The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1885-11-28
VERMiLi0N PARISH.

CIIYDlIOl vi $3.50
the Vermilion River Or Bayou the
two vast prairies knewn by the
names of the Opelousas and Attaka-
pas. extend themselves on each side
of the Vermhion, through its whole
traverse from its entrance into At
takapas, 10 lis egcess into the Gnii
of Mexico, The distance OF Que hun
d,ei miles. Wood il ,nuch more
abundant. On the -Vermilion, than
talorg tue west bank Of The Teche,
and though the soil may he Inferior
in fertility, it is nevertheless excel
lent, aud the quantity greater on an
lcuual extent Of river. Some
of the most beautiful settlements yet
made in Attakapas, aGe upon this
river. From the diversity in soil
and elevation, there Is no risk IN
giving the preference in beauty OF
appearance, to The banks of the
Vermiiion, over any other river in
, Louisiana, south Of Bayou Benf.
II situations, favorable to health.
united to the most agreeable pros
poets, which arc bounded but by the
HORIZON, should he sought after /;
were taste to select sites for build
lings, it's research would here be re
Iquited, and be gratiied by the
breezes which come direct from the
1Gulf Of Mexico. Fancy itself could
mot form a more delightful range
than the Carancro aud Cote Gelee
settlements.
The great bulk of the land in this
parish is prairie, the timber being
confined to the water courses. This
prairie is gently undulatfng and
level, nowhere rising into hills or
sunk into gullies. 1t is undulating
enough to drain we'll I; and yet NOT
enough to wash. off the soil. The
surface is rich clay loan, ef-a black
color, from a depth Of six inches to
lone foot ; underneath is a stratum
of light clay, gradually changing to
yellow. This land is easily drained
and easily cultivated. 1t will bear
a good many years constant cropping
without manure, but, of course, a
good farmer would not require sucl
a test Of his land. Along the rivers
the sell is a yellowish loan quite
productive and covered with timber
for a distance of from one half te
lone mile and a kalf in width, from
the banks. This kind Of soil is also
easily cultivated when cleared up
!. and produces finely. Being of {
, Hight color, it is considered as more
, desirable for sugar land than thu
prairie, as the sugar aud noIasse'
. made on it, by the rude process il
vogue here, is CT q lighter and bet
ter color than that Of the prairi'
i. Hands, besides the advantages @
q being timbered. and thus furnishing
wood to boil the cane juice.
n These fine lands, both Oh tue rive
and in the prairie, are easily drained
y and cultivated. a yoke Of oxen o
span Of coed horses will pIougl
them up as deep as anyone needs
Z and one horse will cultivate then
O with ease after breaking, which car
not be done on the black stiff land
l. in the Mississippi bottom. Their
are no bad weeds, thistles or grasse
here to poison up the land, aud ir
e crease the farmers toll. Whet
we'll cultivated this soil will stan
e a long continued drought. All owe
d the prairies r to be found nume1
q Gus round ponds, as round as a ring
o and about two feet deep, by on
:e hundred to two hundred feet i
y diameter, with hard clean bottoms
and which hold water nearly tn
s. year through. These ponds furnis
0 abundant stock water, and woul
q make fine ornaments in a meade,
D or garden. Here then. to sum VI
we have a soil that is rich and cas-