The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1869-06-19

twenty years ago, we were not prepare,
for statements and statistics like thos
given underneath. Says this julicia
reporter:
"Oranges. superior to those Of th'
West-lndies, are grown in all the lowe
portion of the State, and are rarely hur
| by the frost. The trees attain, in some
places, great size. I measured one a
St. Charles, in Cal:asieu, eleven years
old, which was over thirty feet in height
and at a foot above the ground was three
feet five and half inches in circumfer.
ence, and which | learned had produced
near twenty-five thousand oranges the
past season, one of which weighed eigh.
teen ounces. Bananas have been large
ly cultivated during the last ten years,
and now adorn every dwelling. Citrons,
mesphilas, lemons, jujubes, pomegran-
ates, guavas, and even pineapples are
cultivated in all lower Louisiana; and
while the fig. the pear, the apple, the
prach, the plum, the apricot, the necta-
rine, the ounce, the cherry, the almond,
and every variety of grape and currant
grow in every part of the State. Dew
berries. blackberries, mulberries, goose
berries, buckle or whorteberries, straw
berries, and raspberries are found as
wild and indigenous fruits. The peach
es, pears, and figs of Louisiana are pecu-
llarly sweet and luscious. Fruit-raising
is one of the most renunerative employ
ments."
The above is but stinted epitome of
the vegetable wealth of Louisiana either
produces, or is capable of producing. 1t
says nothing of its grand forest trees,
that will furnish timber, turpentine, and
dyes; Of its almost peculiar specially in
the parasitical tWandsia or "Spanish
moss for upholstering purposes, equal
if not superior to horse hair; tloug h the
report speaks Of these things and many
more.
Besides the vegetable resources Of the
State, it also tells US of valuable minerals
"a list :hat includes lead: iron, coal,
copper, salt, soda, and gypsum. Even
petroleum, which has made the fortune
of many a Yank y and Pennsylvania,
is not wanting in the Southern soil.
And we hear, also, of sulphur!
Judge Robertson tells us there is a
belt Of country, some twenty miles in
width. and extending from the borders
of Arkansas nearly to the shores of the
Mexican gulf, which he believes to be
underlain by deposit of petroleum.
His account of this tract, with the de-
ductons derived from making his explo-
ration of it, is to us one of the most in-
terestiug chapters Of economic literature
we have ever read. His description of
the curious tumult that, here and there
throughout its vast extent, break the
monoton Gus level of the prairies, and
which have hitherto puzzled the most
intelligent geologists-with his clear,
philosophical showing of how they were
produced-is among the pleasantest and
most instructive portions of bis report.
There is one still pleasanter-that which
calls upon the North, the East, and the
the whole world-to come
to Louisiana, and assist in the cultiva-
ton Of this grand EIysian-like garden;
a call that promises not only protection
and liberation to those who come, but
fervept welcome and a continuance of
rieudship-forget:ing the bitter past
and thinking on ly of fraternal future.
The man who speaks thus is no noisy
1cmagogue or politician emploved for a
sinister purpose. He is the grandson,
as We are told, Of him who commanded
At the colonization Of Middle Tennessee,
and whose descendants, following the
bid family instinct, have since scattered
@ the South and west-even to far Cal.
tornia.
judging by this splendid report upon
he resources of Louisiana, o.e Of them
las shown himself the worthy scion of a 1
distinguished ancestor.