FACTS ABOUT THE SOUTH. Parties desiring reliable information concerning the South, should address either of the undersigned and receive a copy of “ SOUTHERN HOME-SEEKERS' GUIDE FOR 1895. J. F. MERRY, Asst. Gen. Pass. Agt., MANCHESTER, IOWA. W. R. ISRAEL, Gen. Northern Pass. Agt,, 194 Clark St., CHICAGO, ILL J. T. HARAHAN, SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT, T. J. ^HUDSON, TRAFFIC MANAGER, M. C. MARKHAM, ASST. TRAFFIC MANAGER. A. H. HANSON, GENERAL PASS. AGT. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1895, Describing the Agricultural and Horticultural advantages of the Country traversed by THE ILLINOIS CENTRAL AND THE YAZOO & MISSISSIPPI VALLEY RAILROADS, IN THE STATES OF KENTUCKY, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, LOUISIANA. CEDAR RAPIDS, IOWA: REPUBLICAN PRINTING CO,, PRINTERS AND BINDERS SOUTHERN HOME, Oak Street UNCLASSIFIED \ Southern Homeseekers’ Guide FOR 1895. When the Passenger Department of the Illinois Central Railroad issued its first Southern immigration pamphlet entitled “Southern Home Seekers’ Guide,” they were equally as con- fident as now that much of the soil in Kentucky, West Tennes- see, Mississippi and Louisiana was especially adapted to diversi- fied farming; and that with proper care, and an intelligent and free use of fertilizer, practically the same crops as are grown in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, (with few exceptions) could be successfully and profitably grown in the Southern States alreadj^ mentioned. At that time, however, very few Northern farmers had located in the South, and Southern farmers were still intent on growing the same identical crops with which they were familiar and which had been fairly successful twenty, thirty and forty years ago. Wheat and tobacco in Kentucky, cotton and corn in West Tennessee and Mississippi, and cotton and sugar cane in Louisiana, were the staple crops and were grown year after year to the exclusion of nearly every other crop. The new pamphlet, “Southern Home Seekers’ Guide,” soon found its way into the homes of many Northern farmers, and the statements therein concerning the possibilities of that sec- tion of country adjacent to the Southern Division of the Illinois Central Railroad in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Missis- sippi and Louisiana, were read and discussed by a few families 'who had become tired of the long, tedious winters in the North and had resolved to visit the South with a view to looking the country over carefully; and if the climate and conditions were 941108 4 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. favorable, and as represented in the pamphlet, to make invest- ments and, so soon as they could dispose of their Northern property, immigrate to their new Southern home. What was the result? Simply this, that while they did not find everything exactly to their liking, yet the advantages of farming in a section of country where two and sometimes three crops are successfully grown in a single year on the same land; where the climate was such that men could work in the field nearly every day in the year; where fuel in abundance could be had for the hauling, and where nearly every variety of vegetable that had been experimented with grew to perfection, presented itself so forcibly to the minds of these Home Seekers that they made investments in Northern Louisiana and Southern Missis- sippi, paying from three to eight dollars an acre for lands, and returned North enthusiastic over their purchases and the new country which they woulcf soon adopt as their permanent home. All this occurred in 1885, only ten years ago. What a change! Indeed, it seems incredible. Now thousands of Northern families are located at points on the line of the South- ern Division of the Illinois Central. Villages of Northern peo- ple, with all their characteristic comforts, educational, social and church advantages, have sprung up. Hundreds and thousands of acres that were covered with forest in 1885 are cleared of trees and stumps and cultivated in strawberries, plums and peaches, in tomatoes, peas, radishes, Irish and sweet potatoes, and other vegetables, and yield to their owners from $25 to $200 per acre annually. But this is not all. The cattle industry is one that is now claiming the attention of Northern stock growers, and large tracts of cheap lands are being purchased in Tennessee and Mississippi, with a view to growing and fattening stock. And why not? Mississippi is the recognized banner cotton state, and in addition to her large list of nutritious native grasses and her yearly crop of excellent corn, she has cotton seed meal, cotton seed hulls and oil cake in abundance and at the lowest possible prices. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 5 In another part of this guide will be found an article from the pen of Prof. I. P. Roberts, Director of the College of Agri- culture and of the Experiment Station at Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. , in which he gives the benefit of a recent experi- ment in feeding stock at Calhoun, Madison county, Mississippi. Every Northern farmer who is impressed with the idea that the South possesses no advantages for growing and feeding stock should carefully read the statement of Prof. Roberts, which is illustrated by the use of cuts, showing the barns, sheds, silo, etc., used on his Mississippi farm. The ‘ 'Southern Home Seekers’ Guide,” pulished in 1885, has done excellent work. It was the means of furnishing cor- rect information concerning the South, and establishing many Northern farmers on Southern farms. The supply, however, was limited and long since exhausted; while the demand for such information concerning the Soutti has steadily increased. To meet this demand the Passenger Department of the Illinois Central Railroad issues this ‘‘Southern Home Seekers’ Guide for 1895,” which contains many letters from Northern men who for two, five, seven or more years have lived and farmed in the South. Their testimony as to what can be successfully and profitably grown in the South will be of special interest to every Southern Home Seeker, no matter in what branch of agriculture they desire to engage, and these letters also clearly show that the summers of the South are far more pleasant than many of our Northern people have supposed, and that the future possi- bilities of that country are indeed wonderful. The characteristic Northern farmer is no sooner located in the South than he begins to experiment with a variety of crops, and the result is that between Cairo and New Orleans, and Memphis and New Orleans, the growing of wheat, oats, tobacco, corn, cotton, sugar cane, sorghum, strawberries, peaches, plums, pears, and every variety of vegetable, is no longer an experi- ment. The question is no longer asked, what crops can be successfully grown in the South? And yet it is quite natural that one looking for a Southern home should inquire what are 6 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. the predominating crops in different localities, and this we will try to make plain. The crops of Kentucky and West Tennessee are practically the same, winter wheat, oats, tobacco, corn, and fruits. Mis- sissippi excels in cotton, corn, stock growing, fruits and vege- tables; Louisiana in sugar cane, rice, sorghum, tobacco, straw- berries, and vegetables. From one station in Northern Louis- iana 42,000 cases of strawberries were shipped during the season of 1893, most of which were marketed in Chicago and other Northern markets. This is remarkable when we consider the fact that in 1885 this station was simply a side track in the pine woods, from which little or nothing was shipped but logs and lumber. From another station, in Mississippi, 360 carloads of toma- toes and 220 carloads of other farm products were shipped dur- ing the season of 1893, and other Northern settlements in the South will ship full carloads of strawberries and vegetables the coming season. But the reader is waiting to know if any of these lands conveniently near the railroad are still in the market, and, if so, at what prices. We answer, yes; there is* yet to be had thous- ands of acres of just such land as we have already described as yielding returns of from $25 to $200 per acre, and these lands can be bought at from $5 to $25 per acre, according to loca- tion. On the line of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, between Memphis and Vicksburg, are hundreds of thousands of acres of the choicest cotton and corn lands in the world. Between Vicksburg and Baton Rouge, in the vicinity of Port Gibson, Centerville, Gloster and Natchez, is a section of country that for fruit and vegetable growing and general diversified farming is unexcelled in the entire South. Between Baton Rouge and New Orleans sugar cane and rice are the staple crops, but back of the City of Baton Rouge is one of Nature’s choicest garden spots, where everything properly cultivated will grow luxuriantly. The country between Harriston and Jackson, Ethel and Clinton, and Slaughter and Woodville, is excellent for the growing of nearly every variety of crops. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 7 All this fertile country but awaits the touch of energy, enterprise and capital. Along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad are equally as great opportunities for investment. From Canton, Mississippi, to Hammond, Louisiana, there are 175 miles of country unsurpassed in the world for the growing of strawberries and vegetables for profit. In Northern Louis- iana strawberries begin to ripen for market in February, when prices in Northern markets are fabulous; and what is surprising to Northern strawberry growers they continue to ripen until May and even June. The country from Canton to Grenada will produce cotton, corn, fruits and vegetables. From Jackson, Mississippi, to Greenwood can be found fine stock farms and the best of cotton and corn lands. Between Durant and Aber- deen, a section of country that has been for years almost exclu- sively a cotton country, there are some of the very best bar- gains in the whole South. So anxious are the people in this locality for Northern immigration, that they will sell lands at the astonishingly low price of $3 to $5 per acre, partially im- proved. But we hear some one say, it must be worthless. Not so. The land is good, but the low price of cotton for the past four years has well nigh bankrupted many of these farmers, and they are anxious for Northern men to come among them and engage in the growing of such crops as they are familiar with in the North, and will give ample returns for their labor. Southern Home Seekers should by all means visit Starkville,. West Point and Aberdeen, Mississippi. The country between Grenada and Memphis is quite fully developed, but still has thousands of acres of lands that can be had at nominal prices, and its close proximity to Memphis makes the location especially desirable. From Grenada to Holly Springs and Jackson, Ten- nessee, the country is much better than it appears from the car window. Indeed, one cannot judge of a country by the narrow strip through which a railroad runs. In fact it is frequently the case that purposely the railroad right of way is undesirable for farming purposes and may even be unsightly. $ SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. In the vicinity of Holly Springs are some excellent farms that command good round prices. From Jackson, Tennessee, to Clinton, Kentucky, is a country of rare merit. But he who thinks to purchase these lands for $5 per acre will be disappointed. They are well worth from $25 to $50 per acre, and happy the man who is the owner of one of these thoroughly improved places. But we now come to the paramount reason why a farm lo- cated on the line of the Illinois Central or Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads is of exceptional value. The greatest care should be taken in the purchase of a farm that the soil is of that character that it will kindly and quickly respond to fertilizers. Great care should be exercised in securing a home with the best possible schools, religious and social advantages. The water and climate should be taken into account. And yet with all these as near perfect as possible, the farmer will get but poor returns for his labors if unfortunately he locates where little or no at- tention is paid to furnishing refrigerator and other suitable cars for the transportation of his products to the best markets in the quickest possible time. This is exactly what we claim for the Illinois Central and Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads. Look at the map on the back of this Guide ancf note how these lines run direct to New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago and all the great markets of the North and Northwest. Every year the Illinois Central Railroad Company adds to its refrigerator equipment and aims to keep pace with the constantly increasing demand for more and better service in the handling of farm products from the South. Fruit and vegetable growers of Louisiana and Mississippi are adding new varieties to their already long list of fruits and vegetables that pay a profit, and the Illinois Central is establishing icing stations with immense ice houses at convenient distances, in order that refrigerator cars during the hot weather may be re-iced if necessary. Any intel- ligent fruit grower will comprehend the advantage of being located on a line of railroad that not only runs direct to the principle markets of the country, but that furnishes suitable equipment for the handling of perishable products. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. The question is often propounded, “How many acres does one need for a successful fruit and vegetable farm in the South?” This is not an easy question to answer. It depends on how many workers are in the family. Five acres are all that one man can properly cultivate. If the man and wife both enjoy work out of doors, digging and pruning among the fruits and vines, possibly ten acres will be none too much, but our advice is culti- vate only so much as can be done within the family, except, perhaps, in strawberry picking time, when extra help may be needed. But some one says, won’t you indicate what constitutes in your judgment a model Southern fruit and vegetable farm? And here it is: Five acres for house, barn and chicken lot. Five acres in peaches, pears, plums, figs, etc. Five acres in strawberries. Five acres in melons and vegetables. Twenty acres in wood lot and pasture. A total of only 40 acres. The stock for such a farm should consist of one good horse, three cows, two pigs and forty chick- ens. The buildings a comfortable five-room cottage, milk house made of brick with hollow walls, double windows and cement floor; barn, wagon and tool shed and hen house. The approxi- mate cost will be as follows: 40 acres of land within half mile of station, $12. 50 per acre $ 500 00 5 -room house, ceiled with curly pine 400 00 1 barn $100, milk house $100, wagon shed $25, hen house $30 255 00 Horse $100, 3 cows $75, pigs $10, chickens $10.. .. 195 00 Total $1,350 00 The above is the writer’s idea of a model Southern Truck farm in Northern Louisiana or Southern Mississippi. And such a farm properly worked and stocked as indicated will produce at a low estimate $1,000 annually. 10 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. But we imagine some Northern farmer says no provision is made for meadow or corn. That is true, and for the reason none is required. The Southern farmer finds almost every kind of forage plant growing in the fence corners and everywhere else and he has only to cut and save them in their season to furnish all the coarse fodder necessary for the few head of stock on such a farm. It should also be kept in mind that the ground is not covered with snow in that latitude and that cotton seed meal and cotton seed hulls can be had at a low price. But many who read this article have not the $1,350 neces- sary to make such a farm as we have described. To all such we say, do not be discouraged if your means are limited. You have only to k ‘cut your garment according to the cloth. ’’ We would not advise any one, however, to go South unless they have a little means with which to open a new farm and to make them- selves fairly comfortable while this is being done. But we must not devote all our space to what particularly interests the men. The women share most of the burdens and are entitled to at least a share of the comforts of home. They want to know about the opportunity for sending the children to school, whether the people of the South with whom they will mingle are moral and religious. They want to know if the cli- mate is all that is claimed for it; if they can grow flowers every month in the year and not have to pot and put them in the cel- lar in early November as in the North, where they must remain until the following May, lest they freeze up. We believe the women and the children have a right to know something of the social conditions surrounding them, and we will try to honestly present this phase of the question. The States of Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana are all of them mak- ing rapid progress in the line of education and I can think of no better way to show what is being done in Mississippi (and what is true of her is true of Kentucky, Tennessee and Louisiana) than by quoting a response made by Bishop C. M. Galloway, of the M. E. church, before a convention of Northern people held SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 11 at Jackson, Miss., in February, 1892. He spoke in behalf of the educational interests of Mississippi, as follows: “I bring you to-night the cordial salutations of the children and youth of Mississippi — the truest and best of friends — whose warm hearts have not yet been touched by the world’s cold selfishness, and whose sincere lips have never learned the flattery and deceit of social life. I welcome you in the name of the teachers of these children, whose mission is divine, who know no sect in religion and no party in politics, whose sphere of labor develops the nobler impulses of the soul, and whose work is as ennobling as human happiness and enduring as eternity. “I greet you in behalf of the patrons of these schools, who know the vice of ignorance and the value of intelligence; who understand the relation of the school to the home, and realize that the future of their children is not to be measured by inher- ited fortune or political privilege, but by mental and moral cul- ture. I fling wide our doors in the name of the proud State of Mississippi, who has been a genuine friend of learning from the days of her territorial minority; whose first legislative act was to charter a college; who built school houses in the footprints of the retreating savages; who has