T. G. Wools, of Hondo; J. H. Bruning, of Galveston; J. J. Strozier, of Willis; C. F. Rhode, of Galveston; O. A. Smith, of Willis, and H. S. Elders, of Willis.
The by-laws of the National Tobacco Growers’ Association, as adopted at Washington, are adopted by this association.
Profitable Rice Culture.
The New York Journal of Commerce, in an article on rice growing in Southwestern Louisiana, says: A couple of years ago the crop was excessive, but the last crop is well sold up, and there is little doubt that the consumption of rice will vastly increase in this country. Scientifically and practically it is one of the best of foods, and the taste for it is growing. Portions of this section of Louisiana are sufficiently watered by natural overflow, but a good deal of it is artificially irrigated. Some of the farmers say that it is a little more work to cultivate rice than wheat or corn, but most of them think it is less; there is no great difference in the cost. The general testimony is that it costs $5 or $6 an acre to cultivate it, exclusive of irrigation, which, as already said, is not always necessary. A dollar for seed, two for cultivation and two for harvesting is the estimate of many farmers, though a few put the cost at a dollar or two more, and some go as high as $10 or $12. Ten barrels in the rough is regarded by many cultivators as a fair average crop, but yields of twelve and fifteen barrels are common. The farmers generally get from $2 to $3 a barrel, and sometimes a little more. A rice cultivator at Lake Author, La., writes: “I can say honestly and positively that a man can make a big fortune in four or five years raising rice.... I know a number of farmers that have for the past three years averaged fifteen barrels per acre, and their net average price per barrel for the three years was $2.85.” These figures give gross receipts of $42.75 per acre.
Fruit Growing in Louisiana.
At the recent annual meeting of the Louisiana State Agricultural Society, F. H. Burnette, the horticulturist of the State Experiment Station at Baton Rouge, read an interesting paper upon Southern fruits.
Prof. Burnette has given much time to the development of the fruit industry of Louisiana, experimenting upon the different varieties of fruit indigenous to the climate, utilizing his knowledge of foreign horticulturing and experimenting at the station. He gave a full report of these experiments. The paper was of especial interest to small fruit growers, dwelling upon the varieties of peach, pear and orange which can be grown with success in Louisiana, and of the new variety of Japanese and Chinese plums and persimmons which he has grown at Baton Rouge with success.
At the same meeting Judge Lewis, of Opelousas, spoke of the cultivation of figs as a marketable crop and one which has never failed of producing remunerative results by close attention to the cultivation of the trees. He also spoke of the preserves made in Opelousas of the rind of the sour orange and also of figs, which are sold in the stores of Opelousas. The fig tree is self-supporting, and as an orchard which produces and supplies itself, being free from climatic influences. He spoke at length upon the possibilities of canning the fruits of Louisiana and shipping them to Northern markets.
The farmers of Sumter county, Georgia, the county in which Americus is located, are more and more abandoning the all cotton business and turning to the growing of fruits.