The Opelousas courier., 1893-01-07
Aice Culture on our Bavous.

has oeen confined to the low places ON
our prairles, or to such spots on which
water could be retained, and yerv jit,lu
attention has been given to the culti
sation OF the cereal on our allnyial
Dayou lands. In fact it was even
thought to be impracticable to attemnt
rice growing in that section. Experi.
ence, however, during this and the mast
season has demonstrated that rice suc-
ceeds even better there than in u prai-
RES. Last year a Mr.. Fem, a gentle
man llvlng on bayOn Cocodrie, conceiy
ed the idea of planting 25 acres Of rice
as an experiment, and irrigating il by
means OF a pump from the bayou.
The result of his venture exceeded his
most sangnine expectations, he haviGg
harvested abont 25 bbls. per acre, and
MS crop was pronounced by men com
petent to judge, as the finest rice they
ever saw grow. Stimulated bv Mr..
tenn's success, others have engaged
10 the business this year along the
B9uf, Cocodrie and .Waxia. and the
general verdict from all is that thew
have good crops and are generally we'll
pleased with the result of the venture.
1t may he added that the bayous of
our allineal sections have one advan-
tage over the prairies in being able to
OBTAIN water for the purpose of irriga-
ton whenever it is needed, and anoth-
er is being able, on of the
gradual fall of the land from the bayou
front to the swamps to let the water
on Uhnnnunr ~ I1oarooo
In some sections of the prairie the re-,
verse of these conditions exists.
Planters are wholly dependent on sea-
sonable rains for water, and then if the
spell OF wet weather is %protracted, as
it has been this season, they cannot
get rid of the water and have their
land to dry out in time for the harvest
ing of the early crop. This condition
entails delay. the loss of a good deal
of rice, and places on the market very
inferior grades Of rice which has n ten
dency to force down and lower prices
in the early part of the season.
Another advantage in the settlement
of bayou lands is the proximity of tim
Der for fuel and farm improvements.
ln some portions of our prairies fire.
wood has to be hauled seven or eight
miles, and then it is of an inferior
quality, whereas on our bayous th9re
is an inexhaustible supply near ut
hand and that of the very best quality
necessitating the expenditure of much
less labor in securing the comforts le.
sultipg from good fires in winter and
enabling the farmer to devote more of
his time and attention to his farming
operations proper
As regards health the bayou section
compares favorably with the prairies,
and ifanything is more healthful than
the prairie regions in which rice cul
ture has been very much developed
and expanded. So of all who wish to
locate among as and engage in the cul-
tivation of the cereal under considera-
ton we would request that they give
their attention to these bayou lands.
Improved lands there can be purchased
more cheaply than the rice lands in the
prairies, and they are not only suitable
for the production of rice, bat are very
fertile and will grow cotton, cane, corn
or anything else that can be produced
in this country.
We have quantities of such lands for
sale and would call the attention of
prospective buyers to them. Call and
see us or write to as and we will take
pleasure in imparting any information
which we H~.Sssess regarding them.
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The proper way to seenre good