trained and sent out into the various walks of life some of the noblest names in our national history; who gave last year, for public instructions, $1,169,088, and whose per capita assessment for education, in proportion to wealth, is higher than any state in the Union. I bid you thrice welcome to our land of the church and the school, of the Chris- tian and the patriot, of the home and the mother, of the gener- ous heart and the genial sky. “We have a total enrollment in our public schools of 327,- 764; 154,547 white children, and 173,378 colored, an increase during the past year of 5,775. Of the educable children in the State, '72 per cent, of the whites are enrolled and 60 per cent, of the colored. Within the last two years 708 school houses have been erected. Liberal and equal provisions are made for the education of the colored children, and there is practically no sentiment in the State in favor of withholding from them the 12 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. best possible scholastic advantages. Whatever doubts some may entertain, all are united and fixed in the purpose to fairly and fully test the virtue and potential influence of the school in fit- ting the negro for the functions of citizenship, and in solving the gravest 'Social and political problem ever presented to any people. “In the higher education Mississippi has a rather creditable history. It may not be known to you that the first chartered institution for the collegiate training of young women in the South — if not in the Nation — indeed, if not in the world — was located within this State — the Elizabeth Female Academy at old Washington, six miles east of Natchez. It is also a noteworthy fact that the first college for girls in these United States, estab- lished by the State and maintained at public expense, is located at Columbus, Miss., and has already become the pride of the commonwealth. Our State University, liberally endowed by a munificent grant from the general government, and generously sustained by the patriotic love and care of the people, has had a career of distinguished prosperity, while our Agricultural and Mechanical College has long since passed its apologetic period, and among similar institutions in the nation, enjoys almost un- rivaled distinction. Besides these, we have a number of pros- perous, largely patronized institutions, established by Christian beneficence, and conducted under the auspices of the several Christian denominations. The two latest have recently been located in this capital city — one for colored girls, the Mary Holmes Seminary, built and endowed by the queenly offerings of a devout daughter in Israel from the State of Illinois; the other, Millsap’s College, for white boys, whose halls will soon be crowded with eager students, and to which one of our own citi- zens has donated the princely sum of $65,000. “Taking a somewhat broader view for a moment, it gives me pleasure to say that during the past thirteen years, in what is known as the Southern States, the enrollment of white child- ren in the public schools has increased from 1,527, 139 to 3, 197,- £30, or about 75 per cent., while the population has increased SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 18 only 34 per cent. The enrollment of colored children has increased from 571,506, to 1,213,092, or about 112 per cent., while the population has increased only 27 per cent. During this period $216,000,000 have been paid from public taxes for the support of white and colored schools. ‘ l But these facts and figures — however much we may felic- itate ourselves over them — are not of first importance. It is not the number, but the character of our schools; not how many children attend, but who teaches them, and what they are taught, that type and measure their influence for good. We are beginning, therefore, to appreciate the force of Aristotle’s state- ment when he said, ‘the teacher of youth is the master of soci- ety,’ and we are elevating the dignity and virtue of that noble profession. “I do not think it extravagant to insist that the right edu- cation of American childhood is to determine the destiny of this great republic. There is profound philosophy and historic truth in that old proverb which says, ‘What you sow in the school, you reap in the nation.’ Correct principles sown in the soil of the young mind, cultivated by wise, well-equipped teachers, and ripened by the sun of gracious Providence, will produce a man- hood and womanhood that will sacredly preserve the past and guarantee the glory of the future. Back of caucus and conven- tion; back of political platforms and party shibboleths, must be a virtuous, intelligent constituency — the legitimate product of the school — which is the source of all power, the condition of all permanent success and the inspiration of all patriotic achieve- ment. President Garfield, in his eloquent inaugural address, uttered these wise words: ‘The nation itself is responsible for the extension of the suffrage, and is under special obligations to aid in removing the illiteracy which it has added to the voting population. For North and South alike, there is but one rem- edy. All constitutional power of the Nation and of the States, and all volunteer forces of the people, should be summoned to meet this danger, by the saving influence of education. In this beneficent work, sections and races should be forgotten, and partisanship be unknown.’ 14 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . “But time would fail me, on this occasion, to discuss the school in its relations to the economic, industrial, political and moral well-being of the State. One thing, however, I crave the privilege of emphasizing, our schools should teach a pure patri- otism — loyalty to country, and to the whole country. I would not disturb the sacred ashes that sleep all around us. Heroic they were, and their memories will ever be green as the ilex and fragrant as the magnolia of our Southern clime. But our child- ren should be so taught that brothers will never again go to war, and the plowshare of peace never become a sword of strife. John Jay, one of the American commissioners, who negotiated the settlement of peace with England, said it was arranged on such honorable terms, ‘that we might again become as one peo- ple.’ Let that broad, magnanimous patriotism be prominent, yea, dominant, in the rearing of our children, who are soon to guide the affairs of the nation. I cannot forget that we were ‘One people in our early prime, One in our stormy youth, Drinking one stream of human thought, One spring of heavenly truth,’ and I trust that we may together fight the battles of our God and country under a common flag, on which there is a star that answers the sovereign State of Mississippi. “I may be pardoned for saying, my brothers, that in my judgment peculiar ties bind us together as dwellers in this great valley of the Mississippi. Children of the same generous mother, inheritors of the same magnificent estates, bearers of the same industrial burdens, and fed by the same might) 7 river, we are in an eminent sense sharers of the same social, political, economi- cal and commercial destiny. Have you ever meditated upon the intimate, vital relation of rivers to the progress of the world’s de- velopment and civilization? It is a significant, suggestive fact that the course of history has not followed mountain-chains, but the currents of mighty streams. Mountains divide people into separate governments and dynasties; rivers unite them under a single flag and inspire them with a common purpose and interest. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 15 “To the mountains we look for pure air and poetry, but to the fertile valleys we turn for bread, and by the great rivers we build our cities and civilizations. Whoever would study the laws governing the growth of nations, must linger on the banks of the Nile and the Euphrates, the Indus and the Ganges, the Rhine and the Danube, the Jordan and the Tiber, the Seine and the Thames, the Hudson and the Mississippi. “The Mississippi river drains an empire of over a million square miles in area, which has capacity to supply with food and clothing one-half the inhabitants of the world. I doubt not at no distant day this wonderful valley, which the eloquent Prentiss called the ‘Cornucopia of the world,’ will be the puls- ing center of the industry, wealth and power of this great nation. Mighty possibilities sleep in this sacred soil, and mighty des- tinies await us when brilliant prophecy shall be converted into heroic history. No wonder the honored French statesman, who negotiated the transfer of this magnificent valley, solemnly, thoughtfully declared, ‘this accession of territory strengthens forever the power of the United States, and I have just given England a maritime rival that will sooner or later humble her pride.’ On that day, the day of the ‘Louisiana purchase,’ the star of America swept to the zenith, and amid the galaxy of nations, shines there to-night in peerless, unapproachable grandeur. “If, then, as Emerson has said: ‘This is but the dawning and cock-crowing of modern Civilization, ’ we are called to high responsibilities; to the discharge of imperial duties. As the Mississippi Valley thinks to-day, the nation will do to-morrow. Let us, then, show ourselves worthy of our honorable commis- sion, and constrained by a faith that feels no flagging, and a purpose that knows no wavering, and a patriotism that is far ahove sectional or party lines, and sacredly enthroned in the heme and the school, rise to the height of our sublime God- given opportunity. “It is said that Henry Clay, when crossing the summit of the Alleghany mountains once alighted from the stage coach 16 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. and stood silently, reverently for some moments, as if listening for distant echoes. Friends at length asked, ‘Mr. Clay, for what are you listening?’ The great tribune of the people replied, ‘I am listening for the footsteps of the coming millions.’ Brothers of a common heritage, that was not all a dream. I doubt not that prophetic genius of statesmanship and lofty patriotism heard the thunder of the mighty millions moving up and down this valley of the Mississippi from its source to the sea, and from the Rockies to the Alleghanies, building a civiliza- tion that was to be the glory of America, the miracle of history, the wonder of the world.” The Southern people are naturally religious, and wherever a settlement is formed there will be found churches of different denominations. The writer, in company with a party of North- ern gentlemen, was invited to stop at a small town in Mississippi and examine an exhibit of the agricultural and horticultural products of that section. The exhibit was one of the best we ever saw North or South, but what impressed the writer was the cordial greetings of a large number of people at an early hour in the morning. The orchestra and organ and all the people join heartily in the doxology, ‘ ‘Praise God from whom all bless- ings flow.” This was a Southern greeting to a party of North- ern Tourists and Home Seekers, and it was genuine. We do not believe there is a settlement on the line of the Illinois Central and Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads that will not cordially welcome the coming of Northern families who, with honest pur- pose, seek to make a home in the South. As to the climate, it is not all sunshine even in the South. There are days when wraps are necessary, when stock should be sheltered, and when the pine knot blazing from the old- fashioned fire place is indeed a comfort. They have many days of rain in early winter, when it is not pleasant to be out, and yet these days are but a small percentage of the 365 in every year. During the months of February, March and April, while Northern people hug the stove and never think to venture out except with overshoes and coats, our Southern friends are pick- SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 17 ing strawberries. Every morning a fresh bouquet of roses is placed upon the mantle, all the doors are wide open and the perfume from native woods and flowers fills every house with fragrance. From all this the wife and mother will see that while farm- ing in the South is much easier and far more pleasant for the men than in the frozen, snow-drifted North, it also affords equally as great attractions for the ladies. The following tables indicate counties and parishes trav- ersed by the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. The personal letters following these tables are from Northern men who will esteem it a pleasure to answer honest inquiries concerning the country and people in their immediate vicinity. In sending out this Guide on its mission of education, we only hope it may find its way into homes where changes of loca- tion are contemplated and that it will be read with both interest and profit. Possibly it may reach some afflicted with catarrh, asthma or bronchial affection. If so, remember that for the three diseases named no section of our whole country can furnish so many instances of relief and even permanent cures as the piney woods of Northern Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. Lands on the line of these two great railways can still be found at prices ranging from $5 to $10 per acre. But they are rapidly being picked up, and he who would secure a home or make real estate investments in the South in that particular section we have attempted to describe, which is unquestionably the very garden spot of the whole South, should do so at once. It is impossible in a Guide of this character to mention all the advantages, but we hope the few already mentioned will create in the mind of every reader a desire to see for them- selves that country, the natural resources of which are unparal- leled, on the line of the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mis- sissippi Valley Railroads, in the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. 3 18 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Parties wishing to know the principal cities and towns on the line of the Illinois Central and Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroads, and the counties traversed by these lines south of the Ohio River, their population in 1890, county seat, and the amount of wheat, corn, oats and cotton grown in each county in 1889, will find the following tables accurate and very con- venient. Important Cities and Towns on the Illinois Central and Y azoo & Mis- sissippi Valley Railroads in the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. CITIES AND TOWNS. Population,: 1890. CITIES AND TOWNS. Population, 1890. Aberdeen, Miss- - -- -- 3-445 Amite City, La- - - 1,200 Batesville, Miss- .. 710 Bardwell, Ky — - - . - 1,000 Brookhaven, Miss. -- 2,500 Baton Rouge. La . io ,397 Canton, Miss 2,122 Clarksdale, Miss-_ — - 1,200 Crystal Springs, Miss - 953 Clinton, Ky- .... - 1,400 Durant, Miss _ — 1,262 Fulton, Ky - - - 2,685 Favette, Miss 400 Greenfield, Tenn - - . 750 Grand Junction, Tenn . 450 Grenada, Miss . .. 2,500 Greenwood, Miss 2,000 Greenville, Miss- - — 6,655 Helena, Ark - ... . . 5,225 Holly Springs, Miss - - 2,232 Hazlehurst, Miss ... - 2.160 Hernando, Miss - 55° Hammond, La - . - _ 390 Jackson. Tenn- 10022 Jackson, Miss . _ . 6,041 Kosciusko, Miss Lexington, Miss Memphis, Term Martin, Tenn Milan, Tenn McComb City, Miss Magnolia, Miss Natchez. Miss New Orleans. La Oxford, Miss Port Gibson, Miss - Starkville, Miss Sardis, Miss Senatobia, Miss Summit, Miss Terry, Miss Vaiden, Miss. Vicksburg, Miss Woodville, Miss Water Valley, Miss ... West Point, Miss Winona, Miss Wesson, Miss Yazoo City, Miss 2,400 1,000 64,586 1,156 1,665 2,400 676 10,000 241,995 1,800 1,300 1,740 1,200 1,073 1,640 250 650 13,298 900 2,828 2,682 1,600 3,450 5.247 The above figures are from the last census. Since 1 890 many of these towns have doubled and some of them quadrupled in population. The Industrial Commissioner of the Illinois Central Railroad has recently compiled a pamphlet entitled “100 Cities and Towns Wanting Industries.” Most of the above named cities and towns are described in detail in this pamphlet and will be read with interest, especially by mechanics and manufacturers. For a free copy address Mr. Geo. C. Power, Industrial Commissioner Illinois Central Railroad, Chi- cago, 111. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 19 Counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana Traversed by tbe Illinois Central Railroad. KENTUCKY. County. ! I County Seat. Population 1890. 1 Bushels wheat 1889. Bushels corn 1889. Bushels oats 1889. Bales cotton 1889. Ballard - Blandonville -- Bardwell 8,390 7,6l2 10,005 11,637 87,91 1 113,546 244,102 283,899 505,022 520,168 630,881 750,719 29,115 21,152 18,387 20,065 Carlisle Eulton - - Hickman Hickman .. - Clinton 694 7 TENNESSEE. Fayette . Somerville 28,878 1,836 643,809 15,012 20,949 Gibson Trenton - 35,859 164,957 1,248,869 68,334 8,027 Hardeman Bolivar 21,029 3,719 601,043 23,798 9,467 Madison Jackson 30,497 14,334 756,012 33,48o 11,147 Obion - - - - Troy - 27,273 465,055 1,439,720 59,843 737 Shelby - -- Memphis- - - 112,740 2,185 876,040 26,733 35,374 Weakley Dresden 28,955 146,981 1,157,618 61,519 2,200 MISSISSIPPI. Attala - Kosciusko - -- 22,213 241 556,048 54,100 Benton .. .. - Ashland 10,585 •‘"t 1 1 77 33 i »88o 10,942 Carroll -- Carrolton i 8,773 558,064 8,005 Clay-- West Point - - 18,607 423,933 15,249 Choctaw Chester - 10,847 162 286,319 37,411 Copiah _ Hazlehurst 30,233 602,437 33,368 DeSoto — Hernando 24,183 1,222 1 446,918 7763 Grenada Grenada 14,974 3° 289,349 2,912 Holmes Lexington 30,970 575,o86 8,748 Hinds Jackson .. .. 39,279 50 767,319 18,461 LaFayette Oxford.. 20,553 1 17 467,611 18,009 L* Flore - -- Greenwood 16,869 371,528 L340 Lincoln -_ Brookhaven 17,912 358,219 35,756 Marshall . .. .. Holly Springs- 26,043 30 640,426 16,165 Montgomery __ Winona 14,459 46 387.421 17,783 Monroe - Aberdeen 30,730 1,219 798,860! 56,469 Madison-- Canton — - 27,321 75 579,825 33,434 Oktibbeha .. __ Starkville .... 17,694 357 382,138 25,528 Panola Sardis 26,977 75i 688,450 9,284 Pike Magnolia 21,203 120 359,428 47,164 Tate - _ - Senatobia 19.253 590 457,237 5,587 Yalobusha- Coffeeville 16,629 40 338,7 h 10,645 Yazoo -i_- . Yazoo City 36,394 771*286 2,334 16,212 5.527 20,807 11,598 4,964 22,585 2i,774 10,186 36,146 37.546 I0,Q20 31,619 11,224 19,905 8,468 19,253 24,031 8,634 25.278 12,922 15,582 11,057 48,771 LOUISIANA. Orleans Jefferson St. James St. John Baptist St. Charles Tangipahoa New Orleans __ Gretna Convent - - Edgard Holmsville Amite City 242,039 13,221 15,715 IL359 7,737 12,65^ 3,782 5.075 89,314 101.956 28,575 II5454 210 250 9-327 5.310 20 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Counties in Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana Traversed by the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad. TENNESSEE. County. County Seat. Population 1890. Bushels wheat 1889. Bushels corn 1889. Bushels | oats 1889. ' Bales cotton 1889. Shelby - Memphis. ~ . 