The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-04-03

sofa will inpale either them or the
country On one horn or the other Of
these dilemnlas. Either you cannot
raise clover, timothy and other grasses
(slse you would be at I'D, or you have
suffered q deterioration In methods and
lappreciations by some mysterious
enasclilatAssns and enervation by South
ern contacts Of cline or personal inter
course; IN fine, have become Southern
lied. Please spare us these.
So strong is the tendency in men to
dogmatize, so proud are they to use
the argument OF what is called ''com-
mon sense, that because they have
seen no corn raised or planted here,
some Of these ''prospecters" say that
corn can't be raised.
Now, we rejoice to know that there is
NO SURPRISING NATURE
here. We have seen red and white
clover, timothy, blue grass, red top,
velvet lawn grass and lucerne, all doing
well In Ghanee "eatches, except the
last. sown by the thoughtfuiness Of
Hon. W. a. Harris, Commissioner of
Immigration, and better demonstra-
lions of adaptation of soil and climate
than prepared fields. And we advise
all who can tell grass when 1t is seen,
TO walk along the railroad and zee for
themselves the various grasses coming
in.
As fine illustration of how every
thing must have o beginning, it may
be mentioned that diligent search
has not revealed a sign of Japan clover
-LespetleSu stTidta-sand only q semi
occasional and most insignificant
''scatch" of Bermuda grass, grasses
abundant in many places South. How
ever, both will soon be here, as several
gentlemen are determined to secure
seed of Japan clover. Few of the i'm.
migrants know anything of either it or
Bermuda.
Another year will find plenty of
patches of the Northern grasses, as
many Of the immigrants are satisfied
they will succeed from sfcatches" of
them to be seen in many localities.
In justice to many immigrants, it should
be said that they have been both too poor to
take risks and too busy to experiment. The
raw prairie has been forbidding. They have
found that they had fine grass in native pas
lures, and that money could be made raising
rice, and, in wise and often constrained pnae-
ttcaltty, they have adhered TO a safe and sure
thing.
The future is full of brighter auspices.
Wealthy men are coming in. The rawness
OF the prairie is passing away in places.
Corn and oats have been successfully tried.
Cultivated grasses are commended to the
favorable consideration of practical obsery-
eTs. The bugbear of climate no longer buzzes
in the ear Of apprehension. The aggregate
of experiments win cover wide field of
products and leave large scope for the future
worker to broaden endeavor in bold en-
barkation in choice pursuits, instead OF
timidly hngging the shore of narrow ex-
perimentatiOn or pursuing the narrow chan
mel of antiquated agriculture.
The configuration of the prairie is broad
plain with little marshy dishes or large disks
of ponds.
It is good for TWENTY-FIVE bushels of corn
per acre and about as much of oats 1t is a
black sandy loan in the main, with sitter,
richer soils in the lower places, In the
ground Hsdrais iC is very fertile.
1t is a surprise that such fine country
should have so long passed unregarded, but
There is still room; but immigration has
transformed it. Wire fences are stretching
in many directions,
THE HOMES OF TIE IMMIGRANTS
are dotting the prairie. The moving ma
chine is a field. New agricultural imple
ments are every where TO be SEEN People
are making hay and baling 1t for sale in
New Orleans. And the curious sight for q
Southern country is stacks of hay in many
places.
Jennings needs q church and public school
house; more and better roads and bridges to
and from the town; needs badly rice mill,
and one is promised. There is a fine OPP
portunity here for the last, and somebody
will soon grasp the opportunity. In a few
years she will have q creamery.
Improved stock of beef and butter strain
are being introduced and will be improved
year by year. The town has about twenty
five houses and a population of $50 or more.
1t needs justice of the peace and notary
puhlie--latter greatly. 1t is not incorporated.
Is sober and quiet.
The Sunday school is here, and two private
schools.
The Commissioner of Immigration liscoy-
cred Mr. s. /. Carey, an Iowa gentleman,
and III latter discovered Jennings. 1t has
been superbly managed affair, and reflects
great credit on both gentlemen.
Mr.. "A. ID. McEaflain, prominent mer-
chant, wi. b the largest public spirit and hos
pitality, has been of greatest service to me.
In my many excursions have visited
many gentlemen who are of too much inn
portanee to pass with bare mention, 90 j re-
serve for another lettern narration Of their
doings and intentions.
Jennings Is a great sncsess, and In five
happy Northern and Western families In
Calcasieu and st. Landry parishes.
NJ b. HiLLYARD. I