The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-05-02
TTYE PARISH OF ST. LANDRY.

From Prud'homme City we proceed OH
u journey. On our right the woods OF
BAYOU Mallet; on our left those of the Pla-
ouemine. The variegated hues of their TO-
l,age blend tremendously with the rich
green of the prairie. Here We behold a
deep cove or in1enture, Of several hundred
acres ; there a bold point Of woodland push
ing its way far out into the grand meadow
through which we are passing.
After a ride of some six miles, we enter
Prairie Hayes, which is but one of those deep
BAYS peculiar to this country. Keeping
parallel to the general course ofthe Plaque
mine, for about five miles, we come to Long
Point, with its noble oaks and thrifty hlck-
cries. Here we find some few families, a
mong whom we may mention Mr.. Lock!ey
and his interesting family, Uriah Green, and
others. Up to our entrance Of Prairie Hayes,
we passed through small farms, mostly cul-
tivated in corn and cotton but beyond this
point the settlements are further apart, and
less attention is paid to the cultivation OF
the soil. Cattle and horses now become
the chief objects of care; and from the i'm
menss range and small per cent ofloss, this
branch of industry is very lucrative. Hay
Of a superior quality can be cut on these
p~rairies, the yield being two or more tons
per acre. Were this done, and more ofrye
and barley, with sweet p:tatoes and tur-
nips, cultivated, the loss of stock would be
much less. and the cattle would thrive bet
ter.
We are fully satisfied from a close inspec-
ton of this part Of the Parish, that a Yves
tern. stock-raiser. coming among us, with all
the natural advantages he would find at
hand, would get rich where the most of II
people only make a bare subsistence. Nor
will it do to imagine that only cattle can be
RAISED to advantage and profit. Sheep and
hog increase very rapidly, keep healthy,
and make the best of mutton and bacon.
We have seen smoke-houses full of the most
tempting hams, shoulders and middlings.
The meat keeps perfectly well, and the far
mers informed US that they never, or very
seldom lost any from the changes of the
weather.
Packing.houses might be erected, and
meat packed in this Parish, as safely and
at less cost han IN Cincinnati or Louisville.
The str. ans at this point in our rambles,
are navigable, and afford easy access to the
great salt mine of Judge Avery, by water.
The best of oak and cypress is at hand for
the making of barrels, and the hoop poles
stand ready to be fashioned ihto hoops and
New Orleans and Galveston invite to their
marts. Whilst we thus point out the facil-
tiles for this kind of business, do not let it
be supposed for an instant that other pur-
suits may not be followed. Corn, rye, bar
ley, potatoes, vegetables and fruits can be
successfully raised, thus giving great varie'
ty to labor and furnishing all those neces'
saries which tend to give pleasure to man.
Tide water reaches this point, and the
sea breeze comes, with health and comfort
in its breath. a
We most urgently r>quest the stranger
and pilgrim to turn thair fares to our lane
of prairie, carefully Loo ct its position, its
resources, its beauty productiveness'
and then We ask no more