112,740! 2,185 876,040 26,733 35.394 MISSISSIPPI. Adams Amite Bolivar Coahoma Claiborne DeSoto Franklin Issaquena Jefferson LeFlore Sharkey Tunica Tallahatchie- Warren Washington — Wilkinson Natchez. 26,031 1 52,758 180 Liberty . - 18,198 447.549 16,866 Rosedale 29,980 413.949 2,262 Clarksdale 18,342 401,371 5,042 Port Gibson i 4 , 5 ffi 207,595 540 Hernando 24,183 446,918 7,763 Meadville 10,424 216,459 8,160 Mayersville — 12.318 262,152 720 Fayette 18,947 282,017 3,665 Greenwood 16,869 371,528 1,340 Rolling Fork__ 8,382 148,009 720 Tunica. ... 12,158 218,580 1-453 Charleston 14,361 120 349.395 6,074 Vicksburg- 33.164 217,174 2,810 Greenville 40,414 607,877 1,466 Woodville 17,592 35 L 973 6.052 LOUISIANA. 20,136 2L587 72,902 42,507 17,347 21,774 1 1,050 38,103 22,739 31.619 1 7,066 21,584 15,189 32,638 87,022 29,832 Ascension East Feliciana . E. Baton Rouge Jefferson Orleans St. James St. John Baptist St. Charles i Donaldsonville 19.545 230,082 160 Clinton - 17,903 272,296 1,085 Baton Rouge-. 25,922 .... - 198,452 4,805 Gretna - ... 13,221 . . . 5,075 120 New Orleans-. 242,039 3,782 Convent- 15,715 89,314 210 Edgard 11.359 101,956 250 Holmsville — 7.737 28,575 2 626 20,174 11,843 Helena, Arkansas. A branch of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad ex- tends from Lula on the main line to Helena, Arkansas. Helena is located on the west side of the Mississippi River, 65 miles be- low Memphis, an^l is reached by the use of transfer boats that transfer regularly trains from Memphis and New Orleans. Hele- na is one of the most enterprising and prosperous cities of the South. In 1890 the shipment of cotton from Helena amounted to 64,000 bales. Street cars, electric lights, opera house and U. S. Court House and postoffice are among the late improve- ments. The Moline, Illinois, Plow Works have a large lumber SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 21 mill in operation at Helena, and recently another large plant has been erected here by McCoy Bros., from Quincy, Illinois. The population of this live city has doubled within four years. They have excellent schools, churches, and all the desirable social ad- vantages. Another important item that has made Helena noted is her wonderful artesian wells. No one can estimate the value of these pure waters to that whole section of country. We cannot, in the space alloted us in this Guide, fairly describe the advantages and resources of Helena. But parties who would know more of the city, have only to address Mr. B. B. Waddell, Secretary Business Men’s League, who will take pleasure in answering all correspondence addressed to him. Truck Farming in the Mississippi Valley. The U. S. Census Bulletin, in making mention of the recent development of truck farming in the Mississippi Valley, says: “Truck farming, although it also consists in the production of green vegetables for market, is distinguished from market gardening by the fact that, while the market gardener lives near a market, and delivers his products with his own teams, usually producing a general variety of vegetables, the truck farmer lives remote from market, is dependent upon transportation compa- nies and commission men for the delivery and sale of his pro- ducts, and usually devotes himself to such specialties as are best suited to his soil and climate.’’ . For various reasons, it is shown that at the present time a very considerable portion of the vegetables consumed in cities and towns are produced from five hundred to fifteen hundred miles away. It is also interesting to note that instead of having vegetables only in their respective seasons, the larger cities and towns now consume them the year round by drawing on differ- ent sections of the country for their supply. For instance, late in the fall and early in the spring, the eastern and central cities are supplied by Florida and the lower Mississippi Valley, while California supplies those of the far west and mountain sections. As the season advances, at the rate of about thirteen miles a day, the growth and consequent supply is started up along the Atlantic coast and the great Mississippi Valley. The midsum- mer season of the North continues the supply until the autumn frosts drive the consumers to the South again for their supply, where a fresh crop is ready for the market. 22 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. While nearly seventy-five per cent of the truck produced in the United States comes from certain specific belts of country, more or less is produced in all the states. But the showing in the Mississippi Valley is particularly re- markable. The section embraced in the district includes Ala- bama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky, and is tributary to North, Central and Northwest cities. The follow- ing compilation will show the total acreage of leading vegetables grown upon truck farms in the Mississippi Valley during the year 1890. The average cost of labor and fertilizer and the net income per acre: Vegetables Grown. No. of acres in the Mis- sissippi Val ley District Cost of labor per acre. Cost of 1 fertilizer per acre. Net in- come per acre. Asparagus- - ------ - 2,323 $ 16 00 $ 52 50 $1 16 66 Beans, string or snap- - 1,376 21 OO J 4 33 52 50 Cabbage . - . . — 2,816 1 7 23 35 72 128 33 Kale - ----- 240 ig 00 22 00 Spinach - _ U 590 15 50 12 00 Irish Potatoes -_ . - -- 4,071 14 75 16 45 79 50 Beets _ - _ _ - ... - 144 21 50 13 00 92 00 Celery - . - . . — -- 46 17 00 20 00 172 50 Cucumbers - - ... 354 18 50 28 33 160 00 Watermelons--.- - — . - - 6,o6q 9 40 9 87 37 00 Other Melons- - - ------ -- i ,343 1 7 75 6 31 47 50 Peas -- - 5,879 16 00 18 87 100 00 Sweet Potatoes -- - 1,160 12 00 9 00 85 00 Tomatoes . . - _ — - 3,170 29 66 21 20 1 17 80 Miscellaneous Vegetables 5,509 Total acreage — -- 36,180 It should be kept in mind, however, that in many cases the labor is done by the members of the family, and that the fertil- izer used is only such as is made on the farm with comparatively little expense. It is also true that no class of farming furnishes so satisfactory returns from the free use of fertilizers as truck raising. A few years since nearly all early fruits and vege- tables with which Chicago and other northern markets were sup- plied, came from Florida. But to-day it is not so. The coun- try tributary to the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads, in Northern Louisiana and Southern Missis- sippi, is especially adapted to truck farming and has two de- cided advantages over Florida or California. First, the lands when ready to cultivate, cost not to exceed $25 per acre, and second, the facilities for marketing in through refrigerator cars direct to St. Louis, Chicago and all northern markets. Those SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 23 who contemplate making a business of gardening for the early Northern markets, should study carefully the varieties best adapted to the winter months and most in demand in the North at that season of the year. Strawberries can be successfully grown in Louisiana, for the February and March Chicago mark- ets, when prices rule the highest of any months in the year. Questions and Answers for the Southern Home Seeker. Jackson, Miss., Dec. 5, 1893. Mr. Jesse Drake, formerly of La Rose, 111 ., now of Jackson, Miss: Dear Sir: — We desire your answers to the following ques- tions, and would be pleased to have you make them general and full, as we wish to publish them in our new Southern Home Seeker’s Guide for 1895: 1. How long has it been since you moved here from Illinois? Five years. 2. Are you a farmer? and how long have you followed that livelihood? I am a farmer and stock raiser. Have followed it about seven years. 3. Do you own a farm here? I do. 4. How much did you pay for it four years ago? Fifteen dollars an acre. 5. What, in your opinion, is it worth to-day, per acre? At least $50. 6. How do you regard this country (as to climate, soil, seasons and productiveness) as a farming country? The climate is all that one could wish for. It is what could truthfully be called delightful. The soil has been badly culti- vated and badly managed. When one cultivates it properly it will produce almost anything one may want to raise and in a paying increase. 7. How much corn do you raise per acre? Fifty bushels of excellent corn. 8. How much oats? Fifty to sixty bushels. 24 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 9. What is your opinion of this country as a stock coun- try? Has it any advantages over Illinois? If so, in what re- spect? I consider it a fine country for stock-raising. Cattle fatten on the native grasses. Stock-cattle will thrive all. winter with- out any feed where there is dry grass and cane to run on. Hogs do finely. Always a good market. There are advantages over Illinois. The long summers and short winters are great advant- ages, cheap feed, cotton seed hulls and meal being the feed principally used. 10. Do you think hay growing here profitable? Does Ber- muda grass compare with blue grass? I do. It does, and for hay it is superior. A good stand of Bermuda will produce two to three tons per acre. 1 1. Will Bermuda grass graze as many cattle as blue grass per acre? I think one-third to one-half more. 12. Do you think Japan clover of any value? Does it com- pare favorably with red clover? It is an excellent grass for either hay or grass; yields a heavy amount. Japan clover compares favorably in every respect with red clover. 13. How does red clover do here? Have not experimented enough to state, but have seen some nice fields. 14. How are you pleased with the climate? Am very much pleased with the climate. 15. How does the heat in mid-summer here compare with that of Illinois? The temperature never goes to extremes as it does in Illi- nois; never runs as high, and there is rarely a time there is not a good breeze. 16. How are you pleased with the winters here? The winters are delightful. 17. What proportion of wood and coal, as compared with Illinois, is necessary here for heating and cooking purposes? It takes about one-fourth as much fuel for heating purposes as in Illinois. For cooking, the amount depends upon the amount of cooking done. 18. Can you grow successfully Irish potatoes, sweet pota- toes, field peas, cow peas, millet, sugar cane, turnips, cabbage, pumpkins, ground peas, and the smaller fruits and berries suc- cessfully. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 25 (1) Yes, fine ones. Sweet potatoes in abundance. All the rest grow fine and in great quantity. One advantage in raising cow peas is that a fine crop can be raised after the oat crop has been harvested. The yield will be about twenty bushels per acre, and will bring $i a bushel. (2) What do you think of the country for fruit? (a) There can be no better country found for peaches, both in quality and quantity. Have ripe fruit from May to Oc- tober. Plums, grapes, crabapples, apples, quinces, pears, etc., are raised to perfection. An abundance of figs are gathered every year. 19. Have you raised any cow peas? If so, do you not think them a fine substitute for red clover, both as a fertilizer and for forage? I have raised them and consider them the finest crop that can be raised in the South. They make the finest of hay and also fertilize the ground as red clover in the North. 20. How have the people of the South treated you and your family during your residence here? The Southern people have treated us very kindly during our residence here. 21. What is the moral and social condition of the people among whom you at present reside? It will compare very favorably with any city of the same size in the North. 22. You say you have lived here about five years; have you or your family enjoyed good health during that time? Taken on the whole, we have. 23. Do you regard this section of Mississippi as healthy as where you came from in Illinois? I do. 24. Are the people in this section of Mississippi as much subject to pulmonary trouble, catarrh, etc., as people in Illinois? No, sir. We have not seen a person whom we have known to have catarrh, since our residence here. 25. Is it not a fact, Mr. Drake, that one can make three full crops of some products here in a single year, on the same land? Yes; such as vegetables. 26. Do you use negro labor entirely? Yes, sir. 27. By close attention and personal supervision, can they not be made effective as field hands? 26 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Yes, they can. 28. At what price can you get the best labor here per month? Twelve to fifteen dollars per month, and they board them- selves. 29. Do politics in any way affect a man’s social standing here ? I think not; at least I have never noticed any. 30. Are you a republican? I am. JESSE DRAKE, Jackson, Miss. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 27 Stock Growing and Feeding in Mississippi. BY PROF. I. P. ROBERTS, Director of the College of Agriculture and of the Experiment Station of Cor- nell University , Ithaca , N. V. The stockholders of the Canton Land & Live Stock Com- pany, limited, Calhoun, Miss., are from the North and have great faith in grass and cattle, so finding* a tract of land of 1, 160 acres on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad in Madi- son county for sale, they made a purchase of the entire tract. It was all cleared and in grass, but about ioo acres. It had lain out to the commons unfenced for some fifteen years previous to the purchase and had grown up with various wild and tame grasses, the Bermuda grass (Cynodon Dactylon) and Japan clover (Lespedeza striata) being prominent. Buildings were erected and the entire tract fenced with a four- wire fence; one cross fence served to divide the mowing land from the pasture land. A year or two after the beginning of this enterprise 640 acres adjoining were leased; upon the first named tract of land about 60 acres of corn is raised for ensilage, and 200 tons of hay secured annually on about 100 acres of land. The meadows are mowed twice during the summer and furnish about a ton at each mowing. They have never been plowed since they were abandoned, nor has any grass seed ever been sown upon them. The hay is of a good quality, short and nutritious. Water is easily secured by constructing storage pools, it being impossible to get a sufficient supply by digging wells. From 400 to 600 steers are grazed upon the pasture for nine months of the year. About one-half of these are sold off of the grass; the other half feed through a portion or all* of the winter The cattle cost, when thin, in the spring of the year, from one to one and one-half cents per pound, and sell off of grass at two and two and one-half cents per pound, and off of winter feed at three to three and one-half, weighed on the ranch, frequently without any rebate for shrinkage. The Amer- ican Agriculturist correctly states that the health of the cattle SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 29 is phenomenal, the company having lost but eight animals by death from all causes, out of the 3*5°° animals handled and grazed in the last three years. In addition to the cattle industry carried on, the Company also raise mules, using, to a large extent, brood mares for the ordinary farm work. All of the stock, except the horses, are fed during the winter, either on boiled cotton seed, or meal and hulls mixed. In addition to this, they get ensilage once a day and hay once, and in good weather they run in the pastures during the winter the same as in the summer. Adjoining the Company’s ranch is the private ranch of the writer, which con- tains 640 acres, about 500 acres of which are devoted to pas- PROF- ROBERTS’ SILO, CALHOUN, MISS. ture. Twenty are rented for raising cotton and corn, the balance of the land is covered with oak timber. Upon this pasture was grazed 275 yearling steers last year. It will be seen by what has already been said as to the number of cattle grazed and the size of the pasture, that, con- trary to general belief, there is some good grass land in the South. Madison county has always been known as the banner grass and cattle county of Mississippi. Certain is it that these somewhat impoverished fields, covered with volunteer grasses and weeds, are able to sustain more animals per acre than are the pastures of the Northern and New England States. The cattle of Mississippi are tall and lank, and do not feed as satis- factorily as do the cattle of the North; but they are by no means “scrubs,” and one can often pick up quite a number of 30 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . cattle which show unmistakably that they are the recent de- scendant, at least on one side, of the Shorthorns and Herefords. Duringthe old times much pains were taken by the planters to improve their cattle as well as their horses, and even after twenty years of rustling in the cane-brakes, some of these cat- tle show improved blood. The cattle are usually raised in this part of Mississippi without any care or attention whatever, as to either winter or summer food. Once a year the cows are gathered together and the calves branded and emasculated. During the summer these cattle do well in the open fields and woods. After the heavy frosts in November they leave the summer pastures and go to the cane-brakes in the timber and along the streams. Here they find enough browsing to sustain life by drawing upon the sumiper reserved flesh. March finds them poor in flesh, but something larger in stature than they were the year before, and so at the end of about four years, or often younger, they are sold to be taken to the markets, if fat enough; if not, they are fed for about ninety days; but this lat- ter custom has sprung up in this locality only since this Com- pany have commenced operations. No feeding, or at least none to any extent, was practiced in the county up to 1888. Now it is no uncommon thing to find each winter from 8,000 to 10,000 head of cattle fed in bunches ranging from 100 to 1,000 in Madison and adjoining counties; in fact, so much winter-feeding is now practiced that cotton seed hulls have advanced from $2 to $3.75 per ton. This large increase of winter-feeding of cat- tle, and the large areas of land which have been fenced in for pastures in the last four years, show conclusively that in one place in the South at least, the planters are learning that all the money is not in cotton. It may be said in closing, that this land upon which steers are grazed, improves in productive power, and I presume also in fertility; it most certainly does where winter-feeding is prac- ticed, and the droppings of the cattle are carried back to the pastures, or put upon the open lands for raising corn to be ensilaged for cattle feeding. How such vast amount of valu- able cattle food can be produced in the cotton districts is not fully understood. If it is remembered that for every pound of ginned cotton, the planter is compelled to raise two pounds of seed, it will readily be seen what vast quantities of this valuable stock food, which once was largely wasted, is now raised and either fed to animals, after being boiled, or fed to them after the oil has been pressed from the seed. Just what proportion PROF. ROBERTS' PASTURE,- CALHOUN, MISS. 32 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. of the meal and seed is now used for feeding purposes, and what proportion is used in commercial fertilizers, or directly upon the land in the shape of rotted seed, it is impossible to determine. So far as I can learn, comparatively little of the seed is now applied directly to the land; and I do not think that large amounts of them are boiled and fed to cattle. The most common practice is to sell the seed to the oil manufacturers and buy back meal and hulls. It appears to me that, all things considered, the South, or that part of it which is healthy and fertile, like Madison county, offers opportunities for persons seeking homes far better than most localities of the West. The climate is certainly very fine, and can only be criticised because of the long warm season, as the thermometer rises no higher on the open lands in Missis- sippi than it does in the hotter weather in Central New York. The country is not subject to cyclone or tornadoes; and droughts are not common, the average rainfall being about forty-two inches annually. Land is very low at the present time, but is steadily rising, so it seems to me that no better home could be found for the energetic Canadian or American, than these cleared fields of Central Mississippi which now produce, by rude culture, fair crops which would under skillful management, if stocked with grass and cattle, produce at the minimum of cost, a large reward. DAIRY INDUSTRY AT STARKVILLE, MISS. A creamery was opened at the A. & M. College in May,. 