Middletown transcript., 1870-04-23

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Louisiana. Beyond the towns, in imme
diate contact with New Orleans, yellow
fever is not known. Upon our prairie,
during the past year, when this fever wa.
epidemic, it did not make its appearance
The ordinary fevers of the country are
mild in their character, and yield readily
to the simplest treatment One of thu
sure indications of salubrity of climate i,
found in the average of human life. This
parish stands second to no county in the
Union, in the number of its old people
and this has been remarked by every
stranger coming here.
The Labor Question The topic of eli.
mate and health having been in general
way discussed; the natural order of things
suggests this, as the proper place, for the
consideration of the above item in this out
line. AT distance, and among those un-
acquainted with this portion of our coun-
ty, the idea is current and firmly believed
that the achite man cannot perform manual
labor. The reasons given are, that his
physical organization is not adapted there
.to-that the enervating effects of the eli
mate destroy his vital powers-when these
powers are put forth in the labors incident
to agriculture; and finally, that sloth
takes the place of industry, and indifer-
ence the place of energy. To such us en-
tertain these notions, it is very evident
that profound ignorance of the great law
of compensation is the rule; they entirely
overlook the fact, that Providence, in its
wise arrangement, both of the human aud
animal economy, has adapted each to the
varied circumstances in which it may be
called to act that reason, experiment and
result alike prove the contrary, and vindi-
cate the laws of nature. The facts in the
case are these:
1st. White men have titled the soil from
the early settlement of this State, and are
now tilling it without experiencing any of
the above evils.
I'd One white man may easily culti-
vate forty acres of land here with machin-
cry, and twenty without, under the old
system, and much more by the use of the
labor saving machinery lately introduced,
and from his individual exertion reap a
larger return, than in the western or mid
die States. He will not only supply the
wants of his family, but have surplus to
devote to improvements and necessary
comforts; and enjoy as good health, and
live to as advanced period of life as in
any State or Territory on the continent
3D.. More than one-half of the white
population of this parish are engaged
strictly in agricultural pursuits, and are
as robust and healthy as any similar num-
ber of farmers.
9th. The production of one white mans
labor, who is industrious, may be thus
stated 400 bushels of corn; 200 bushels
of sweet and as many irish potatoes: 10
barrels Of rice: /: bales of cotton; with
full supply of vegetables, hay, &c. This
statement is the actual result of one mans
exertions, and may be safely taken as a
fair average.
Now taking these facts into considera-
tion, what becomes of the false theories,
so tenaciously held, and so industriously
scattered abroad? Should they not be
thrown aside, and the truth suffered to
take their place We appeal to the ex-
perience of five hundred farmers in our
midst for the truthfulness of every fact
given, and do not fear contradiction in
one single particular. Let all who may
read this sketch reflect upon the above,
and be assured that the erroneous impress
sions they have received are not sustained
by the experience of honorable and trust
worthy witnesses.
The So7-The soil of this parish is d.
versifed; that within the limits subject
to overflow, being rich alluvial, inexhaust-
ible. and adapted to all the productions of
the South. The northern portion of the
parish can only boast soil of small depth,
easily exhausted, unless sustained by ma
nure and rotation in crops. Being more
broken and hilly it is more liable to wash,
and requires more care in its management.
The soil of the middle and southern di-
vision of the parish, is fair being vege-
table mould, with small admixture of
sand, super-imposed upon bed of fine
greyish clay, This clay foundation, which
underlies the parish, when broken up and
exposed to the air and sun. becomes loamy
and ash-like, and yields good returns for
the labor bestowed. The same attention
given to cultivation here, that is given at
the north, would cause double the produc-
ton; and this would result from the high
superiority of our soil over that of the
north. Not single State of the west can
furnish to the immigrant more kind or
generous soil than is to be found in the
Parish of St. Landry.
TimLer.-The farmer and mechanic will
find within the limits of this parish, all the
qualities of timber essential to their sever
al requirements; such as pine, cypress,
oak, (several species) hickory, ash, wal
nut, mulberry, wild cherry, sweet gum,
maple, box elder, beech, blackberry, mag
nolia, sweet bay, sassafras, persimmon,
red elm, slippery elm, crab apple, dog
wood, red and black baw, &C. This list
comprises all the varieties of timber essen
tial to fencing, building, and mechanical
purposes.
Products and their Kield-This region
produces sugar cane, cotton, potatoes
(both irish and sweet) corn. tobacco,
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