The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-04-24

cut, both from native grasses and
grasses hereafter to be soun. For
baIing hay many presses are being
now made at their shipFard in town.
THE CULTIVATED GRASSES
viii be tried Of many kinds IN various
ways. Some experiments will be made
by seeding these on the unbroken sod
of the prairies; some under high cnl-
ture. As an illustration of the ex-
perimental spirit of Prof. Knapp and
the value Of his work as an educator,
| can say that he intends introducing
various grasses from Europe, Asia and
Australia. From the last place Sir
Henry Hill, Of Barisbane, will send al
least ten prominent grasses. mostly
unknown TO us. One he mentioned
was the Australian bIue grass, which
Prof. Knapp tested il Iowa, but the
winters there were too severe for ID.
Of course many American grasses will
be tested, or rather seeded, for they
have been abundantly and successfully
tried. | had the pleasure of suggest-
ing several myself
Prof. Knapp intends to plant largely
of the eucalyptus globaIas, or fever
tree, and has already anumber planted.
There is an evergreen eucalyptus,
which / beg to commend to him, moro
hardy than the other, grown BY the
Trappists, and which counteract the
miasmas Of the campagna. It Is due
to Prof Knapp to say chat his field Of
experimentation in stock feeding and
grass raising has been large, nice and
exact in the Agricultural College Of
Iowa, whence Mr. Watkins has cap
tured him to benefit Louisiana and the
South. The practical and scientific
agriculturists and stock raisers of the
South and the country at large win
witness his experiments with eager
eyes, and Louisiana will soon take
rank, under his auspices, as one of the
great toci Of experimentation South.
We have, thus, given some salient
features Of this
GIGANTIC SCHEME OF DEVELOPMENT,
not scheme Of colossal crndity, Of
reckless and extrayagant visionari-
ness. So far from vast jumble Of
Wild prodigality, it is system vast in
immense in expense, and
IT incalculable benefcence; in promise,
arge; in performance, far-reaching in
lime; scheme devised in large capa-
'ilities of projection, wisely managed
n details, largely promising Of remu-
leration. 1t has phllanthrophic views,
IS something more than mere Incl
lents--views not now to be divulged,
nd which, at this stage, might be dis
redited, with the common suspicious
# men--the conventional suspicIons so
o speak-of the practical worldliness
t man. Then, to back it all, is un-
United faith in the feasibility and re-
nunerativeness of the plan, and un-
tinted money.
Hereafter / shall note new phases
4 progress as they arise and supply
ossible omissions in my very cnrsory
elineation Of this most notable and
eneficent scheme, which confirms and
Emphasizes the revolution in South
'est Louisiana.
had almost forgotten to say that
liss Knapp, daughter Of Prof.
.napp, and niece Of Mr.. Watkins,
hose name | regret to say was not
iven me, have laid the foundations Of
fine school at Lake Charles, in
'hich they teach.
Prof. Knapp, in addition to his
aimed corps Of assistants, has pro-
'ssional ranchman from Australia.
The mule and sheep experiments Of
10 company must pass for the present
ithout description.
M. B, HILLYARD.