1886, (the first one established in the Gulf States to make but- ter from milk received by patrons) and has been successfully and profitably operated. The equipment includes the best dairy apparatus. The butter has been sold to dealers in New Orleans, Mobile, Vicksburg and other cities at 30 cents net per pound from September 1st to June 1st, and 25 cents during the remain- der of the year (the purchaser paying express charges), a higher rate than has been paid for Western Creamery. The average quantity of milk required to make one pound of butter for the different months of the year is shown in the following table. This milk is from a few pure bred Jerseys and Holsteins, grades of the two breeds and native cows, the natives- making up at least half of the number. PROF. ROBERTS’ HORSE BARN, CALHOUN, MISS. 3 34 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. POUNDS OF MILK TO ONE POUND OF BUTTER. 1886. Month. Pounds Milk. Butter. Month. Pounds Milk. Butter. January - 1 . I 5 . - I July 22 - . .. ! February 14 I August 25 I March - 21 - - I September - 22 ._ -. - - - - I April - - --I 9 . . - . - I October 18 - - - I May - - - 22. - - -- - I November _ l6- ------- -I June - 24 - -- -I December . IQ .1 Average for the year — 21 pounds. Bearing in mind that the Western creameries average about one pound of butter to 24 pounds of milk, the value of the lands of this county for producing nutritious grasses and forage crops may be understood. Nine-tenths of the milk received at this creamery during nine months of the year is made from the natural growth on old worn out cotton fields that has come in without any preparation or seeding. Since the A. & M. College opened their creamery in May, 1886, a number have been built and operated at points on the line of the Illinois Central Rail- road in Tennessee and Mississippi. Some of them have been quite successful; others have failed for want of a sufficient amount of milk to make them profitable. There is no question, however, but what creameries can be made profitable in the South in neighborhoods where they have a sufficient number of cows to furnish the amount of milk necessary to success. It is also quite noticeable that more attention is bding paid to a bet- ter grade of cows and to better pastures, and the result will be more successful dairying in Southern, States. STOCK GROWING. Nearly all of the grasses and clovers found in other states will grow readily here on soil of equal fertility, but the South- ern grasses and pasture plants give most desirable results. The most valuable grazing plant is the Japan clover (Les- pedeza striata), a plant that has worked its way over the state since the war. It spreads over the poorest land, furnishing some grazing — on fair average land it makes good pasture, and on rich land it will cut two to three tons of hay of the best quaility, or furnish an amount of grazing not exceeded by any grass or other plant found in any state, if we except Bermuda grass. It interferes with cultivation no more than common red clover, and grows more readily from seed. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 35 Southern Grasses. BY PROF. S. M. TRACY, Director Agricultural Experiment Station, Starkville, Mississippi. When the Northern man first comes to this part of the country he misses the timothy meadows and the blue grass pas- tures to which he has been accustomed, and because he does not see them, too often jumps to the conclusion that this is not a grass-growing country, that our cattle must be grazed on broom- sedge and plumbushes, and that all of our hay must be imported. Gentlemen, if you have come to any such conclusion, you were never more mistaken in your life. It is true that we do not have the broad meadows and hay fields such as we see in the North, but it is because we do not need them, because we can cut hay — and good hay, too — on almost any of our lands, and at almost any time during eight months of the year. In the North the farmer can grow no other crop on the land where he cuts his hay, but here we can, and do, cut from two to three tons per acre on land from which oats, wheat, or some other early crop has been harvested; and this without even the expense of plowing or seeding. Some years ago, when I had seen less of Mississippi grasses than I have now, I urged one of my friends, an old Illi- nois farmer, to plant some of the common cultivated varieties of the North, and even offered to furnish him with the seed if he would do so. His reply was that he did not want the seed and could not afford to plant it. He said: “Last year I had twenty acres of cucumbers in my peach orchard, and after har- vesting the crop I kept the ground clean around the trees and then cut from the field thirty-five tons of as fine hay as I ever used, and that is good enough grass for me.” Of course he was right in declining my offer, for his hay cost him absolutely nothing but the harvesting. We can grow grass as cheaply and easily as it can be done anywhere in the world, but we have not yet learned to use and to sell it as well as our Northern friends. We can cut from two to four good crops on such lands as we give to hay-growing, and 36 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . can make one good crop on any of our lands, even our culti- vated corn and cotton fields giving us a good yield of peavine hay if we take the trouble to plant the seed. With a climate, soil and conditions so widely different from those of the North, it follows very naturally that we should grow different kinds of grasses from those found in the cooler and drier regions of the Northern states; and we have a much wider range from which to select. Minnesota has about 140 species of natives grasses, Missouri 150, Illinois about the same, New Jer- sey 165, while Mississippi has more than 200, and the proportion of clovers and other forage plants is fully as large. With us, Bermuda is the staple sort for both hay and pas- ture. It grows well all through the South, will make from two to four tons of hay per acre, and the hay is fine, tender and nu- tritious. During the summer it gives the best of pasture, and is uninjured by the longest droughts. At the Experiment Station we have been feeding with both Bermuda and timothy hays dur- ing the last three years, as a test of their feeding values. The timothy was selected especially for the purpose by a man who ships that hay very largely, and was of the very best quality; the Bermuda was purchased from a neighboring farmer. Without going into the details of the trial I may state, that ton for ton, we found very little difference between the two, though the bal- ance was slightly in favor of Bermuda. As the timothy cost, delivered at the Station, nearly twice as much as did the Ber- muda, the balance of profit Was very decidedly in favor of the home grown hay. Johnson grass makes excellent hay, and will give from three to four cuttings a year. While thousand of dollars have been made by its cultivation, and it grows well on almost any kind of soil, it will never be popular, as when once planted it “sticketh closer than a brother,” and it is difficult to grow any other crop on the land. Timothy, the stand-by for the Northern hay growers, is of no value here, but crab-grass, that pestiferous garden weed of the North, seems to change its character when it crosses the Ohio river, and here it is a valuable plant, making its growth late in the season after other crops are laid by, and yielding from one to three tons of hay per acre, which is fully equal to timothy, and which costs nothing for seed, cultivation or rent. Red clover grows as well here as it does in New York or Wisconsin, and we are learning to appreciate its value for fertil- izing purposes as well as for hay. At the Station our yield of SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 37 red clover for the last two years has averaged a little over three tons per acre, and we have usually cut a third crop of other grasses from the same ground in addition. We are learning that we can grow our fertilizers cheaper than we can buy them, and I know of no soils which respond more quickly to green manuring than do those of this State. For this purpose we are using a number of different plants, red clover, cow peas, lespedeza and melilotus, being among the best, as they all give paying crops of hay, and pay many times their cost in their improvement of the soil. Melilotus, the old “sweet clover” of the North, is of comparative recent introduction, but on all lime soils it makes a wonderful growth of forage, and is decidedly superior to red clover in its fertilizing value. Lespe- deza is the standard clover plant of the South. It will grow on the poorest and dryest soils and, pound for pound, is the best hay I have ever used for fattening or milch cows. Three years ago last October, our barn containing the hay we had stored for winter use was destroyed by fire. The last of October is late for making hay, even here, but on the day after the fire we put our mowing machines into a field of lespedeza which we had before thought hardly worth the cutting, and in two weeks we had stored a fresh supply of hay, mostly lespedeza, but with a liberal mixture of asters, golden rods, and plum bushes; but even this hay gave us better results in milk and butter than did equal weights of imported timothy. Chicken corn, a kind of sorghum which has become natur- alized in a large part of this state, yields an immense amount of excellent hay when cut before it has grown too large. It makes its growth quite late in the season, principally in September, and frequently takes possession of a field from which red clover has been cut. We have cut three tons per acre of this hay from land from which we had already cut two good crops of clover with- out apparent injury to the growth of the clover the next season. There is no lack for pastures during the summers, and with a little care they may be made to last nearly the whole winter also. Orchard grass, red top and rescue grass grow well here and all remain green and fresh through our coldest weather. Our native cane-brakes, winter — after a fashion — thousands of cattle annually, and with the first warm days of spring the vetches, melilotus and lucerne, give excellent grazing. And so I might go on indefinitely, but life is too short for me to describe all the good grasses and forage plants with which we of the South have been blessed, and I have already said 38 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . enough to show that we can have an abundance of both hay and pasture at a merely nominal cost. Northern men have tried to impress us with the idea that good hay can be made only from timothy and clover, and that these can be grown only north of the Ohio river. We used to believe that, and to pay them enormous prices for poorer hay than that which we did not take the trouble to cut from our own plantations. Perhaps we were able to do that in the old days, but six cent cotton cannot be grown profitably on twenty dollar hay, and we have learned to do better. We have learned that our home grown hays are equally good, and that they can be grown for less than half the cost of the imported article. A few years ago it was a common sight to see train load after train load of Iowa and Illinois hay coming South, but we rarely see that now, and the shipment of hay to the North is becoming an es- tablished business. A gentleman who lives on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad told me that ten years ago there were not twenty tons of hay put up in his neighborhood, but this year eighty cars were shipped from his station to Northern markets. And so it is in nearly all parts of the South. It has taken us a long time to learn the value of our native pastures, and still longer to learn what grasses to grow for hay, but we have learned these in part, at least, thanks to such men as Mottgomery, and Stewart, and Odeneal, and now grass growing, with its natural accompaniments of stock raising and dairying, has become one of the most profitable, and certainly one of the most rapidly growing industries of the State. mtvAJmteA btotfcb TVviWvdC C oVumVsa. ^ 2 2.6 #SS.ti fj/ui . ~SY«,NN MoxV. t oVov 0 J &.0 263 . 31 64 • 3o/ &•/ . 20 L. 20 M 226 m m ~Vv. /XSf 2 / 2.87 ‘ 170 . 28. V? /fO .^7 m ~5T«.vt ~5 e.xs>e\i 161 37. ~5\Y«sS>& o,oV\wt>iiVti , /VV. 3tv /it f.oo ¥ aWvov n 7 / 3.5 / boxxtV 'bcVci’t; T*\^a«vv\«v SI. //./S ~SCe.v< ~3<^tx'\c 0 S 3 . /do/ T &o\\o 38. /d Sf ilwAiV-oxviv 25. 27.80 'Yexa* *t 2 . 7 . 02 . /? 30 . 70 . TVovv^,cv Vo. sst 37 3. if 'Y li- ftp 3771 _ o\> OCXVs lt. /2.S! 385/ _ Vs. fe-rv^’vxcVsv^ IS. /o.oi 3S.vi — X\ tfeW vr£vx\.\.o* It. 332 2732 mm Gve\CV /S //.ot itol mm bovN\v UatoVTva /l. //.S5 23 55 _ ~SY?VsOsWfc, s>\. /ST Sit ff.it mm This table shows the average per capita indebtedness of the people of each State. The first column shows the amounts for which mortgages have been given ; the second the amounts of the public debts, including state, county, municipal and school debts; and the third column shows the total debts. The heavy lines at the right also represent the totals, one-fourth inch representing thirty dollars of indebtedness The thirteen states of the “Solid South” are all among the fourteen states having the smallest indebtedness and so standing lowest in the list, Utah being the only state having as small an indebtedness as has any southern state. No southern state has an indebtednes equal to one-half the average for the United States, and the indebtedness of Mississippi is only 17.2 per cent, of the average. COMPILED FROM THE REPORT OF THE ELEVENTH CENSUS By S. M. TRACY, Mississippi Agricultural College, September, 1894. 40 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. A Northern Man’s Opinion of the South. SOME OBJECTIONS REFUTED AND THE TRUTH TOLD. Wesson, Miss., Nov. i, 1893. Capt. J. F. Merry , A. G. P. A. I. C. R. R . , Manchester, Iowa: Dear Sir: — When my wife and I announced to our friends in Illinois that we intended to move to the South, with a view of making a permanent home there, we were met with a perfect storm of objections, protests even, backed with what the speak- ers thought most cogent reasons. Perhaps I cannot tell our ex- perience in any more suggestive form than by saying just what we found to be the facts with reference to this same list of “rea- sons. 1 ” I will take them up in order and give the whole list, together with all that we have found for ourselves, not set down by our friendly objectors. “It is so hot in the summer, and the summers are so long.” Long the summers certainly are — nine good months, but as to the “so hot” we have not found it. I always suffered with the heat in the summer months of Illinois, but during the five sum- mers I have been here, I have not known what it was to be seri- ously inconvenienced, even, by the heat. I have not lost a single night’s rest on account of the weather since I came here, and there have been less than a dozen nights, all told, in which I have not found some light cover required during the latter part of the night. The summer is long, but at no time is the heat as intense as is often known at the North. It is very rarely indeed that the thermometer has reached 96 in the shade, while I have been here, and I have noticed its readings every day, while for the most part the extreme has not been above 88 in the hottest part of the day. I have not found a single day, nor a single hour in any day, when I was obliged to discontinue my work for the briefest time on account of the heat, a statement which I could never make while I lived at the North. Illinois can, and does, produce more sun strokes in one week than Mississippi has done during the lifetime of its oldest inhabitant. