The Opelousas courier., 1886-10-16

the field need not be pushed as further north.
2nd. That however hot the day is, it is al
ways cool and comfortable in the shade.
3rd. The nights are always delightful, the
sea breeze tanning you to sleep. They scout
at the notion so PREVALENT north, that white
men cannot work in this climate, and that 9th
er-that the climate is enervating. AS to the
first, they speak from experience.
HAVING LABoRED DAILY
at the hardest outdoor labor for the two sea-
sons last past, without inconvenience or injury.
As to the second they referred first to their own
experience, and second, enquired why such
charge should be laid to Louisiana, when no
one thinks of making it against Florida or
southern California-countries with climates
identical with that of Louisiana? l confess
to inability to answer In this connection L
may remark that within the past three years
principally within the past two, some
THREE HUNDRED NORTHERN PEOPLE
principally from northern Iowa. have settled
here, part in this parish, but more in Caleasieu,
and are doing well and are delighted with the
change. The climate is very healthftA.
Typhoid fever, diphtheria, and diseases of that
nature are almost unknown. There is some
malaria, but not more l think than in Page
county. I saw and heard of but little sickness,
either among natives OF Others. The region is
not as good for corn as southwestern Iowa,
though the yield is from IS to so bushels per
sore. If put in early it is a certain crop. The
natives raise but little and pay but little atten-
ton to it, scarcely ever cultivating it more than
once, and that with a pillow that a Page county
| farmer would not allow to be seen on his
farm, much less used The price ranges from
40c to $1.00 per bushel-sometimes higher
than that. 1t ought to be a successful crop.
Potatoes, both sweet and Irish are easily raised
and yield ~abundantly. Two crops per year
are raised on the same ground. They com
mand a good price and are a profitable crop
I have seen many bee hives, and those engag-
ed in it claim that the, country and climate are
peculiarly adapted to that culture. Grass
grows with
WONDERFUL LUXURIANCE.
Among the natives making hay is Utmost un-
known, and is not fed, except to work horses
in the towns. but the Iowans settling here
have been putting it up for the New Orleans
market. where it has been selling this winter
at 1913 per ton. On the prairie over which
the stock ranged they cut and put up 3 tons
per acre. Some of these grasses remain green
throughout the winter. and perpetuatly green
pastures can be had as easily as not. The ma
tive cattle betake themselves in winter, in
large numbers, to the sWamps where the
"switch cane" abounds and upon that they
get very fat. In these swamps, too. hogs
thrive through the winter.
SMALL GRAINS Do WE'LL,
but no one ever attempted to raise wheat here,
SO far as / can hear, and as TO whether it could
be successfully cultivated, | can not say.
Vegetables of all kinds thrive wonderfully and
the gardens are, or should be, green all the
year. The present crop of cabbage is just
heading. The New Orleans papers state that
strawberries from the open field have been
brought into town within the past day or two.
In. this town are a couple of appletrees
which are doing well. They are seedlings, but
it is believed that fruit will do, at least, fairly
well. The orange is a tender tree. and this
town is too far north for its culture, though a
few miles south, particularly along the streams,
they are easily raised. They can be raised
here easily sufficient in number for the family
use. by planting near buildings. LISA
GREAT PEAR COUNTRY.
Ounces in abundance and the finest I ever
saw; figs, peaches, nectarines, apricots, black
berries, raspberries. strawberries-I caunot re-
member all-can do no better than here.
Ii is impossible that any country should
surpass this for cattle, horses or hogs. The
abundant pasturage, the plentiful and palatable
water, the easy culture Of the many grains,
upon which to work or fatten, insures the
largest returns for the smallest investment of
labor. Poultry do far better than with us. +
heard of no disease among them they lay as
well in winter as in summer and the market
for both eggs and fowls is as good or better
than with us.
HOG CHOLERA TOO, Is UNKNOWN HERE,
though swine are so scarce that it would take
a good while for the news to become general
had it invaded the country.
The cost of living is or ought to be low.
The products of the garden, yard and farm
ought nearly to sustain a family though moth
ing were sold. How could an Iowa farmer,
conducting his business here as he does there,
fail to become rich? Why can he not make
here two dollars for every one possible there
1t ne comes and sees for himself, ! am persuad-
ed that he will conclude he can. Are not
these people prosperous you inquirer Mo-!
country is as poor or nearly so. as at the
close of the war. It seems paradoxical that
my prior statements can be true and this last
true too, yet it is correct. The causes are
The war left
THIS COUNTRY PHOSPHATE,
while the North was more populous, more
prosperous than when it commenced. Both
Federal and Confederate armies swept and
reswept it again and again. Fences, houses,
gins, sugar houses were injured or destroyed.
of all kinds had ceased. Desolatiom
The principal wealth of the North
lay in her labor, the true basis of all wealth;
that wealth she had in abundance and of the
best kind. Not so these people. The whites
know nothing of work. They had to learn
how and there was no teacher. The blacks,
telieved from the coercion of slavery and with
he crudest of ideas about freedom, COMPOUNDED
liberty with Incidence and neither the ambi.
ion melted by education nor the stimulus of
want compelled e~xertion. Without capital
either in money, labor or experience how could
t be expected that the waste places should be
ebuilt7 Again, this people
HAVE MADE THE MISTAKE
# attempting to run too large farms. Were