The Opelousas courier., 1888-07-28
Louisiana.

Southwestern Louisiana.
This beautiful garden land of the continent,
presents attractions to the immigrant more va
RED and substantial than any other land Inc
following facts may be added in support o'
this broad assertion
1t is the Southern Prairie Region.
This beautiful prairie belt is traversed by
more navigable rivers than any other country
of equal territory, affording cheap transporta-
ton to the markets of the world, and inter
spersed with more magnificent lakes thah any
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
sonth that vast inland sea, the Gulf of Mexico,
fans this prairie with constant breezes, tenn
pe red by the waters of the topics, giving it an
atmosphere always mellow and balmy. The
soil is q rich, fine, clay-loam, susceptible OF
| high cultivation. The eastern portion OF this
tract-The Teche c~ountry-has long been re-
| parded 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, Healthfulness and Longevity.
The influence of the gulf breezes uFsd this
semi-tropical region causes an evenness OF
temperature rarely equaled. The breeze is
far more constant than upon the great pralrles
of Dakota and Iowa. 1t cools and refreshes,
but never chills, producing a blandness I'M
known except on the Cult coast. WITH nutri'
lions food and such reasonable care as lntelll-
.aut .oo,ia. avaroico in oil pnUntrlhS. This re-
Zion will be found very healthful to northern
Immigrants, owing to the constant breezes 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, shronic costiveness, dryness OF the
| skin. certain forms of rheumatism, etc. Many
northern people are purchasing residence pro
nerty at Lake Charles and other points for a
health resort. Colds are rare. One gentle
man remarked that he had heard more cough
ing ddring one sermon north than IN a SIX
months residence at Lake Charles. A very
reliable old gentleman, who has resided neal
Lake Charles twelve years, stated that he be
lieved any person could live on these pralries
forty years and never require the services oil 9
physician.
There is an occasional case of malaria apouj
the same as in Illinois OF Iowa.
Productions.
Tn the variety and the perfection of its pro
duets it is a most marvellous region, apparently
J capable of producing all the trees, shrubs
fruits, cereals and grasses grown in semi-tropl
cal and temperate climates ilee' corn, oats
, millet, sugar-cane, sorghum, cotton, tobacco
Irish and sweet potatoes can be produced
abundantly.
For vegetables it is equal to the best know
: countries of the world Onions, cabbage. tnr
nius. colIards, beets, carrots, etc. sown in th'
! fall grow all winter and can be grown exten
siveIy for market or for stock. Irish potatoe
mature in March and April. The strawberr,
season extends from March, to July /. AL
r kinds Of berries grow almost spontaneously. II
the woodlands are thousands of blackberries
Trees and Fruit.
Southwestern Louisiana is pre-eminently
+ timber and fruit country. Trees grow rapid.
and the timber is of s~uperbsqualrR The pc
can grown here is larger, richer, has a softe
shell and brings a higher price llAn whel
. grown in the interior. The pecan has ii
enemy and will bear for more than a century
, The crop yields the farRer in Hsny instance
= over two thousand dollars per. aGre.
Engllsh-walnuts do equally as well as tn
: pecan.
3 The Gulfcoast produces the best figs grown
anywhere and the crop may be relied upon a
/ safely as a grass crop. 1t is produced iron
: the cutting and commences to bear at thre
years old. With the abundant and cheap fue
figs can be canned or dried at a cost merel,
nominal.
u Oranges, peaches, pears, nectarines, apricots
apples, plums. grapes, %citrons, ounces ant
persimmons are grown with little care. Seed
!. ling peach trees at two years old produce oil
an average half a bushel of peaches; at tire
years old the trunk is frequently five inche
in diameter. It must be remembered tina
a these results are achieved with no more car
- and fertilizers than would be required for frui
: culture in Iowa or Illinois. 1t does not re
quire 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 tn
markets of the world by rail or water very di
: rect. In a short time the cultivation 0
. olives and of iute will become prominent in
dustries.
A remarkable feature of the fruit industr,
is that nearly everything grows from. cutting
/, APPLES. pears, peaches, plums, etc. Thi
greatly simplifes the whole problem OF trni
propagation.
1t is the most natural grass land upon thu
: continent. not excepting the great prairie states
of the northwest.
AS soon as the wild grass is thorough,
: trampled by the stock, the entire soil is covered
;. with "gazon''-carpet grass-(paspalum) ant
Bermuda grass, the gazon taking the dryer POI
+ tons and the Bermuda the rich bottom. Gazol
produces broad, juicy leaves as %abundantly a
: orchard grass, but it has these advantages owe
orchard grass /:
Z /. It forms a dense sod.
2. 1t withstands the frost better, and is rel
: ished at all seasons of the year.
3. 1t possesses five per cent more nutritiy
material. 1t makes excellent hay. In tn
green state it is relished by stock better thai
any other grass except Bermuda.
The grazing period oEgood gazon pasture
: will average ten and a half months in coll
winters, and the entire year in average win
) tiers. Cd
II On the high lands it is profitable to fee
' some hay to stock during a portion OF the win
d ter. Such stock as can have access to tn
d salt grass upon the coast will keep fat durini
the winter, end from such pastures large nun
bers of well rG,nded beeves are shipped annu
ally in January, February and March.
Stock Water.
The water in the small streams is soft an
abundant At an average depth of sixtee
/ feet there is a thick vein of fine sand. Thi
? ? furnishes a grand supply ofpnre cool water
g Insects.