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 41 “It is so wet in the winter. ’’ We have found some wet weather during the short winters. It comes, usually, in single day installments, at intervals of two or three weeks, and is often followed by a day or two of cold, 16 degrees above zero in the worst instance, and usually not lower than 25 above. “It is so sickly.” I am at a loss to say where that idea originated. I could find no records in support of the statement, and have found no facts here to confirm it. Our house has averaged fewer visits from the doctor than in healthy Illinois. There are more old people here, in proportion to population, than in any Northern town I know of, and when one of them shakes your hand, you will not get the impression that he is feeble. Wesson is on the dividing ridge between the Mississippi and the Pearl rivers, has perfect natural drainage, pure air, healthful water, effective sanitation, pine wood surroundings, and its peo- ple live comfortably, and therefore healthily. In these things, too, we have assurance that no epidemic will ever reach us, which is further evidenced by the fact that none has ever been known here. “There are no good schools.” There is not a town of its size in Illinois to-day that can show a better school building, more earnest or more effectively trained body of teachers, or a more successful school system than Wesson. The same thing is true of all the towns, on either side of us, which I have been able to get any acquintance in. When I came here the people, all classes of them, told me the most pressing needs of the South were capital, northern energy and public schools. Their manner of telling it showed it was an old story with them — a lesson they had learned years before, and then they all pointed to the facts in plain view as evidence that they are getting these needs supplied in well rounded measure. For ten years the public school system of Mississippi has been, and it is yet, making progress at a rate that no one not here on the ground during part of that time can begin to realize. Be sure your children will be fed, mentally and bodily, if you come here. “The churches are so illiberal.” I have not been over the whole State, but in this town the churches are so far from illiberal that when I came here I was invited by one pastor to 4 ‘hear all the preachers, get acquainted a little in all the churches, and unite with the one where I would feel the most at home,” and this was the spirit of the welcome I 42 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. met with in every church in town. At a Sunday School conven- tion, to which I was afterwards a delegate, I met representatives of churches from all over this part of the state, and found less of any sort of intolerance for others than I had seen but once before in my life. I wish I could emphasize this point more strongly than I can. The statement heading this paragraph is so untrue, so opposite to the truth as I have found it, that it is difficult to avoid characterizing it in stronger terms than would be seemly in this letter. “Its laws are bad, and its lawbreakers are so many.” There are four thousand people in this town, largely factory people from an extensive surrounding country, with possibilities for disorder that would be serious if they were cultivated, and we have one policeman, who has almost nothing at all to do. This could not be true where laws were other than wholesome, nor where lawbreakers were at all numerous. Local prohibition is optional throughout the state and in effective operation in this and the adjoining county; property rights are most carefully guarded in the Mississippi code, as are also all personal rights and priviliges; taxes are limited to rea- sonable percentage; adequate penalties are provided for all crimes and misdemeanors, and in no state are the courts more prompt to enforce them. Married women have equal property rights with all other citizens; homestead and exemption laws are liberal and yet just toward debtor and creditor alike; in no state is there a law embodying real progress in legislation but that its active principle can be found in the code of Mississippi, in many cases worked out in better form than in other commonwealths; and most important of all, laws are made to be enforced and they are enforced. “Its taxes are so high.” My taxes this year are two per cent, on the assessed valua- tion, and this includes one year’s quota of the cost of the $20,- 000 school building erected the year I came here, burned down later and rebuilt this summer. “The people are so bitter against all Northerners.” Then must all Northerners be unlike the members of our family. It has been said so many times, and every time so truly said, that no one who comes here from anywhere, desiring to make a home here, can fail to find a warm welcome and every benefit of citizenship which he is entitled to or would get any- where, that it does not seem possible to give the truth any more convincing utterance. I have met a most satisfactory welcome SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 43 in five states to which it has been my fortune to go as prospec- tor, but nowhere else have I been made so fully and so sincerely at home as here, and nowhere else have I found people so little disposed to meddlesomeness of any sort, while there is no limit to the helpfulness which they extend to all who come here. “There are no railroads.” I can only use one railroad at a time, and whatever may be true of the rest of the State, that part of it through which the tracks of the Illinois Central run is provided with a railroad. Its management is always progressive, energetic, ready to see the interest of the shipper and further it as far as possible, and it is a better road and better managed each year than it was the year before. If you can make a living anywhere in the South, you can make it along the line of this road. “The land is so poor and so badly worn out.’’ To the agriculturist this is, after all, the objection that car- ries the most weight. He will take very broad chances on other things, but on this point he must make no mistake. I learned before I came here that much of the soil is a yellow or red clay, and that there is no really fertile land except in the creek bot- toms. I was compelled to unlearn much of this. Red or yel- low, much of the soil certainly is, until cultivated, but clay — as the average Illinoisan understands the word — it certainly is not. A rich, sandy loam, with just enough of clay admixture to make an extra good soil for all kinds of cultivation, and a depth that makes it practically inexhaustible, it certainly is. Much of this land is worn out — on top. It has been farmed from two to four inches deep, for a generation and longer, and under nine months of Mississippi sun this often means the formation of a sun-baked crust, underneath the cultivated soil, so hard that not many plants and scarcely rain can force a way through it, so that the subsoil plays very little part in the pro- duction of any crop. Nevertheless this thin veneer of tilled soil has been made to produce paying crops for more than a genera- tion, and in many cases is still doing it. Two years ago I bought five acres of this worn out soil, three acres of it under three inch cultivation and the rest in pas- ture and lawn. I had the three acres plowed an inch deeper than it had been before, broke up the crust above mentioned, applied from ten to forty per cent, of what an Illinois trucker would consider a fair amount of fertilizer for the crop to be grown, if applied to his highly cultivated and rich soil, gave it such culti- vation as inefficient and insufficient help would admit, and from the 44 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. first, obtained crops that more than paid the cost. During the twenty-six months since I moved on to this land it has been un- interruptedly in crop of some kind. It has had absolutely no rest at all. Not a foot of it has received to exceed forty per cent, of a fair allowance of fertilizer for a truck crop on the best of soil, and much of it not over ten per cent. The black, lively soil on top is now eight inches deep, and the wonder of all who see it. There are few truck farms in the most fertile sections of the country whose soil will support a heavier growth or make a better yield of any truck crop than this will do. The first spring I raised green peas, 150 bushels to the acre, with first pickings for our table March 15th. The sec- ond spring the same ground gave over 200 bushels per acre, and first on our table March 6th, and market pickings a week later. The first year I grew cabbages at the rate of 20 tons per acre, and no finer heads ever went to market than some of them were. The same year I grew peanuts at the rate of 200 bushels per acre — an average Virginia crop is less than 80 bushels — sweet potatoes 300 bushels, tomatoes 300 bushels merchantable fruit and as much more not strictly saleable. The second year Irish potatoes 350 bushels per acre, spring crop, and fall crop yet to dig. I measured three stalks of volunteer corn this year, the smallest of which was eleven and the tallest thirteen feet high, each bearing two well developed ears, none of which were less than twelve inches long. Early turnip beets grow to weigh an average of seven and three-eighths pounds each, and twenty-four inches in circumference for the largest measured specimen. One year old peach trees, set last January and Feb- ruary and cut back to about three feet high, are now, eight and nine months from setting, seven to nine feet high, well branched, vigorous, full of fruit buds and looking strong enough to bear a full crop next year. They won’t be allowed to, of course, more than a few specimens, but they certainly do look as if they could carry a peck each next summer without risk. To further show the capacity of this soil, and the climate as well, take the results this season on a small patch on which a variety has been grown. For convenience I will reduce the yields to acre figures, not estimates, understand, nor anybody’s guesses, but careful measurements and recorded dates, amounts, etc. Jan. 1st, planted Alaska peas; yield 200 bushels. April 1st, planted Irish potatoes; yield 365 bushels. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 45 June 20th, allowed crab grass to grow, the potatoes having been dug and nothing else ready to go on the ground; yield, two tons hay equal to the best timothy. Aug. 26th, Irish potatoes planted again; at this writing — Oct. 20th — we have had new potatoes over a week, those eaten yesterday measuring over two inches thick; they are a good stand, very thrifty and promise to outyield the spring crop. None of these four crops were doubled up, but each one was gathered complete before the land was put in preparation for the next crop. The fertilizer was about 25 per cent, of a full dressing for one crop, 40 per cent, for one and 20 per cent, for the other two. With a little increase in fertilizer, it seems cer- tain that onions, radishes, lettuce, beets, carrots and beans could have been sandwiched in with the rest with good results and no diminution of the crops that were grown. When the potatoes are dug, next month, onions can be set at the rate of over ten thousand dozen bunches to the acre, of which the yield should be two-thirds of the amount set, and worth in the Northern markets, in March, when they can easily be made ready to pull, from 10 to 30 cents per dozen bunched, less freight, commission and packages, about 3 to 5 cents per dozen. The land on which the results listed above were reached is in no sense better than thousands of acres which can be bought now within easy reach of the Illinois Central Railway, in this section, at from $3 to $10 per acre, and not as good as some that can be bought for less than $10. The prices here for land are too low to admit of its real value being appreciated. It seems ridiculous to say that land which will earn, in truck farming or fruit growing, more money per acre than the best and the best handled lands in the older trucking sections at the North can be made to produce, more net profit, understand — it seems ridiculous to say that such land can be bought for $3 to $10 per acre, even now, after its actual producing value is known. But such is the case. Much of this land is owned by men who are land poor, and who realize that they will continue to be so till they turn some of the land into money and use the proceeds to increase the thoroughness of their farming methods on the rest. While paying crops of corn, oats, cotton, etc., can be and are being raised on this land, it is preeminently suited for truck farming and fruit raising. There is not a vegetable and but few fruits known to the Northern gardener and horticulturist which 46 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . can not be grown in greater perfection and more abundantly here than at the North, and the list of what can be grown here so as to market it at the North during the season of high prices is a long one. All this has been demonstrated at Crystal Springs, twenty-two miles north of here, in a substantial and business- like way, and from a careful examination of the soil and crops there and here I am unable to see that we have any less natural advantages than are to be found at that point. Land is cheaper here, and if not better is certainly as good, and the returns to the energetic, working settler on these lands cannot fail to be satisfactory. It will be seen that my wife and I have found none of the drawbacks which troubled the imagination of our Northern friends so much, but in their stead splendid advantages, the like of which we did not suppose could be found anywhere outside of the “Immigration liar’s prospectus,” so much so that we are beginning to think perhaps that much abused individual has been honestly trying to tell the truth, and has failed only because the real truth is beyond complete telling. We had to come here to get a fair idea of what it is, and you who read these words must do the same. Like all the world, this section is not without its drawbacks, and they deserve a place in every such letter as this. The biggest one is, this is no place for a poor man. If you have a few hundred dollars above what will bring you here, you need not call yourself poor. Bring your little capital, and if with the money you have also capital of brains, push, willingness to fit yourself to the circumstances as you find them here, with strength and willingness to work, you can feel sure of getting a comfortable home; getting it sooner, surer, easier, and with more comfort in it, present and prospective, than you can find anywhere else. Another drawback is that this is no place for the man who is making a failure where he is now, but if you are making a living and something more, and want a better living with a larger surplus, this is the place to get it. You are just the sort of man this country needs and you need this country. If you can raise fruits or vegetables where you are, and do it well, come here and do it better and make more money out of it. If you want a home and can see your way to get it where you are at the end of ten years' hard work, and are willing to pay that price for it, come here and get it in five, and have a better home and better neighbors than you will get almost any- HOLLY SPRINGS STATION, ILLINOIS CENTRAL RAILROAI). 48 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. where else. If you have children to educate and are finding it just possible to keep them in school while you earn theirs and your living, come here where you can grow crops twelve months in the year instead of six, and thus have the means of making your own labor go twice as far, and keep your children in school twice as long. If you possess a fair share of the respect and good will of your neighbors where you are, come here and find a welcome that will warm your heart and keep it warm as long as you live. And if you conclude to come, you will find that plenty of others just like you have reached the same conclusion and are either here or coming. Every year the fact is gettings to be better known at the North that desirable citizens, who will be missed when they move, are needed and wanted here, can do well for themselves here, while the opposite class can do better elsewhere, and when you get here and get acquainted with the old and new settlers whom you will find here, you will be proud of your neighbors, and when you consider what they have done and are doing you will be proud of your new location. And when you have built your home and have learned something of the comfort you can take in it, you will bless the fortune that brought you here. Respectfully, W. A. Parker. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 49 Crop Experiments in the South. Potatoes, Turnips and Tomatoes. [Aberdeen Examiner.] There are some men who are undecided what to do next year to make a living, and it is well to call their attention to the following fact: On a farm of about ten acres, not many miles from Aber- deen, Miss., a Western man this year raised and sold $300 worth of Irish potatoes on less than three acres; $100 worth of cucumbers on half an acre; over $100 worth of tomatoes on one acre, besides smaller sums on other vegetables, cabbage, turnips, etc. He had also twenty head of cattle and two good horses, and sold enough milk and butter to pay the entire expense of the farm and his family. Another Western man near him raised $1,200 worth of Irish potatoes on seven acres, and had the money in hand before the last of June. Both men raised besides enough potatoes and planted them to raise seed for next year’s crop. A Crop in the Hills. J. A. Redhead, of Centreville, Miss., in 1891 made a cotton crop of 240 bales on 270 acres of hill land, besides which his place produced abundantly of feed stuffs for man and beast, including corn, peas, potatoes, hay, hogs, cattle and sheep. Splendid home-raised farm stock is here seen in abundance. Last year the writer saw not less than 500 fish of edible size drawn from one of Mr. R’s ponds in two hauls of the seine. In 1889 Mr. R. planted fifteen acres of Irish potatoes from which he shipped 650 barrels, the gross sales of which amounted to $1,250.48. After digging the potatoes, a portion of the land was planted to corn, yielding twenty bushels per acre. The remainder of the patch was merely leveled with a harrow, and from a spontaneous growth of crab grass there was cut two crops of hay, each of two and a half tons per acre. We quote from him as follows: “We can raise an early crop of Irish potatoes and follow with almost a maximum crop of either cotton, corn, peas and pea hay, or sweet potatoes. Or, last but not least, by merely leveling off the land we insure an abundant yield of rich crab grass hay.” 50 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. A Thirty Acre Field, Dr. E. L. McGehee, of Woodville, Miss., in 1891 bought thirty acres (enclosed with wire fence and having one double cabin on it), lying one mile south of Woodville, for $500. His crop account for two years runs thus: CR. DR. 1891 — By 1 bale of cotton $ 36 00 By 95 bushels of corn, at 50 cents per bushel 47 50 By 100 bushels of oats, at 40 cents per bushel--- 40 00 By xo tons of hay at $10 per ton 100 00 Total S223 50 To labor, team hire, seed, etc $ 50 00 Balance to credit of place 173 50 Total $223 50 CR. DR. 1892 — By 305 bushels of corn, at 50 cents per bushel $152 50 By 210 bushels of oats 100 00 By 14 tons of hay, at $10 per ton 140 00 By rent of cabin 30 00 Total v $422 50 To mule hire $ 25 00 To labor and seed 5000 Balance to credit of place * 347 50 Total.