The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1875-06-03
I.nEsnuna. -. lIar 3. IsT5.

WN ttAg A2lsAA ktASAAl3 w A@SA eN 4@~ 49,
and into the future, rather than the
present Several years have passed,
each one as much, on perhaps more,
disastrous to the interests Of the farmer
than It's precedent, reducing and
straiehtening his condition until he
has 1T last ceased to regard his occupa-
ton as anything more than barely self
sustaining.
In by gone years the yield from this
soil was almost fabulous, and the farmers
generally were the most prosperous
class Of tho people. but a long series Of
crop years disastrous To the staple Of
export, cotton, has caused al entire
revolution in their system Of operations.
Aud although our farmers still lcok
back upon those years az abundance
with fond regrets, and poignant cha
grin, that those circumstances were 50
little appreciated, and improved, yet
they are gradually and almost by I'M
perceptible degrees, passing into this
new regime, and are to-day IN far more
comfortable circumstances than is the
same class Of people il any other sec
tion Of the world. They are generally
intelligent, and active in availing them-
selves of every improvement that is cal
oulated to increase their powers of pro-
duction. Farm tools are generally Of
the best model and manufacture the
market furnishes. Improved seed are
sought after with an avidity which is
not to be thWarted, and their attention
is being called to the value Of these
fertilizers which abound upon every
hand. Those concentrated and ex-
pensive fertilizers, which are regarded
in the older portions of this country as
the base Of agriculture, ore here nm
known, unneeded. Our light lands
which have been cropped upOn, year
after year, are falling. have in a great
measure failed, and win perhaps not
receive the work necessary 10 ro-esta5-
lish them in fertility, except in those
places where change of fields can not
be had, for the very obvious reason
that it is much less expensive TO change
the fencing so As To enclose virgin soil,
than it is to haul and spread manures
upon that which is worn. Land is yet
too abundant. and population too
sparse, TO require the usa of fertilizers
in farming operations. Upon every
farmstead, however, il becomes necas-
sary, on account Of permanent planta-
tions, Of fruit trees Of tho like. to keep
up the strength of the soil BY Che ap-
plication Of manure. This process il
necessary also in some few thickIy set
tied localities, like the Grand Chenier,
where every foot Of cnltiyahle land Is
IN use. Cotton seed, bones, animal
droppiDgs. are more abundant, and
better suited than all else, to the wants
If the land. Marsh muck are ia requi-
zition As wen as the pea vines which
grow in extraordinary proiusion "a al
those farms, which. though troublesome
70 get ven turned under, when once
fairly incorporated With ths soil. yield
sn abundance Of plant food The muck
throughout the entire parish.
and Is capable Of bringing our most
worn soils 20 state 81 greater pro
than that 81 its pristine
sigor, and on the shelly or sandy ridges
which first give symptoms 81 falling,
shis manure not only supplies che
fertilizing properties. but
also tends to unita and frmly combine
Tie PARTICLES which make np this kind
af soil, rendering II even more durable
shaR when it wns fresh. Admitting
shat the process 81 restoring Che land
to fertility il q labonous process yes
whore land is valued at from forty q
seventy. i've dollars per acre for farm
ing. It win h6 perceived thas labor -
bestowed i afprly repaid
There is however, bat SMALL p0rtion
81 the farming la hat Require any
renovation as gek The sandy and
shaily Iidsa spoken ~ sfs not durable