The Opelousas courier., 1888-07-21
Louisiana.

IVAN
other portion of the South.
On the north and skirting these rivers are
immense forests of timber, that surpass in va
riety and quality any in the world, providing
| endless labor for the lumbermen and cheap
and beautiful material for the settler. On the
south that vast inland sea, the Gulf of Mexico,
fans this prairie with constant breezes, tenn
De red by the waters of the topics, giving it an
atmosphere always mellow and balmy. The
soil is a rich, fine, clay-loam, susceptible of
high cultivation. The eastern portion OF this
tract-The Teche country-has long been re-
garded as the Garden of Louisiana and has
been sought by the wealthiest planters of the
state The western portion, when brought
fully into cultivation, seems to be equally pro-
ductive.
Climate, H~ealthfulness and Longevity.
The influence of the gulf breezes upon this
semitropical region causes an evenneSS OF
temperature rarely equaled. The breeze is
far more constant than upon the great pralries
of Dakota and Iowa. 1t cools and refreshes,
but never chills, producing a blandness UNI
known except on the Gulf coast. With nutri-
| tious food and such reasonable care as intelli-
gent people exercise in all countries, this re-
gion will be found very healthful to northern
immigrants, owing to the constant breczes and
the possibility of living in the open air at all
seasons.
Thus far it has proven to be a perfect SAM
tarium for persons troubled with catarrh, dys-
pepsia, chronic costiveness, dryness OF the
skin, certairrforms of rheumatism, etc. Many
northern people are purchasing residence pro-
perty at Lake Charles and other points for a
health resort. Colds are rare. One gentle
man remarked that he had heard more cough
ing during one sermon north than Ill a SIX
months residence at Lake Charles. A very
reliable old gentleman, who has resided near
lake Charles twelve years, stated that he be-
lieved any person could live on these prairies
forty years and never require the services of a
physician.
There is an occasional case of malaria ABOUT
the same as in Illinois or Iowa,
Productions.
In the variety and the perfection of its pro-
duets it is a most marvellous region, apparently
capable of producing all the trees, shrubs,
fruits, cereals and grasses grown in mi-tropi-
cal and temperate climates lice, corn, oats,
millet, sugar-cane, sorghum, cotton, tobacco,
Irish and sweet potatoes can be produced
abundantly.
For vegetables it is equal to the best known
countries of the world Onions, cabbage. tur-
nips, collards, beets, carrots, etc. sown in the
fall grow all winter and can be grown extern
sively for market or for stock. Irish potatoes.
mature in March and April. The strawberry
season extends from March, to July L. Ali
kinds of berries grow almost spontaneously. In
the wood lands are thousands of blackberries.
Trees and Fruit.
Southwestern Louisiana is pre- eminentiy a
timber and fruit country. Trees grow rapidly
and the timber is of snpe,b quality. The Pc
can grown here is larger, richer, hasa softer
shell and brings a higher price lltan when
grown iii the interior. The pecan has no
enemy and will bear for more than a century.
The crop yields the farmer in many instances
over two thousand dollars -, acre
EnglIsh-walnuts do equally s/well as the
pecan.
The Gulfcoast produces the best figs grown
anywhere and the crop may be relied upon as
safely as a grass crop. 1t is produced from
years old. With the abundant and cheap fuel
figs can be canned or dried at a cost merely
nominal.
Oranges, peaches, pears, nectarines, apricots,
apples, plums, grapes, %citrons, ounces and
persimmons are grown with little care. Seed
ling peach trees at two years old produce on
an average half a bushel Of peaches; at three
years old the trunk is frequently five inches
in diameter. Il must be remembered that
these results are achieved with no more care
and fertilizers than would be required for fruit
culture in lows or Illinois. It does not re-
qaire the making up of a soil as in Florida,
nor expensive irrigation as in California.
The soil is rich and deep, showers are regu-
lar and abundant, and transportation to the
markets of the world by rail or water very di-
rect. In a short time the cultivation of
olives and of jute will become prominent in
dustries.
A remarkable feature Of the fruit industry
is that nearly everything grows from cuttings
apples, pears, peaches, plums, etc. This
greatly simplifes the whole problem of fruit
propagation.
The Grasses.
1t is the most natural grass land upon the
continent. not excepting the great prairie states
of the northwest.
As soon as the wild grass is thoroughly
trampled by the stock, the entire soil is covered
with "gazon"-carpet grass-(paspalum) and
Bermuda grass, the gazon taking the dryer por-
tons and the Bermuda the rich bottom. Gazon
produces broad, juicy leaves as abundantly as
orchard grass, but it has these advantages over
orchard grass
/. 1t forms a dense sod.
2. 1t withstands the frost better, and is rel
ished at all seasons of the year.
d. Al pusstSSeS 1--WE PEI CeHb LioIc iiutiILIFc
material. 1t makes excellent hay. In the
green state it is relisled by stock better than
any other grass except Bermuda
The grazing period on good gazon pastures
will average ten and a halfomonths in cold
winters, and the entire year in average win
tiers.
On the high lands it is profitable to fed
some hay to stock during a portion of the win
ter. Such stock as can have access to the
salt grass upon ahe coast will keep fat during
the winter, and from such p~asturesFarge fnni
bers of well rounded beeves are shipped annu-
ally in January, february and March.
Stock Water.
The water in the small streams is soft aud
abundant. At am average depth Of sixteen
feet there is a thick vein of fine sand. This
furnishes a grand supply Of pure cool water
Insects.
The old notion that southwestern Louisiana
is a country pestered with all kinds of trou-
blesome insects has been thoroughly exploded.
Flies are less numerous than in most northern
states and mosquitoes, except for a few days,
at long intervals, when they are brought by
the wind.
On the higher prairies there are very few
insects to trouble the stock at any season,
and in this respect a most favorable compare
son may be drawn with the best grazing sec
lions of any country. Cattle, ho.ses, mules
and sheep do well. Sheep can be sheared
twice each year.
Pigs and poultry are raised almost without
care ; q field with a few shade trees meets the
conditions of pasture and protection during all
GPaQ0na @EZ aEaELE