The Progress., 1892-12-03
AT CALHOUN STATION.
. VIEW OF THE EXPERIMENT STA
TON AND HOW 1T IS CON-
DJCTED..
n. salient Features and Prominent De-

On Tuesday of last week, Thanks
giving Day, The PRooREss decided it
could accomplish more good by visit
ine the Experiment Farm at Calhoun
and acquainting its readers with its
workings as means of educating the
farmers and stock-raising, than by
gratifying a personal desire to stay at
Loms and enjoy the fine sermon which
DR.. w. S, Penick, of the Baptist
Church, was booked to deliver at the
Methodist house of worship on that
day.
Acting on this psychological dicta-
ton, we took the train at 8 q. m. and
hied of on schedule time on this road,
which on that morning was by no
means a hurrican pace, for Calhoun.
Calhoun, as most people in this Sec
ton of country know, is situated on
the vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific
Railroad, in the western part Of
Ouschita parish. It is but q hamlet,
consisting of few stores and
dwellings,, and being accredited with
a population of fifty. 1t is
neither prepossessing nor repul-
sive in appearance, nor does it give any
evidence of tho location, not more
than tbree-quarters Of a mile distant,
of the Experiment Station which pro-
poses to reveal to the agriculturalists
Of North Louisiana all the mysteries
Of practical farming and stock-rais-
ing, which has for years been a sealed
book to many, who were totally uD-
able to secure an implement of suffi-
Gent strength and material qualities
10 break its clasps and master its cor
tents
The first view Of the farm is not in
viting, and this is not aneliorated at
all until the inner grounds are
reached The fences-that is, many
portions Of them-are typical North
touisiana field Enclosures, being weak,
unstable and unattrsctive in appear
snce. Some Of the gates are ssgging
and move clumsily over the ground
q they are opened and closed through
puddlee of water. We noticed sew
era agricultural implements exposed
to the weather, q common practice
among Southern farmers, who gen.
orally leave their plows in the ground
where last used until they are needed
again next season. It seems to us
that if there is one thing in the world
that our farmers need education in,
It il in keeping good, strong, durable
and attractive fences where needed,
and a thorough system Of "a place
for everything and everything in it,
place. for gear, harness, agricultural
implements, etc, well housed and FREE
hon the corroding influences OF tht
westher.
The lecture hall is spacious, and
seems to be we'll built, but is devoid
Of stove or fireplace, and lao where
10 place the former that we could see
and during the cold day Of Thursday
week the handful Of meA-about ff
teen or twenty in all--sat: with theil
overcoats on, and shivered even then
during the exercises.
En- passant, we viii state that thil
station needs = hotel or boarding
house, where those from q distance
Who come may be properly cared to
without imposing on the Hospitality
Of the private quarters and residenc'
Of the manager, Major J. G. Lee.
Tn PRooREss, up to this point, ha
been plain in its adverse criticism
and it shall be equally true tn fact IL
its Communications, for there is as
suredly much TO commend IN tn
work thus far accomplished
The Experiment Farm is situated i
the western part Of Ouschita parish
the latter Of which is bounded b.
Jackson and Lincoln parishes on tn
west, Union on the northwest an,
north, Morehouse on the northeast
Richlsnd on the east and Caldwell
on the south, giving her an inclosur
of six parishes, thus making her
central point. :,
The farm contains $50 acres, which