The Opelousas courier., 1884-05-17
Visit to a Jersey Farm.

Our long contemplated visit to the
Rev. Z. j. Hough's pleasant country
home was made on last Saturday. We
have always had prediction for ru-
raj life, but when we viewed the cosy
and attractive surroundings of this
beautiful rustic home, our love OF the
country was doubly intensified by the
parallel between it and the dusty,
crowded homes of urban life.
n When Mr.. Hough purchased his
two hundred acres of woodland, three
miles south of town, it was almost des-
titute of any kind of improvements,
there being only dilapidated cabin
with few acres of fenced land. But
nature was lavish III her garnishment of
this picturesque woodland spot, and
furnished all of the accessories to make
it delightful retreat to one who could
appreciate its vine. clad hills, singing
birds, and pure, healthful, vitalizing air.
Happily its owner caught the inspira-
ton diffused by its surroundings, and
has made it one of the most beautiful
and comfortable homes in our parish.
The residence, built on an eminence
DETECTING into miniature vine clad val
leys on either side, is a commodious
cottage of modern design and conve-
nience, containing eight rooms, each of
which is artistically finished in style
different from the other. The walls of
the rooms are ceiled perpendicularly
with narrow grooved plank, and each
alternate one has a different shading of
paint. The ceiling overhead is also
plank, and each room is delieately
shaded with different color. This
method is more durable than plaster
and more unique than papering. The
model and structure of the building was
conceived by Mr. Hough himself, and
is well worthy Of imitation by others,
who contemplate attractivness, strength
and convenience in erecting their
dwellings In an L, projecting from
the rear of the residence, faced by a
piazza, are situated the dining room,
kitchen and dairy. Adjoining the lat
ter is a well of fifty feet in depth which
affords an inexhaustible supply of pure,
cool, and limpid water To the rear is
a very large barn and stables, to house
an ample supply OF forage, and to give
shelter to the work stock and the fine.
pure bred Jersey cattle.
Mr.. Hough has sixteen head Of tho
rough bred Jerseys, besides some of the
best grades of creole cattle. His entire
place is fenced in, affording fine pas,
turage for his stock, and is threaded by
bayou Callahan which gives an abun-
dance of water through all seasons. LIZ
also has several acres in red rust-proo
oats and red clover, (planted together,
now heading and blooming, from which
he feeds his Jerseys. We never saw
! finer oats growing anywhere, and tht
/ red clover was as luxurlant as l
growing in q northern latitude. He III
50 has a large area in turnips for cattle
4 aud market purposes, and an extensive
market garden which is a fine source
1 profit to him. He has a good space o.
corn tflickly planted for soillng pur
noses German millet planted for cat
4 Tie. and sorghum for hogs. His ilelt
corn was the largest we have seen thi
season, planted in peas aud laid by.
| He has started an orchard OF choic
apples, peaches, and pears, and will sup
plemerlt these with Il vineyard aud NJ
4 orange grove, for which his land is ad
/ apted both in soil and protection
Mr.. Hough's Jerseys are the prrt
4 tiest animals of the COW kind we eve
saw. They are as gentle as cats, com
To the call OF their names, and knoy
{ their stalls for feeding like childrel
/. al their places at the family boarf
4. When the calves are to be fed, theirkin
s and humane master has only to sia
his hands together and cry @Come, ba
bies!n when they come bleating the
response to his eall. His Essex hog
are beautiful also. He readily sells a
the pigs, when two morths old, at Si
per head.
III health compelled Mr.. Hongl
retire fiom the active ministry, an
! nov lie il seeking and rapidly REGAIN
!. inc GOOD health in his delightful eountl
home. He has abandoned study for til
|, nance and devotes his entire time an
attention to his farm and stock Il
excellent wife is his worthy helpmee
and both are delighted with their pleai
ant country home.
i Their daughter Miss Alice-aD
j fifteen years old, although novice .
the culinary art, prepared the 81
ner on Saturday, and we mu
s say that an experienced head could D.
: have improved on the delicious I
3 mast. mas This is an accomplishments tn
j. few Young ladies possess; but i IS
yery important one IN this day, wh,
GOOD servants are 80 dificult to
q found and retained :,
{ We shall not omit to say that y
q Hough has Jersey cows which We
& from three to FIVE gallons OF the ficne
8 milk per day. In conclusion, we spe
i i s most delightful day with 2 2
L kind host and hostess, and hope th
Z may live long to enjoy their pieasa
ard elegant home.
- y ss---------------
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Z Z III New Orleans, the New York WoT
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