-- $422 50 Making a total credit to the $500 place of $521 in two years, with the land very much improved. A Hay Grower. H. B. McGehee, of Woodville, Miss. , a grower of lespedeza hay, produces from two to three tons of hay per acre, which retails at $15 per ton in the local market. Of seed this clover yields from five to ten bushels per acre, which sells for from $3.50 to $5 per bushel. Its meadows furnish an abundance of most nutritious grazing, and need to be reseeded only every three or four years. There are thousands of acres of land in our county, covered with this clover of spontaneous growth, that can be pur- chased at $5.00 per acre and which will produce as above stated by merely preparing it for the mowing machine. Returns from Fruit and Vegetables. Mr. O. B. Irish, of Hammond, Louisiana, furnishes the following statement concerning fruit and vegetable growing at that point: Hammond has about 160 growers of fruits and vegetables. Some have done well; others not so well. No line of farming COTTON FIELD IN YAZOO DELTA tlBRAffi? university oe ntwws 52 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. needs more care and experience than truck farming. One should know what varieties can be successfully and profitably grown, the kind of fertilizer best adapted to the soil used and crops to be grown, judicious sorting and packing for shipment. Products should be consigned only to responsible commission houses and to such markets as have a steady demand for the articles shipped. The shipments from Hammond during the season of 1893 were in round numbers 42,000 cases (24 pint boxes each) of strawberries; 40,000 boxes of vegetables and 23,000 barrels of vegetables. The following actual experiments in strawberry growing at Hammond will be interesting to Northern fruit growers: No. 1. 1 acre strawberries, net returns ■ ■ - 203 00 No. 2: 6 “ “ “ 1,500 00 No. 3. 2 “ “ “ — 650 00 No. 4. 1 % “ “ “ 218 00 No. 5. 4 “ " “ 1,44000 No. 6. 3 “ “ “ .over 1,500 00 No. 7. 2 “ ‘‘ ‘‘ 553 00 No. 8. 1% “ “ “ in 1892 292 00 No. 9. 1%. “ “ “ in 1893- 23000 26 peach trees, only 4 years old, netted over 150 00 yi of an acre Japan plums, 3 years old 21 00 EXPERIMENTS IN VEGETABLE GROWING AT HAMMOND. No. i. i acre in beets, turnips, kohl rabi, etc., net returns $400 00 No. 2. 1 acre oats, 54 bushels at 60 cents, net 32 40 No. 3. 1- 1 6 acre shallots, 25 bushels seed bulbs at $4 — 100 00 No. 4. 360 square feet beets, net returns 10 50 No. 5. Yl acre kohl rabi and other truck 135 00 No. 6. 1 -16 acre bulb unions -- — 1500 No. 7. X acre shallots . 60 00 No. 8. 5.500 cabbages per acre sold at 5 to 10 cents each _ No. 9. % acre beets, sold for 30 00 No. 10. 320 bushels sweet potatoes on 1 acre . No. 11. acre grapes, net returns 63 00 No. 12. 1 acre oats, cut for dry forage, followed by two crops of grass, estimated at 5 tons — Molasses and Peaches. Dr. J. C. Roberts, of Centerville, Miss., in 1892, on a half acre of ground in sugar cane, produced 163 gallons of molasses, beside reserving some seed for planting and selling seed cane to amount of $22.50. From less than an acre of ground he sold last year near $120 worth of peaches. His orchard of peaches, pears and plums is unexcelled by any we have seen in this state. Being on the southern border of the peach belt, the early peaches always reap the cream of the market. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 53 Success with Potatoes That truck farming can be made successful in Mississippi is proven by the following information from S. G. Stern, of Cen- terville: “Planted five acres of Peerless potatoes; gathered from this plat of ground 364 sacks of potatoes, one and a half bushels to the sack; sold same for $566 or $1 per bushel; freight paid, $108.75; drayage, $9.10; commission, $54.60; net profit, $385.55.” This is $74.71 per acre, and besides Mr. Stern has forty barrels of plant seed over. A Strawberry Story. The following statement by Mr. Charles S. Johnson, made before the Central Louisiana Agricultural Society, at their meet- ing held at Baton Rouge, Aug. 2, 1893, illustrates the profit in strawberries when grown and handled in a proper manner. Mr. Johnson emigrated from Illinois to Louisiana, and his report of the net income of $232.07, from less than one and one-half acres, is only an average statement. Many report as high as $250, and in some cases $300 per acre. There is no question but that the country adjacent to the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads, in Northern Louisiana, is peculiarly adapted to the growing of strawberries and vegetables for early markets. The following is a copy of Mr. Johnson’s statement. Amount of sales of strawberries from one and forty- one one-hundredths ( 1 . 4 1 ) of an acre, near Baton Rouge, Louisiana: Expenses of picking and boxing $50 53 150 lbs. Farmers’ Choice 1 50 200 lbs. acid phosphate -- ----- 2 go Barnyard manure - 3 00 Hoeing and plowing - 10 00 — 67 93 Profit --- - - $23207 Number of pints sold: March ... - 84 April 2129 May • , 1102 June - 275 35QO Greatest number picked in one day, 381 pints on April 29. First picking, March 14. Last picking, June 26. Varieties — Miller, Cloud and Michel; Earliest, Michel; second, Cloud; third, Miller. 54 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . Cloud fertilized with Miller, a firmer berry than Cloud with Michel. Strawberry plants fertilized with barnyard manure com- menced to fruit first and held out longest. This is perhaps attributable to the warmth supplied by the barnyard manure during the cold weather, .and not to any great fertilizing prop- erty in the manure itself, as the stock were only grass fed. Letter from a Northern Man in Kentucky. What can be Done in Kentucky. A. L. Foster, Fulton, Ky., Oct. 11, 1893.— We have a population of 5,000, and our town is surrounded by the best country in the South. The land produces well corn, wheat, oats, barley, hay of all kinds, and tobacco; also apples, peaches, pears, plums and all kinds of berries. Ike Schupe. Fulton, Ky., and John Dunn, Fulton, Ky.,.are prosperous farmers, both from Ohio, and can be referred to as reliable men for information in regard to the country. This is a very fine country for raising stock. There are the best and finest of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs and goats raised here. We have farmers who make a specialty of raising fine blooded horses and cattle, and have realized a fortune from the business. We have in this town the Fulton Normal School, and Carr Institute, both of which are good schools, with a roll of about 300 pupils each, and in addition to these we have two public schools. Land in this vicinity ranges in price, ac- cording to location and improvement, at $15 to $50 per acre. Our town has a good system of water works, two spoke factor- ies, one stave factory, one planing mill, two fiour mills, butter and cheese factory, etc. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 55 Letters from Northern Men in Tennessee. Where Fine Horses are Raised. G. W. Williamson, Mayor of Milan, Tenn., Oct. 14, 1893. — This is a prosperous little town of about 1,550 inhabit- ants, located on the Illinois Central Railroad, at its junction with the L. & N. R. R. Our town is not a boom town, but has a steady growth, and is surrounded and supported by a level, well watered and fertile country. ' Nearly all the cereals are grown here in abundance. The cotton crop pays, but the people are beginning to turn their at- tention more to fruit growing and truck farming, which pays a great deal better. All kinds of grasses are raised and the hay crop is fast becoming one of the most profitable crops we have. Vegetables of most all kinds are raised here in the greatest perfection and profusion and are a paying crop. The fruit crop is large and varied, every kind being grown here except such as are grown only in tropical climates. The winters are never so severe here as to blast the crop. In fact, I have never in the 40 years that I have lived in this country known the fruit crop to be a complete failure. Indeed it is a rare thing for snow to be on the ground in this country for as much as a week at a time. There are a good many Northern and German farmers lo- cated near this place, and they seem to be doing well. Many of them have purchased farms of their own and turned them into fruit and vegetable farms, and are making money by shipping their produce, as the means furnished by the Illinois Central Railroad for shipping enables them to get fruit and vegetables into Chi- cago and other great Northern markets in as fresh and good con- dition as if we were located in the suburbs of those great cities. The people here take great pride in stock raising and give it special attention. Sheep, hogs, cattle and mules can be, and 56 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . are, raised at a very little expense, as we have good grazing for stock nine months out of a year, and all the year by sowing rye and other winter grain. We also take great interest in raising thoroughbred horses, and some of the finest and most valuable horses in the country are raised here. In fact, stock raising is one of our most profitable industries. The average price for land here is about $15 per acre, but a great deal of it can be bought for less. German farmers have come here in the last few years and bought land that was thought to be worthless, but it is now being made to produce the best of crops. In regard to our school facilities here, I think I can truth- fully say that they are not surpassed anywhere. Since about a year and a half ago, we have tried to follow the suggestions made to us by Capt. Merry, and the result is, that we now have located with us a fine flouring mill, a large canning factory, and large stave and barrel factory, owned by Messrs. Todd & Roper, the products of which took the World’s Fair premium at Chicago over everything else of the kind in the world. These have been of great benefit to us, but we have room for more. We have room and a welcome for people who wish to come among us to engage in any kind of honest avocation. I feel that the description of our town and country that I here give you is no exaggeration, and to prove the correctness of which one needs only to come here and investigate. A Fortune in Chickens. Dr. S. E. Wheeler, Greenfield, Tenn., Oct. 13, 1893. — I was raised in Michigan and have lived in Kansas, Indian Ter- ritory, Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri, and will say that we have as fine a country around Greenfield as there is in the world, for any kind of fruits, grain, hay, and stock of all kinds. Hay can be raised in abundance, and it is ready sale. Corn will average with any state. It grows fine wheat, and lots of it, to the acre. Any kind of grass does well. It is one of the finest sheep regions I ever saw. Hogs do first-class; in fact this is the country for any kind of stock, because the winters are light. Instead of having your money tied up in houses and barns, you can invest it in good stock and let them run most of the winter without shelter, but a cheap shelter is an advantage, as any stock raiser knows. ILLINOIS CENTRAL PASSENGER STATION, MEMPHIS, H M Z Z ES3ZZZQ25333 58 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1895- The country is rolling; sandy and clay loam; fine springs and rivers. Timber — poplar, oak, beech, gum, ash, elm, hick- ory, maple and several other kinds. Greenfield is a fine little town, about 40 miles north of Jackson and about 70 miles south of Cairo, on the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad, one of the best railroads in the United States — a straight line to Chicago and New Orleans. The population is about 1,300. There is a fine brick college, five good churches, box factory for making all kinds of fruit and vegetable boxes and baskets, a fine roller mill, stave factories, planing mill and saw mills. Twenty-five or thirty new houses are under way at pres- ent. It is growing as fast as any town in the State, and without any excitement whatever. It will pay any one to come and look at Greenfield before buying or locating elsewhere. I will gladly answer any questions in regard to this country. The climate is fine. One can do with one-fourth the winter clothes you could in the North. Health is good and a first-class living is made easy. A person can make a fortune raising chick- ens. A worker can put in eleven months in a year. I have been here six years, and know just what I am talking about. Furthermore, I am no real estate agent. We don’t have them. The country talks for itself. We can grow good tobacco and cotton. Good farm land can be had from $10 to $40 per acre. Fruit land adjoining town is worth from $50 to $100 per acre; town lots from $100 to $400 per acre for dwellings. Come on with good cows, hogs and horses. Start dairies and stock rais- ing right. The people are good, whole-souled, clever and friendly, and will welcome all. Potato Crop $200 Per Acre. G. W. Swink, Medon, Tenn., Oct. 23, 1893.— Our popu- lation, 250; Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches and excellent school facilities; steam mills for grain, cotton and lum- ber; large forests of fine quality of timber, viz.: White and red oak, poplar, walnut, gum, hickory and ash. Our farmers grow every variety of grain — 25 to 30 bushels of wheat, 40 to 75 of oats, 25 to 75 bushels barley and rye, from one-fourth to one bale of cotton of fine staple, per acre. Corn succeeds as well here as in any country; the ears are large, often measuring 14 inches in length and yielding 30 to 60 bushels per acre. Potatoes are grown in large quantities. Two crops are grown on the same ground during the year — spring and summer. The writer gathered 300 bushels per acre from spring planting, shipped them SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 59 to Chicago and sold at $4 per barrel. The same field is now full of the second crop and ready for digging. The yield is not quite so large as the first crop, but entirely satisfactory and can be sold to-day for 75 cents per bushel. My potato crop will pay $200 per acre. Tomatoes, beans, cabbage, melons and every variety of garden crops are grown here in large quantities. While truck farming is in its infancy, yet you will see by reference to the transportation department of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad that our shipments last season were very large. Our melon vines produced this year two full and distinct crops of melons. The fields are now full of fine flavored melons. Grapes succeed well, but have not been grown for market until this season. Apples, peaches, pears and plums have been grown here fifty years, and during that long time there has not been a single failure. This season our orchards were full and the ship- ments have been very large, and large quantities of winter ap- ples are now offered for sale. We have in this section two families of Northern people from Warren, Illinois — Dr. Robt. Van Deusen and John N. Hunt. Both have succeeded, the former growing rich. I failed to mention strawberries. Our section furnishes a liberal share of the large shipments made annually from Ten- nessee. Special attention is given to stock raising, the industry be- ing diversified. Some of the fastest trotters and pacers are raised here, but mules and draft horses as a rule. Frequent shipments of cattle are made, mostly the native scrub, but we have many Short-Horn and Jersey herds. Clover and the grasses grow well. Three crops of clover have been cut on many of our farms this season. Our lands are worth from $5 to $15 per acre, owing to location and improve- ments. Our people are intelligent, invite emigration from the North, and would esteem it a pleasure to have homeseekers stop when visiting the South. 60 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Letters from Northern Men in Mississippi. Cattle Take Care of Themselves J. T. Downs, Flora, Miss., Nov. ii, 1893. — We came from Marshall, Mich., here a little over three years ago. We came because we wanted to try a milder dimate. I like the climate very much. We also like the people. The white peo- ple are an intelligent, cultured, kindly people in this vicinity. We did not intend to make cotton raising our principal business, hence have run largely to stock. Raise corn, oats, rye, barley, peas, all kinds of vegetables, and cut a large amount of hay. Have had very good success with the Northern red clover. Cattle take care of themselves the year around without being fed at all. This seems to be a good fruit country. We set out one-year-old peach trees three years ago last spring and this year had an abundance of peaches from the last week in May to the middle of October. Land is slowly advancing and is worth from $5 to $15 an acre. Very good places can be bought for $10. I cannot say much about this country and what I think of it without making my letter too long. I think the pos- sibilities are great, and I believe it has a grand future before it, and I would like very much to have some of the good, enter- prising Northern people settle here. It would certainly hurry up the grand future I speak of. The price I spoke of for land means improved farms, with buildings, etc. Unimproved land can be bought for less. Land must advance in this country. The days are perfect here, warm, still, soft and pleasant; I might say, a fascinating atmosphere. Feels Like a Boy at 57. W. J. Foster, Terry, Hinds County, Miss., Nov. 7, 1893. — I came here from Alta, Buena Vista County, Iowa, Oct. 27, 1886 — about seven years ago. I left Iowa on account of my health. I would break down at times and have a spell of sick- ness, generally rheumatism. Since coming here I have gained in health and strengh every year, and now at the age of 57 I feel like a boy. We can grow almost everything that you can in SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 61 the North. Even wheat can be grown here. Oats, corn, rice, Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, peas, cow peas, cabbage, turnips, tomatoes, and everything in the vegetable line. Cabbage, turnips, spinach, etc., grow all winter. Cotton is the staple among the native farmers. Fruit grows in great abundance. Strawberries come in about April ist and last until June ist. Plums ripen in May. Blackberries are abundant. Grapes ripen about July 10th. Louisiana sugar cane does well, and sorghum grows finely. Peanuts do well. This is a good coun- try to raise stock. They can grow and become old without winter feeding, but do much better if they have a little hay and dry shelter during the winter rains. Stock is getting to pay, too. Some of the live merchants are buying them in large numbers and fattening them on cotton seed meal and cotton seed hulls. One firm has from 300 to 500 feeding now. Cattle get very fat on grass, if the pastures are not over-stocked. Horses can be raised very cheaply. Hogs often grow up in the woods and get fat on the mast. They are often brought to town and sold for meat without any feeding. This is a great country for flowers. At this date our front yard just sparkles with roses of all colors, cape jessamines, tube roses, morning glories, verbenas, zenias, dahlias, etc., etc. I came near