The Opelousas courier., 1888-06-30

III pSODicC ~ NA
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 sanI-
tarium for persons troubled with catarrh, dys-
persia, chronic costiveness, dryness OF the
skin. certain forms of rheumatism, etc. Many
northern people are purchasing residence pro-
pertv at Lake Charles and other points for a
health resort. Colds are rare. One gentle
man remarked that he had heard more cough
inp during one sermon north than i'll a SIX
months rfsidence 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 pfairles
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
ducts it is a most marvellous region, apparently
capable of producing all the trees, shrubs,
fruits, cereals and grasses grown i'll seml-tropl
cal and temperate climates lice, "corn, oats,
millet, sugar-cane, sorghum, cotton, tobacco,
Irish and sweet potatoes can be produced
abundahtly.
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
siveIy for market or for stock. Irish potatoes
mature in March and April. The strawberry
season extends from March, to July |. All
kinds of berries grow almost spontaneously. In
the woodlands are thousands of hlaclsberfles
Trees and Fruit.
Southwestern Louisiana is pre- eminently a
timber and fruit country. Trees grow rapidly
and the timber is of superb quality. The pc
can grown here is larger, richer, has a softer
shell and brings a higher price his when
grown in 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 pef acre,
Engllsh-walnuts do equa,.y as y IL 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
the cutting and commences to bear at three
years old. With the abundant and cheap fuel
figs can be canned or dried at q cost merely
nominal.
Oranges, peaches, pears nectarines, aprlcots,
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. 1t must be remembered that
these results are achieved with no more care
and fertilizers than would be required for fruit
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 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 simplifies the whole problem of frnit
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. It withstands the frost better, and is rel
ished at all seasons of the year.
3. 1t possesses five per cent more nutritive
material. It makes excellent hay. In the
green state it is relished by stock better than
any other grass except Bermuda
The grazing period on good gazon pastures
will average ten and a half months in cold
winters, and the entire year in average win
ters.
On the high lands it is profitable to feed
some hay to stock during a portion of the win;
ter. Such stock as can have access to the
salt grass upon the coast will keep fat during
the winter, and from such pastures large num-
bers Of well rounded heeves are shipped annu-
ally in January, February and March.
Stock Water.
The water in the small streams is soft and
abundant. At al average depth of sixteen
feet there is a thick vein of fine sand. This
furnishes a grand supply o fpnre cool water
Insects
Tn 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.
tons of any country. Cattle, horses, mules
and sheep do well. Sheep can be sheared
twice each year.
Pigs and poultry are raised almost without
care F; a field with a few shade trees meets the
conditions of pasture and protection during al
seasons.
Fish and Game.
Fish of the choicest varieties are present il
such immense quantities that they will eyentn
ally become an article of commerce. TIL
small game upon the coast, the abundant deel
in the pine woods and the fish in the streams
with mild winters make this country the para
disc of sportsmen.
Winter Resort.
In a short time southwestern Louisiana will
become the winter resort for thousands o
northern people. Its genial climate. beautiful
scenery and unsurpassed fruits and game are
sufficient attractions to insure this.
Preparations will be made this summer te
receive the thousands of people who desire tt
spend next winter in southwestern Louisiana
Ample hotels will be erected at Lake Charles
Timber and improvements.
On the north of this prairie belt are immense
bodies of the finest timber in the world, pine
cypress, live oak, water oak, white oak, pin
OAK, beech, maple, sWeetgun, mulberry, ash,