The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-03-11
THE KIND OF FLMMIGRATIOG LOUISIANA
NEEDS

Referring to the fact that large colony
of Belgians are about to leave Belgium to
settle in Texas, the San Antonio Herald
says:
This 10 a subject of more than usual i'm
portance, because the Belgians as a people,
like the French, are, aR rule, strongly
opposed to emigration. Belgium is q per-
feet beehive of industry, both agricultural
and mechanically hence q colony from that
country would be worth more to Western
Texas than from any other country or loca
lity. We remarked that they were averse
to emigration; this as a rule is true -
the parents are unwilling to part with their
children, who all contribute the proceeds
OF their labor to the common stock, and al
though wages are extremely low, Yet the
united earnings ofa family amount to- con-
siderable sum. This stay at home policy
results, of course, in an increase of the
population which in 1871, was ), lib, 7s0-a
larger number to the square miles than In
any other country in Europe. In fact for
the last fifty four years the emigration from
Belgium has only been 20. 42l, all told.
No country in the world presentsa higher
state of cultivation than Belgium. Pass
through Belgium in whatever direction
you may, and of every hundred acres, sew
enty- two are Gown with cereals and plants
used in manufactures; twenty-ei with
oats and forage but to the latter must be
added thirty one acres of after crop, which
gives fifty nine as affordiDg excellent food
for cattle superior to common meadows in
Europe, and which shows how poor land
can pay rent of twenty dollars an acre
perannnum. We dwell on those minuti9
Co demonstrate to our people what an in
valuable opportunity is presented to them
to obtainyin thie Belgian colony, skill and
labor in all varieties of agriculture, that
labor which is the best in the world.
Everyone who has visited Belgium will
recognize the faithfulnes of the following
description
Every road ia bordered with trees, not a
rise in the ground is seen all is calm, uni
form, and presents an image of quiet. com
fort and peace. Each house is detached
and surrounded with apple orchards,
hedged in box, holly and hawthorn whore
the COWS are brought to feed every morn
lag and evening. 1t is of one story only
and thatched containing four rooms, the
first for meals, the second for the dairy,
and preparing the food for the cattle,
and the others for sleeping rooms. The
old fashioned oak furniture Is a model of
brightness, tin and copper utensils shine on
the walls, which are whitewashed. The
garden is gay with wall flowers, dahllas,
and hydrangeas, and the florists flowers
which are shown at Ghent, outside every
thing is in its place nothing spells the
green sward; the manure heap ls always
under the roof of the stable or cowshed. In
this stand five or six cows, the constant
care of the farmers wife, who give them
abundance of green food in summer, with
straw, hay and a kind of warm soup, mixed
with the carrots, turnips or rye, or barley
in winter. Thanks to this nouHshment
and the constant rest they enjoy, the ami
mas give from fifteen to twenty f1ve
quarts of milk daily. The tools are simple,
but of first. class construction the plow is
light, drawn by one horse, and works with
ease and regularity the harrows are of
various kinds, triangular, rectangular, and
and parallelogram but the special tool is
the spade ; this is the instrument with
which the Belgian has fertilized his lands,
dried up marches, and forced back the sea.
The proverb on the banks of the Scheldt
is: "The spade is the gold mine of the
peasant" and different kinds are made for
light or heavy soil. Hence, it is of prime ina
portance to Western Texas to secure this
colony of several scores of families, who |
are so unexpectedly brought to seek a resi- |
dence in Western Texas. A more desirable |
population could not be presented to rs
they bring with them their own priest and !
propose to settle in one colony.