The Opelousas courier., 1889-12-07

NJ kAS HisS EfAt "a ~
immense forests Of timber, that surpass in va.
iaty and quality auy in the world, providing
endless labor for the lumhermen and cheap
Ind beautiful material for the settler. On the
south that vast inland sea, the Gulf of Mexico,
fans this prairie with constant breezes, tenn.
o, red by The waters Of the topics, giving it an
atmosphere always mellow and balmy. The
soil is q rich, fine, clay-!oanl, 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 weatthiest planters of the
state The western portion, when brought
fully into cultivation, seems to be equally pro.
ductive.
Climate, HesIthfulness and Longevity.
The influence Of the gulf breezes upon this
semi tropical region causes an n of
temperature rarely equaled. The breeze is
far more constant than upon the great prairies
If Dakota and Iowa. 1t cools and retreshes,
but never chilis, producing q blandness I'm.
known except on the Gulf coast. With nutri-
-ious foed aud such reasonable care as intelli.
gent Peep e exercise in all countries, this re-
gion will be found very healthfal to northern
immigrants, owing to the constant breezes aud
she possibility Of living in The open air at all
seasons.
Thus far il he's proven to be a perfect sani-
tariam for persons troubled with catarrh, dys.
pepsia, chronic costiveness, dryuess of the
skin, certain forms 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.
raau remarked that ll- had heard more cough.
ing during one sermon north than in a six
months residence at Lake Charles. a very
reliable old gentleman. who has resided near
Lake Charles twelve years. stated that he be-
iieved any person could live on these prairies
forty years aud never require the services OF a
physician.
There is an occasional ease 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 in semi-tropi.
cal and temperate climates ; lice, corn, oats,
millet, sugar-cane, sorghum, cotton, tobacco,
Irish and sweet potatoes can be produced
abmndantiy.
For vegetables it is equal to the best known
countries Of the world Onions, cabbage. tar.
nips, c~oilards, beets, carrots, etc. sown in the
fall grow all winter and can be grown exten.
sively for market or for stock. Irish potatoes
mature in March and April. The stra Bherry
season extends from March, to July J.. All
kinds Of berries grow almost spontaneously. In
the wood lands are thousands Of ~blackberries.
Trees and Fruit.
Southwestern Louisiana is pre-eninently q
timber and truit 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 no
enemy and will bear for more than a century.
The crop yields the farmer in many instances
over two thousand dollars per acre.
Englssh.waInuts do equally as we'll as the
peran.
The Gulfcoast produces the best fgs grown
anywhere and The crop may be relied upon az
safely as a grass crop. 1t is produced from
the cutting aud commences to bear at three
years old. With The abundant and cheap fuel
figs can be canned or dried at o coat merely
nolninal.
Oranges, peaches, pears. nectarines, apricots.
apples, plums. grapes, citrons, ounces and
persinmuns are grown with little care. Seed.
ling peach trees al TWO Years old produce on
an average half d blsleI Of peaches; at three
years old the trunk is frequently five inches
AZ atitS ~ - lt&o 10 ICu&SsiAOiNA bAdb
Tesll tt are achieved with no more care
and fertilizers than would be required foT frnit
culture iii Iowa or Illinois. II does not re. |
quire The making up OF i soil as III Florida,
nor expansive irrigation as in California.
The soil is rich and deep, showers are regu. |
lar and abundant. and transportation to the
Of the word by rail or water very d. |
rect. III a short time the cultivation Of
and 0 Dilute will become prominent in.
A remarkable feature Of the frnit industry
8 that nearly everything grows from cuttings
apples. pears, peaches, plunis, etc. This
greatly simplifes the whole problem Of fruit
propagation.
The Grasses.
It il the most natural glass land upon the
sontinent. not excepting the great prairie states
t the northwest.
As soon as the wild grass is thoroughly
by The stock, the entire soil is covered
s.gazoa'-carpet grass-(paspaluml and
Bermuda grass, the gazon taking the dryer por.
ions and tile Bermuda the rich bottom. Gazon
broad. juicy leaves as abundantly as
grass. but il has these advantages over
grass
l. II fos,ns a dense sod.
2. l. withstamds The frost better, and is rel.
shed az I'LL seasons Of the year.
3. It possesses Ave per cent more n~utritive
Material. Il makes excellent hay. In the
,reen state it ID relislied by stock better than
other grass except Bermuda.
The grazing period on good ga2on pastures
will average ten and d half months in cold
aud the entire year 10 average win
era.
On the high lands 1t Is profitable to feed
ome hay to stock during a portion Of the win.
or. Such stock as can have access TO the
grass upon the coast will keep fat during
he winter, and from such pastures large mum.
of well rounded beeves are shipped annu.
lily IN January. February and March,
Stock Water.
The water IN the small streams IL soft and
At an average depth of sixteen
set there is i thick vein Of fine sand. This
FINISHES q grand supply o. pure cool water.
1nsectss
The old notion that southwestern Louisiana
. d coilntfy pestsTsd with all kinds Of trou.
issrcts has been thoroughly exploded.
Elirs are less numerous than in most northern
and mosquitoes, except for D few days,
il long intervals, when they are brought by
he winds
On sle higher prairies there ars very few
insects 10 ffonble the stock at any season,
In this respect a most favorable compare
nlay BIZ drawn with the best grazing sec.
of any country. Cattle, ho.ses, mules
ind sheep do well. Sheep can be sheared
each year.
Pigs and poultry are raised almost without
d f.ld witt, a few shade trees meets the |
conditions u pasture and projection during all
easons.
Fish and Came.