The Opelousas courier., 1888-06-23

LlOUS LUOu IlIu SuCu ICNoClldDIt SdiS 90 WI
gent people exercise in all countries, this re-
gion 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 persens troubled with c%atarrh, dys,
pepsia, chronic costiveness, dryness OF the
skin. certain forms of rheumatism, etc. Many
northern people are purchasing residence pro-
perty at Lake Charles and other points for a
heslth resort. Colds are rare. One gentle
man remarked that he had heard more cough
ing during one sermon north than i'll Il 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 ct a
physician.
There is all occasional case of malaria ABOUT
the same as i'll 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 in semI-tfopi-
cal and temperate climates lice, corn, oats,
miIlet, 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
siyely 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 blackberries.
rroo. ,D1 Emit
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 softer
shell and brings a higher price Than wheh
enemy and will bear for fore than a century.
The crop yields the farmer m ms : instances
over two thousand dollars per acre.
English-walnuts do equally as 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
the cutting and commences to bear at three
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 Iowa or Illinois. 1t does not re-
quire the making up of a soil as in Florida,
nor expensive irrigation as in California.
1 MI Ill = - 81 Hoo h1rrror o~n 81 ~1
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
l. 1t 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 n%utritive
material. 1t 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
,.H - --l LIE 1911. - LII
winters, and the entire year in average win
tiers.
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 we'll rounded beeves are shipped annu-
ally in January, February and March.
Stock Water.
The water in the small streams is seft and
abundant. At an average depth of sixteen
feet there is a thick vein of fine sand. This
furnishes a grand supply of pnre 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
StaLtS anu hios4uilotS, eACept lul d lew udyS,
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 compari.
son may be drawn with the best grazing sec
tons of any country. Cattle, horses, mules
and sheep do we'll. Sheep can be sheared
twice each year.
Pigs and pouitry are raised almos. without
care a field with few shade trees meets the
conditions of pasture and protection during all
| seasons.
Fish and Game.
Fish of the choicest varieties are present in
such immense quantities that they will .eventu.
ally become an article of The
small game upon the coast, the abundant deer
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 Of
northern people. Its genial climate, beautiful
scenery and unsurpassed fruits and game are
sufficient attractions to insure this.
Preparations will be made this summer to
receive the thousands of people who desire te
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, nine,
cypress, live oak, water oak, white oak, pin
oak, beech, maple, sweetgum, mulberry, ash.