The Opelousas courier., 1888-06-09
Southwestern Louisiana.

ried and substantial than any other land. Inc
following facts may be added in support OF
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 than 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
south that vast inland sea, the Gulf of Mexico,
fans this prairie with constant breezes, tenn
DC 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 Techc c~ountry-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,
duttive.
Climate, H~eaIthfllness and Longevity.
The influence of the gulf breezes upon this
semi-tropical region causes an eVenness OF
temperature rarely equaled. The breeze is
far more constant than upon the great prairies
of Dakota and Iowa. 1t cools and refreshes,
but never chilIs, producing a blandness I'M
known except on the Gulf coast. With nutri-
tious food and such reasonable care as intelli-
gent peop.e exercise in all countries, this re-
zion will be found very healthful to northern
immigrants, owing to the constant breezes and
the possibility of living in ~theSopen tE at all
seasons. I
Thus far it has proven to be a perfect SAM
tarium for persons troubled with catarrh, dys-
pepsia. chronic costiveness, dryness of the
skin. certain forms of rheumatism, etc. Many
northern people are purchasing residence pro-
perry at Lake Charles and other points for a
health resort. Colds are rare. Che gentle
man remarked that he had heard more cough
ing during one sermon north than III 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 pfaifleS
forty years and never require the services of a
physician.
There is an 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 i'll seml-tropi-
cal and temperate climates lice, corn, oats
milIet, 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. tnr'
nips, collards, bcets, 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. All
kinds Of berries grow almost spontaneously.tfu
the wood lands are thousands of blackberries
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 than when
grown in the interior. The pecan has nc
enemy and will bear formore than a century
The crop yields the farm r. in many instances
over two thousand dollal per acre.
Engllsh-walnuts do equally as well as the
pecan.
The Gulfcoast produces the best figs grown
anywhere and the cop 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 tue
figs can be canned or dried at a cost merely
nominal.
Oranges, peaches, pears, nectarines, apricots
, apples, plums. grapes, citrons, ounces ane
persimmons are.grown with little care. Seed
ling peach trees at two years old produce or
an average half a bushel of peaches; at three
years old the trunk is frequently five inche:
in diameter. II must be remembered tina
these results are achieved with no more cart
and fertilizers than would be required for frui
Il 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 thu
, markets of the world by rail or water very di
! rect. In a short time the cultivation o
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. Thi
greatly simplifies the whole problem of frui
+ PROPAGATION.
1t is the most natural grass land upon tn
continent. not excepting the great prairie states
of the northwest.
As soon as the wild grass is thoroughly
Sdulplcu NY II SIoCA; M SOil = SOSClCN
with ''gazon"-carpet grass-(paspalum) ant
Bermuda grass, the gazon taking the dryer por
tions and the Bermuda the rich bottom. Gazor
: produces broad, juicy leaves as abundantly al
: orchard grass, but it has these advantages owe
7 orchard grass
l. It forms a dense sod.
, 2. 1t withstands the frost better and is rel
f ished at all seasons of the year.
3. 1t possesses five per cent more ~nutritiv,
material. 1t makes excellent hay. In tht
green state it is relished by stock better thar
y any other grass except Bermuda,
/ The grazing period on good gazon pasture.
, will average ten and a half months in colo
winters, and the entire year in average win
/ tiers.
On the high lands it is profitable to feee
some hay to stock during a portion of the win
ter. Such stock as can have access to tht
,, salt grass upon the coast will keep fat during
the winter, and from such pastures large mum
: bers of well rounded beeves are shipped annu
ally in January, February and March.
Stock Water.
The water in the small streams is soft anC
abundant At an average depth of sixteen
) feet there is a thick vein of fine sand, Thi:
furnishes a grand supply ofpure cool water
Insects.
!, The old notion that southwestern Louisiana
is a country pestered with all kinds of trou
hlesome insects has been thoroughly exploded
areless numerous than in most northern
i afatas and mnsuuikoes excenbfo for q few dava