The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1884-07-05
mo- 49,

rainfall The subsoil being csav. i
large portion of the water fall can Be
held for some time. ln this way from
25 to SO bushels az rice can Be raised
on an acre, worth il the rough about
$l.5o per bushel II requires about
one-half more work 10 raise d crop Of
rice than it does wheat and a fair
crop is worth $50 per acre Or more,
50 it is profitable crop. As the
ground is MI cultivated and no vege
tation to decay, can see no reason
why rice raising can have bad effects
on the health Of the people, and ii II
claimed that II does not.
Sweet potatoes Is good crop fo
raise, either for man oF cattle. Alf
kinds of stock, particularly hogs, are
fond of them, and from 200 10 500
bushels can be raised on one acre.
Both rice and sweet potatoes will
grow well on new hreakings without
fertilizing on cross plowing, Where
the ground is sufficiently mellow, and
two or three years from the breaking,
Irish potatoes viii do well two crops
of them are raised year, tho first
planted in February and are ripe about
the first Of June the next crop ID
planted in August and harvested III
the fall, and these are raised for win
ter nse. Garden vegetables of al
kinds do well. Oats DO not yield a.
well as here but makes fair crop.
Wheat has not been raised In any SEQ
tion saw in Calcasieu parish, but ii
the parish east, at Esterwood, man
has raised small patch for three
years, and it did well. | hroughtsome
of the wheat home with me, and ii is
a good berry and the straw tall and
rank. Sugar cane and cotton 40 well.
Next to stock, think fruit rails
ing the most natural industry for
that region. Nearly all kinds do well.
Peaches and figs are almost indigenous,
and grow in the greatest profusion,
Oranges and mandarines do well along
the lakes and bayous, bnt have not
yet been tested In the prairies, but
with care and perhaps little protec-
Bion, can see no reason why they
will not do well there. A company
Of us from Jennings went down to
Lake Arthur, about ten miles south Of
Jennings, to see the orange groves
about the lake, Of which there are
many. A part Of our company only
crossed over, as the day was rainy and
the balance remained on
he west side, at Mr., Durwin's, Tan
I'D settler,) N. r. Lawrence, Of this
llace, Mr., Daniels, formerly Of How
,rd county, Iowa, Mr., Ruby, Mrs.
White, Of Howard county, Miss Gra-
lam, formerly Of the same place, bnt
low teacher in the family Of Mr., Dur
win, and myself, took rowboat and
,rossed over, distance o mile and
luarter On nearing the other shore
We hailed a sail-boat which took our
title party on, gave us q good ride
long the shore, and then landed us al
he orange grove of Mr.. Laurenta.
Ne found the young man at home.
10 showed us around in good style,
vas very intelligent and gentlemanly,
md took wonderful interest IN show
ug us everything on the plantation.
iome thought the young school teach
MS presence had something to do
With our very kind treatment. Be
his as It may, one thing is certain,
hat no whore can be found class Of
,eople more hospitablo or entertain
ng than these Louisiana settlers, and
he case with which they entertain
trangers far exceeds that Of the aver
lge Northerner. This grove contained
80 orange trees; 400 were about 80
ears old, One Of the old trees was
10 feet in diameter, and 10 single
ear had borne 5000 oranges II is
aid to be the largest tree ia the State.
The highest yield Of the grave was
100000, and this year they estimated
contained 100000 oranges, which
/ the average price they would bring,
no per 1000, would make the yield
or this year $4,000. They often sell
Or $1,000 per 1000. No care, par
icalarly, is required with the grove;
bout the only labor ii picking and
the fruit, which can be
lone at leisure ID the fall and winter,
j the fruit i not perishable. The
'ariety IL this grove Is mostly the
iicilian, There were many other
.inds Of frpit on this plantation, which
have not time to describe. No one
Tho visits the lake should fail to see
bis grove; il will well pay fora "trip
here.
A few days later we took another
Zip to Afr. Gardner's, near Mermanz
NJ, for the purpose Of seeing hls
richard and nursery, aud were most
Dyally entertained BIZ the family.
hey went theFe from Northern Ohio,
bout six years age, They have about
Q kinds Of oranges Have Il tine
each orchard of bldded fruit ia hear
lg. Have mandarlnes, "a small sized
range and other kinda Of fruit too
nmerana to mention. The tnanda-
ne y q luscious fruit, fat superior to
le orange, and sells At the same puce,
hey are harder than the preoln ~
lge, and rommenee bearing III tWp
ears fraIn the bud, anu sometimes Ia
ae year, Last fall mi Craig anA |
sW one Of these, only three years ola.
M from the bud, with 10 mandes
mes on on two lind i halt aeFes III
sllrna gears fFaM Till hlla,
&, Gagiuer ralaaas last fill, sK,05Q
which hrpngls ahant
asQl They age constant bpahsFs The
ragll orange alse heaga youHg, Haaflg
young n lhe lnandarines Is 1ls
ith the linFFaYea FaFiesieg ed
et ri orange aEeliaea Snt0 haHE
loHt ~ aaflg Is peaches 14lieF
Il llg VIII b4 AZ pfaNtabls IA nA