The Opelousas courier., 1893-04-01
Correspondence.
HAAsv1LLE, LA, March 81, 1895

NASHVILLE, La, March q, 1893.
Editor COURIER:
This month of March has been ruled by /
blustery tornado star. From beginning tt
date there has been constant changes coins
on-warm for a few da4s at a time then blus
terry, with frost and ice; variable to a degree
seldom if ever noticed before this year, anG
poets progressed as we'll as was expected it
would at the opening of the month.
Corn was planted in due time, came up tC
a very good stand but the cold and icy frost
that came down to us from the cold, blizzard,
ly North on the 18th and 18th was a scorchel
to the young corn that was up. But since
the late rains it is beginning to look better,
and bids fair, if nc more frost, to mako a
good crop.
The area to corn this year is very large in
this locality, our farmers are growing tired
and sick of the all cotton crop; of course
some cotton will be planted, but the crop
will be nothing like as large as in the past.
All who could do SO have planted cane.
Seed cane was scarce, hence not as much
planted as would have been if seed had been
more abundant; however the acreage has
been considerably increased above that
planted In cane during the past many years.
central factories have made it possible for
che farmers to grow cane at a profit, there
fore we may confidently expect to see the
acreage to cane increased in the future.
Gardening and truck farming has not done
so we'll thus far this spring. We have had
too many frosts and cold spells, for real pro
titable success with early vegetables.
So far as your scribe can see and learn,
fruit has not so far been much injured, par
ticularly peaches and plums.
The hard close times have not by any
means deferred our go-ahead farmers, all
seem as spirited as ever to achieve success,
and will keep to the front unless some scri-
nJJC IiCna tnr GTans YIN +Io WV - l;.jn +lax,
1t is to be hoped that the Immigration Con
vention held in New Orleans last week, will
be the means OF arousing public spirit in the
interest and welfare of the State and set the
wheels OF progress to revolving more rapidly.
One thing we wish to mention is that it
takes money first Of all else to work up I'm
migration, without which dry long speeches
are OF little or no good. Why not the State
take one half of the 5000, 900, said to be in
the State Treasury, when the present al-
mlnlstratlon went into power, and use the
half $500 900 for the purpose of advertising
the State ana Its resources that is our idea
OF business, or in other words a western idea,
and we hope it is not impertinent nor will be
considered as such to mention it.
Another stray thought of ours is. for in
stance the live business men in the larger
towns and country to take hold of the Immi-
grafton subject and push it through the home
country press. We may be wrong in our CON
lectures, opinions. etc, but progress should
begin at home the country press is a part of
home, in fact the defender Of our homes and
BY organizing home immigration
associations, and patronizing the home jour
nails, literally sustaining them, paying for
wras-ups of the towns, country and parish.
would do more to bring to notice our sunny
land than any one thing else. 1t is not our
object to urge this or any other matter, hav-
ing no special interest further than to see
the country, its toSns and people grow pros
porous, by building more beautiful churches,
school houses, improved public roads, facto-
rles. shops, lines of Communication, etc.
With the above wei aust close by wishing
for our readers a prosperous year.
Yours, ILLINOIS.