for- getting the lovely chrysanthemums, in every shade from pure white to dark red. They are just in their glory now and will last for weeks. The more I see of this country the better I like it. It is such a comfortable country to live in. Even in July and August there are so many cool, cloudy afternoons. The nights are almost cold. Some winters we do not see any snow. The winters do not deserve the name of winter; it is only a little fall weather. We like the people. We were never treated more kindly. Terry is a very lively town. There is a very large amount of business done here. A new iron bridge spans the Pearl river, which brings the business of the counties east of us to Terry, which formerly went to Jackson (the state capital), six- teen miles north of us. Terry has the name of being the live- liest town on the Illinois Central. I think Terry and the sur- rounding country offer greater inducements than any part of the South that I am acquainted with. Farming lands are from $3 to $12 per acre. Those wanting information as to the price of land, etc., would do well to address Mr. W. H. Tribett, of Terry, who has 4,000 acres for sale. There is plenty of land SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 62 for sale, and it can be bought in large tracts so as to form neigh- borhoods, if so desired. Terry ships from 4,000 to 7,000 bales of cotton a year. During the fruit and vegetable season there is from 1,500 to 2,000 cases shipped each day for about sixty days. We have a good graded school nine months of the year. We have six churches; three belong to the colored people. This country has improved wonderfully in some respects in the last seven years, but we need more farmers. Farmers can raise nearly everything they need, and what they need to buy is very cheap. Fuel costs next to nothing. To those who are coming to seek a home I would say, take plenty of time. It will pay you. It is a big country and so diversified. There are large tracts of heavily timbered land that can be bought very cheaply. Come and see. Eighty Bushels of Corn in the Delta, R. P. Walt, Shaws, Miss., Oct. 21, 1893. — Since 1890 we think our town and vicinity has done some wonderful climb- ing. Only a few years ago it was a cane-brake, now it has many substantial buildings, churches and good schools all around us. Our principal crop, of course, is cotton, which makes one bale to the acre. Seventy-five and eighty bushels of corn have been grown to the acre. Fruits do very fine here, and a good many are turning their attention to their culture. All kinds of timber are found here. We have not many Northern farmers among us, but can say, let them come; they are thrice welcome, and I am sure will receive the very best care and attention. We want immigration badly. Lands are cheap and soil not to be excelled. People who will work can certainly do better here than in any new country that I know of. Mr. N. T. Burroughs, of Cherokee, Iowa, has a vast amount of land near here, which he will sell cheap and on the best of terms. I am sure any one you would refer to him he would be pleased to show around. Stock do well here, as shelter and food can be dispensed with twelve months, our winters are so mild. There are several partly improved places near here that can be bought now cheap. The Place for Small Farmers. J. W. Copeland, Water Valley, Miss., Nov. 8, 1893. — 1 moved from Chambers county, Ala., in 1844, to Mississippi. Have lived for more than twenty years near Water Valley, Yalobusha county, Miss. 64 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. We grow cotton, corn, oats, wheat and all the grasses. Clover does well with us. The field pea and the common crab grass make our most profitable hay crops. Potatoes, both Irish and sweet, are very profitable crops. Vegetables of all kinds do well here; also sorghum and ribbon cane to a limited extent. I like the country well, in fact I think it one of the best sections of country to move to at present, all things considered. It is healthy and well watered; generally mild winters; stock easily raised and wintered. Society is good; city and railroad facilities for marketing crops and vegetables. I like the people well. Have good schools and churches. I reside two miles southwest of town. We have fine graded schools there. Lands range from $5 to $15 or $20 per acre, owing to loca- tion, improvements and quality. As a farmer and tiller of the soil, I know this country to be a good one for farmers, and I think that small farmers and truck gardeners would find this a good country for them; and as a farmer and speaking for this people and the farmers, we most cordially invite them to come and settle among us, and can assure them that they will be kindly and cordially received and fully appreciated by us all. After Thirty Years. J. C. Robert, Centerville. Miss., Oct. 7, 1893. — A per- sonal acquaintance with it for thirty years, and an actual resi- dence for twenty years, warrants me in saying I know of no better section of the Union, when one takes into consideration the character of the soil, forest growth, water supply, climate, health, farm and orchard and garden products, proximity to favorable railroad transportation, church and school privileges — to which you may add abundance and cheapness of lands now presented to the immigrant for selection and purchase — than this locality. Our town lies 135 miles above New Orleans and 100 miles below Vicksburg, directly on the main line of the Yazoo & Mis- sissippi Valley Railway, at an elevation of 375 feet above sea level. We have about 200 inhabitants, three churches and a first-rate school. Our people are well behaved and sober; not a particle of ardent spirits is sold in our town or vicinity. Our calaboose is fast rotting down from disuse; I don’t think it has averaged one occupant in six months for several years. The dividing ridge or water-shed for four small streams, run- ning south, southeast, northeast and northwest, is within and im- SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 65 mediately adjacent to our town. The heat of summer is generally tempered by delightful breezes, and our summer nights (with few exceptions) are agreeably cool. The uniform distribution of atmospheric moisture through the whole year and the abundance of purest free-stone water (from wells on the ridges and from springs on the edges of the valleys) — all these caiuses conspire to make the health of our people most excellent. During an active practice as a physician for twenty years, I have never seen or heard of hereabouts a case of stone in the bladder. This is evi- dence of the purity of our water. Our soil is a generous, warm loam of gently rolling surface, underlaid by a very superior quality of clay. This is just such a soil as will most rapidly respond to deep breaking, thorough cultivation, and pays well for abundant fertilization. The original forest growth consists of various oaks, mag- nolia, hickory, beech, poplar, gum, holly, pine, dogwood, etc., intertwined with vines of the wild grape, rattan, yellow jas- mine, etc. Many years ago the style of farming was to remove the cream of the virgin forest soil by fifteen or twenty years culti- vation, then to open up and cultivate fresh lands elsewhere. The land thus left would be taken possession of and covered by a forest of second growth pines. By a wise provision of nature the roots of these pines permeate the soil covered with their straw. The natural grasses and Japan clover (now naturalized and spreading everywhere) have accomplished a wonderful work in restoring almost its original richness. With very little work these lands can be placed in cultivation. Girdling the pines in the early part of one year they are dead by the next year and their rott'ed roots may be easily plowed through. These lands, now in the market very cheap, are easily made to produce fine crops of cotton, corn, sweet and Irish potatoes, peas, oats, sugar cane, sorghum, hay, etc. All sorts of live stock do well here. Our natural grasses furnish an abundance of most nutritious and easily cured hay. Poultry raising, bee-keeping and dairying are very profitable. Peaches, pears, plums and grapes are excellent, and apples and figs do well. We are about on the southern limit of the best peach section, and a crop of early peaches pays well. Last year I received nearly $120 from less than an acre of Early Alexander peaches, and this year they brought me $125. From twelve pear trees (set out in January, 1886,) I received this summer $75, after deducting expenses for boxes, freights and 66 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS- GUIDE FOR 1 895. commissions. You do not wonder that I am now increasing my orchard largely. The experience of several years demonstrates the success of truck farming here. Better than this, however, we have learned to grow some staple crops to perfection after a crop of truck comes off. We follow a crop of cabbage, Irish potatoes or other early vegetables by cotton, or by corn with peas, or by hay. For instance, one of my neighbors gives me the following estimate of this year’s crop on a certain piece of ground: 4 acres of cabbages bringing net, exclusive of freight and commissions-$4o8 70 Followed by corn and peas thus — 150 bbls corn, at 50 cents per bbl 75 00 Pea vine hay from 2 acres sold for 44 00 Value of pea vine hay on hand from 2 acres. _ 44 00 Before cutting hay, saved 10 bushels peas, worth 10 00 Total value of crop on 4 acres $ 581 70 Average value per acre 145 42^ Another neighbor gives this statement for this year: Feb., 93— Planted 5 acres Irish potatoes June 8 — Dug the potatoes and sold them in Cincinnati for net $383 00 June 13 — Planted same 5 acres in cotton, now being picked, will yield about 1,600 lbs lint, at 7^ cents 120 00 4,000 lbs cotton seed, at $14 per ton 28 00 Estimated value of 2 crops on 5 acre $531 00 Estimated value of 2 crops per acre 106 20 Numerous other instances of two or three crops per annum might be cited. The possibilities of this land, which can be bought from $5 to $10 per acre, have not been approximated. Sandy soils are not capable of responding to this deep breaking, thorough fertilization and rapid change of crops in one year. Our fine clay sub-soil, with free use of cow peas as a humus- producing agent, tells how it may be done. In conclusion I would say there is no country that offers better inducements to good, industrious people, of limited means. Not only do we need farmers, but also men of all trades, blacksmiths, wagonmakers, brickmakers and some men to work up our fine hard wood timber into ax-helves, wagon spokes, etc., etc. Our people are good livers, but not possessed of wealth. They know how to respect and honor the honest man who is not afraid of hard work. To all such we extend a cordial wel- come. Should any reader of these lines desire further informa- tion let him address me. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 67 Only One Failure in Twenty-One Years. J. M. Jackson, Fayette, Miss., Oct. 18, 1893. — This town is situated on the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, 24 miles north of the city of Natchez, and 72 miles south of the capital of the state. It has been recorded in statistics as being the second healthiest place in the United States. It has a pop- ulation of 500, and is an old established town; has several very old church edifices and a fine court house, which was built in 1881. We are surrounded with good rich lands, which can be bought from $5 to $15 per acre; some poor lands for much less. The usual crop is cotton. We handle about 6,000 bales annu- ally at this station. The soil is adapted to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, which yield abundantly, such as potatoes, apples, peaches, pears, grapes, melons, etc. Two crops of pota- toes can be raised, and grasses can be cultivated very profitably ; in fact, I cut a good crop of native grasses — such as Bermuda, Japan clover, etc., at a good profit. The school facilities are excellent. We have one large and commodious building ad- jacent to the track of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, and a five-minute walk from depot, with beautiful groves and grounds surrounding, which is at present used as the Fayette Female Academy, under the direction of Prof. Dunn and a corps of efficient teachers. We have churches — Christian, Pres- byterian and Methodist. Our merchants are enterprising men, do a good business, and in my period of 20 years here (with 13 of same in the employ of R. R. Co. at this station), I only know of one failure, and that a small one. Stock raising can be made very profitable. There is an abundant supply of good water at all times. In my 20 years residence here I can state that my experience is that (and I have traveled in every quarter of the globe) any man that will work and attend to his business can make a good living and good re- muneration (I am an Englishman by birth), and I do not know of any section of country where a few live, energetic farmers have a better field for investment. In the Fruit Belt. W. G. McNair, Harriston, Miss., Oct. 11, 1893. — Pop- ulation 400. Our principal crops are corn, cotton, potatoes, peas and hay. This is in the fruit belt, same climate and bet- ter soil than Crystal Springs, and is said to be especially adapted to fruits and vegetables, although truck and fruit farming is in its A YAZOO DELTA STATION, SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 69 infancy. Some attention is given to stock raising, with good results. This country is well adapted to stock raising, there be- ing plenty of water and cane. I know of no Northern farmers in our immediate vicinity. Lands are worth from $3 to $25 per acre. My brother pur- chased a place yesterday three miles from town, of 765 acres. About 300 acres is in cultivation (and one of the finest meadows I ever saw) all well fenced, for $3,000. This is the average price for lands. Can buy on from one to four years. Places nearer town can be bought for same or less money. We have splendid schools all over the country. Besides our free and private schools, there is an Academy at Fayette, two miles distant. We have no white caps in this country. I hope the above will give you information desired. I will add there is an enterprise here just put in operation, that will prove a success — the Harrison Agricultural Works manufacture plows and all kinds of agricultural implements, with a capacity to manufacture 12,000 plows yearly. A Country for Northern Veterans. W. D. Caulfield, Gloster, Miss., Oct. 12, 1893.- — The present population of Gloster is 1,496, and emigrants are com- ing in gradually. The principal crops are cotton, corn, sweet pota- toes, peas and some sugar cane, and peanuts. Peaches, apples, plums and strawberries do well, while pears do remarkably well. A tree in the town here bore 3,000 large pears this year. J. F. Brown and J. H. Lauchlie, two federal soldiers, have located here and are thriving. Mr. L. said to me a few weeks since, that he came here without means and that he had in eight years bought 480 acres of land, paid for it and had about him every comfort of life, and that if his old comrades in arms that now reside at or near his old home in Illinois could know of his prosperity and how he had been aided by his Southern neigh- bors, that they would come South. He said: “I know that this is the country for the poor white man of the North to come to.’’ He said further: “I have never denied being a federal soldier, and have never been insulted for the part that I took in the army, having boasted of four years’ service. I believe that the Southern white men will ever honor a soldier and are ready to welcome any that come from the North with intent to settle among them.” Mr. Lauchlie’s address is Zion Hill, Amite county, Miss. ; Mr. Brown’s is Gloster, Miss. TO SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Stock business is becoming quite an industry in our midst, many farmers having purchased the better breeds of cattle and hogs. Lands can be had from $2 to $10, according to the im- provements thereon. Lands can be bought on long credits. Gloster has just completed an $8,000 school building and employed a corps of experienced teachers. The school is free for seven months to all residents of the town, and four months free to all. A small tuition is charged of the country people for the remaining three months. The water of this community is good, the climate warm in summer and cool in the fall and winter, for winter is never longer than three months. At this writing, Oct. 12, no family has had a fire. The health of the country is excellent, there being but two deaths in the town, of adults, in the last twelve months. Our railroad facilities are excellent and the officers accom- modating. A cannery has been established and will do a good business next year. To conclude, we would say, that this is the land of sunshine and showers. Two crops can be grown on the same lands, and we are ready to extend to all immigrants a hearty welcome, and assure them that to come is to remain with us. An Illinois Farmer in Mississippi. T. B. Gregory, Abbott, Miss. — I have lived here in Mississippi a little over ten years and have enjoyed good health all that time, and have known others who came here with poor health, but became healthy and strong. I consider this part of Mississippi very healthy. As a farming country and for stock- raising and for truck-raising it is hard to beat. We have the finest of native grasses here for pasture on which stock thrive and get very fat. Our climate is so mild that stock can be raised much cheaper than in the cold climate of the North, where they have to feed so long. I have grown red clover for five or six years and have proved it to be a success in this country beyond a doubt. The mint crop pays fully as well here as in Michigan. We have good schools and churches all over the country in every neighborhood and here the society is good. Political lib- erties are just the same here as in Illinois and elsewhere. I am a third party man, or have been. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1895. 71 I was raised in Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois, and have spent a little time in Missouri and Kansas. I have farmed in all of these states and I believe this is the best country for a man of moderate means and plenty of grit. After Eighteen Years in Minnesota. H. F. Messer, Aberdeen, Monroe County, Miss. — I have lived nearly all my life in the North. More than twenty years ago I moved from New Hampshire to Minnesota, where I farmed until about two years ago. Then I came to this part of Missis- sippi on a prospecting tour, and being favorably impressed with the outlook, I returned to Minnesota and brought my family to this place last fall to spend the winter and spring and satisfy my- self further as to investing here and making this my future home. The farming seasons extend from February to the middle of October or November, and March, April, May, June, October and November are as delightful as any country. December here is similar to October in the Northwest. Coal, wood and water are plentiful and cheap. The water is everywhere good; in many sections fine springs abound; every- where good wells can be obtained at reasonable depths and cost, and artesian wells flowing cold streams can be had at a moder- ate cost. On the prairie, owing to its healthful limestone under- strata, the water is frequently “limed,” but cisterns can be had at reasonable cost, which are filled by the winter rains, and the water is pure and cold and free from lime all through the sum- mer, should anyone object to the lime. In natural grasses and pasturage this portion of the country can compete with any, and is adapted to the cultivation and growth of everything that goes to make up the farmer’s living. Though cotton has been the main growth, the farmers for the past two or three years have been turning their attention more to diversified crops, raising clover and stock. The prairie soil here is peculiarly adapted to red clover and mililotus, and considerable portions of it are being sown with it. I have seen this spring as fine red clover growing here as any- where in the North or Northwest, which means that it will be but a few years before this prairie land will be restored to its original fertility by being changed in clover and proper cultiva- tion. It is also adapted to the growth of corn, wheat, oats and nearly all farm products, vegetables and fruits raised in the South, with railroad facilities as convenient as could be desired. 72 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Horses, mules, cattle, hogs and sheep can also be raised as well as in any country. The healthfulness of this country will compare favorably with most any, as the appearance of the men, women and children will indicate. It is free from epidemics. I find the people social, hospitable and neighborly, and do- ing all in their power to invite immigration to share in the ad- vantages and develop the blessings of this climate and soil. These prairie lands, I find, were assessed for taxes before the war at from $30 to $50 per acre. They can be purchased now for from $8 to $15 per acre, and a few years in red clover and mililotus, with diversified crops and proper cultivation, will re- store them to their original fertility. As evidence of the Christian spirit and good morals of the people, you find here Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Christian churches in nearly every neighborhood in the country, and the same in nearly all the towns, with the Episcopal and Catholic churches in addition. Free public schools, separate for whites and blacks, are established all over the State and much interest is manifested in them. Charms of Cast Mississippi. W. F. Little, West Point, Miss. — My experience in different parts of Mississippi and Louisiana is of six years’ dura- tion. I have spent ten years in the Mississippi Delta, and in my opinion East Mississippi and West Alabama is the most desir- able portion of the South for Northern and Western emigrants fo settle, for in this section they will find prairie lands equal to any of the prairies of Illinois or west of the Mississippi river. I consider them more valuable as they are equally as fertile, and in addition they are well supplied with all kinds of timber suit- able for building and manufacturing purposes. Fruits of all kinds grow luxuriantly and in abundance. Fruits fresh from the vines and trees are gathered eight months in the year. Vegetables can be had fresh from the garden twelve months in the year. And at the present time, (September), while the pastures in Illinois and other Western States are parched and dried and farm- ers are compelled to haul water for their stock and feed them from the grain fields, our pastures are covered with fresh green natural grasses and all cattle are fat enough for beef. It is not only the case this year, but I have found it. so every year since I came here. I have never seen it necessary to feed stock in the SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 73 pastures, and nowhere is water more abundant than in this sec- tion, making it one of the finest stock countries in America. We can raise any cereal or product that can be produced in any of the Northern or Western States and a great many other things that they cannot produce. I have peach trees three years old from the seed that have borne this year from one peck to a half bushel per tree, and I have bearing grape vines three years old from the cuttings. Another great advantage is that we have direct railroad communication to all Northern and Western markets, furnishing cheap transportation for vegetables, fruits and products of the truck farm. The Mobile & Ohio also connects with all lines to Eastern markets, and we are close with through transportation to the Southern and coast markets which are the best in the United States. As a mild and delightful climate this is surpassed by none, not being as hot in summer as Northern Illinois, and seldom, if ever, does the mercury reach within ten degrees of zero in win- ter. People suffering with consumption, catarrh and bronchitis and other throat and lung troubles find almost instant relief and in many cases permanent cures, while scarlet fever and diphthe- ria are unknown here. I would say to young men seeking homes who are unable to invest in the high-priced lands in the North and West, come South where you will find improved lands close to good markets for less than you can buy a homestead and improve the raw lands on the frontier, where you are compelled to haul high- priced lumber and fuel a long distance to improve the lands for which you have paid more than you can get farms all ready and fenced, with wells supplied with pure fresh water, comfortable houses, orchards and beautiful forests at the very door, which afford fuel and good range and shelter for stock. In the West they are exposed to the bleak winds and bliz- zards, with frequently no other shelter than a barbed wire fence to split the wild winds and storms. Here a man will find the comforts of life prepared for him as soon as he arrives, where he is free from such pests as flies, mosquitoes, buffalo gnats and green herd flies, such as he and his stock have to contend with in the North and West. He will also find agreeable and desirable neighbors willing and ready to promote his interests in every way, and close to good schools and churches, instead of living on the vast prai- ries, with here and there an occasional house in the dim distance. CHARLES H. SMITH’S JERSEY COW, KHEDIVE PET, AND HER FOUR CALVES, Born September ist, 1891, on his “Idlewild” Plantation, Greenville, Miss. Herd Register No, 45391. The Calves were sired by Mamie’s St, Helier, Herd Register No. 22081, also the property of C. H. Smith, SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 75 The Place to Make Money and be Happy. J. W. Day, Crystal Springs, Miss., Dec. 2, 1893.— I left Illinois in 1880 and located at Crystal Springs, which is on the Illinois Central Railroad, 157 miles north of New Orleans and 759 miles south of Chicago. When I came here the fruit and vegetable industry was in its infancy. Now there are 600 to 700 carloads of tomatoes alone shipped from this station a year; besides there are half as many more carloads of fruit and vegetables, saying nothing of the thousands of bales of cotton shipped annually. Peaches and plums do extra well here; apples and pears tolerably well. In fact, most all kinds of fruit and vegetables do well here. Corn, oats and hay do well here also. Figs and Louisiana cane grow fine here. Horses, cattle, sheep and hogs and all kinds of poultry do as well here as in Southern Illinois. The land is rolling and pretty rough here, set with forests of pine, oak, hickory and poplar and many other kinds of timber. Water is plenty and good. Health is good; so are the morals of the people, with plenty of churches and schools, with a prohibition county. Improved land is worth from $10 to $15 per acre; unim- proved, from $5 to $8, within two or three miles of town. Tak- ing it all in all, this is a great place to make a good living, make money and be happy. From the Southern Prairies. R. C. Gibson, West Point, Miss., Oct. 20, 1893. — In the eastern part of Mississippi is a group of counties whose names carry one back to the golden age of American oratory and statesmanship, viz. : Webster, Calhoun, Monroe, Lownds and Clay. The last named, however, was not created until some- time after the war, and is a child of the reconstruction period. It was formerly a part of Lownds county. During the period of negro domination it was called Colfax, but when the yoke was thrown off its name was changed to Clay, in honor of that champion of human liberty, Henry Clay, of Kentucky. This county also enjoys the distinction of being the garden spot of Mississippi. It has a greater variety of soil, perhaps, than any other county in the state. In the extreme eastern part the soil is black-sandy. Going west the magnificent prai- ries set in. These prairies are exceedingly fertile, and remind one of the prairies of Illinois or Kansas. After these, we have 76 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . a belt of timbered lands, consisting of black-sandy and black hammock. Then more beautiful prairies, and another belt of timbered lands with sandy soil, and so on. These lands will produce almost anything that grows in the temperate zone. The prairies are especially adapted to the culture of corn, cotton, wheat, oats, clover and the grasses. The sandy soil pro- duces fruits and vegetables to perfection. There is a flavor about the fruits grown in this section that rivals that of the fruits grown on the Pacific coast. This is one of the best watered counties in the state. On the eastern side is the Tombigbee river, which is navigable for medium sized boats part of the year, and with a little attention from the government could be made a useful stream for trans- portation purposes. In the hill lands are numerous springs gushing from the hillsides that form themselves into little brooks of clear, cool water. Artesian wells can be gotten in all parts of the prairies that will furnish abundance of pure, cool water for all practical purposes. The farmers of this section are beginning to diversify the crops, and when this is extensively practiced, this will be the most prosperous county in the state. Everything is ripe for such a state of things. The transportation facilities are equal to any in the state, for, besides the river on the east, the county is intersected by three railroads which cross at West Point, the county site. So the farmer, the lumberman and the manufac- turer have six different ways to ship their various products. West Point, — ll The Gem of the Praires” — a beautiful little city of 3,500 inhabitants, is the county site. Situated in the heart of the most fertile county in East Mississippi, with three railroads, and another one in prospect, with a health record that is not surpassed by any town in the United States, with a live, energetic population whose pluck and progressive spirit are the admiration and envy of rival towns, it requires no spirit of prophecy to predict her splendid future. Capital seeking investment can find no more promising field than West Point. The few enterprises established here already are making money. Among them are: The West Point Manufacturing Co., The Cotton Oil Mill, The Brick and Tile Factory, The Ice Factory, The West Point Canning Co., The Wagon Works, The Foundry and Machine Works. The foundry is a recent enterprise, but no one doubts that it will pay. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 77 Under the state constitution, all manufacturing enterprises are exempt from taxation for ten years. In addition to what she already has, West Point wants a $200,000 cotton factory, a flouring mill, a plow factory, a box factory, a broom factory, a woolen factory, a creamery, and numerous other factories, all of which would pay fine profits. She has three good newspapers, numerous dry goods, drug, grocery and hardware stores, mills, gins, etc., all doing well. West Point is a city of churches. Baptists, Methodists, Cumberland Presbyterians, Presbyterians, Disciples and Episco- palians compose her religous organizations. The crowning glory of West Point is her graded school. The building is a magnificent brick structure, furnished with modern apparatus, and capable of accommodating 500 pupils. Every citizen is proud of the school, and under the present man- agement it stands without a rival. Socially West Point is equal to any place in the South, as the numerous families from the North and West who have set- tled here can testify. Her professional men — lawyers and physicians — are an honor to any town, and are as good as can be found anywhere. West Point is not satisfied with her present prosperity, but invites capital from abroad to invest here. Every dollar invested in manufacturing here will pay from 12J to 20 per cent. Any one desiring to engage in agriculture or stock raising, or fruit and vegetable growing, will find Clay county especially adapted to such pursuits. Come, ‘‘Journey with us and we will do you good.” Navigation the Entire Year. J. G. McGuire, Yazoo City, Miss., Oct. 19, 1893. — Yazoo City is situated forty-five miles northwest of Jackson, on a branch of the Illinois Central Railroad, known as the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad, and 110 miles north of Vicksburg on the Yazoo river, which is navigable the entire year for 250 miles, including the Tallahatchie river, which empties into the Yazoo some 150 miles above Yazoo City. This city has a population of near 4,000, and the county, 39,000. The health of the city and county is as good as any other in the state, the death rate in Y’azoo City not exceeding 12 per 1,000 of population annually. The school and church facilities are unexcelled by any city of like size in the country. The public school is open nine months in the year, tuition being 78 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . free to all children between the ages of five and eighteen years. The building was erected at a cost of $20,000; $5,000 addi- tional being paid for heating apparatus and furniture. Six hun- dred children can be comfortably housed and taught in the building. The churches are, Methodist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Bap- tist and Episcopal, each denomination having neat and com- fortable houses of worship. The city is lighted by electricity, has four and a half miles of sewers and water mains, and five miles of graveled streets and drive-ways. The city is compactly built and the citizens are enterpris- ing, pushing, progressive people. The trade annually of cotton is from $2,000,000 to $2,500,000, and of general merchandise about the same- The banking facilities are good, the Bank of Yazoo City having a paid up capital of $200,000, and the First National a paid up capital of $50,000. Yazoo county is about the center of the rich and alluvial Yazoo Delta. About half of the county is of rolling lands, sus- ceptible of all kinds of farming, stock and cattle raising; the other lands are in the Delta, and produce abundantly crops of corn, cotton and grasses. Both the Delta and the hill portions of the county are well supplied with timber of many varieties; oak, hickory, ash, poplar and gum predominating in the hills, and cypress and other soft woods in the Delta. Streams furnishing- water the year round for pastures and stock are abundant, and stock can be grazed all the year without the cost of housing and feeding. Cattle and stock of all kinds do well and grow rapidly. From Capt. Merry’s circular I take the following questions: “What are the principal crops?” Cotton, corn and grasses. “What, if any, fruits do well?” Peaches, pears, apples, plums, figs, and all kinds of garden vegetables. “Have you any Northern farmers located in your midst?” As yet only a few; but a good many German families, ail of whom are doing well. “Is special attention given to stock raising, and with what results?” In some sections of the county, and with most excel- lent results. Mules and horses can be raised cheaply, and develop fully in size and muscular qualities. Cattle are raised without any practical cost. “What is the average price of lands?” Open lands range from $5 to $50 per acre, according to location; woodlands, from $1. 50 to $10. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 79 “Do you have good school facilities?” In the county there are fifty-four white free schools, open five months in the year. The country school houses are all comfortably built, and so located as to be within close range to all children. Scholars are admitted from 5 to 18 years of age. In concluding, I will state that I know of no county offer- ing better inducements to homeseekers than Yazoo. Strangers meet with a hospitable reception and are shown every courtesy. Each and every man is allowed perfect freedom in his politics and religion. I trust that this hastily written letter may be of some ser- vice to you and to Capt. Merry and the great corporation that he represents; one that has taken so much interest in inducing immigrants to come South, and thereby assist in developing our great and growing country. Melons Second to None. * J. W. Eckford, Aberdeen, Miss., Oct. 16, 1893. — Popu- lation of Aberdeen, Miss., 5,000. Principal crop products — Grain, cotton, hay in great vari- ety, vegetables and sorghum. Fruits of many kinds do well, particularly apples, pears, peaches, plums and berries. The melons grown here are second to none in quality and size. We have many extensive stock growers; auspices most favorable and results satisfactory. Average price of best lands, $10 per acre; summary, $3 to $ 1 5 per acre. School facilities — Excellent. Social privileges accorded with open hand. Northern Farmers Doing Well. B. F. Thomas, Grenada, Miss., Oct. 18, 1893. — Popula- tion is 2,500. The principal crops are cotton, corn, peas, oats, potatoes and millet. Peaches, apples, pears and berries of most any kind do well. We have a few Northern farmers located here, ail of whom are doing well. Mr. Robert Binum, manager for Dr. A. G. Brown from New York, postoffice ad- dress LeFlore, Miss., whose property is valued considerably over a million dollars, is doing well. There is not a great deal of stock raising carried on here now, but the country is well adapted for the raising of any kind. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 81 With but little expense the vast cotton fields can be converted into as fine stock farms as those of the Blue Grass regions of Kentucky. The average price of land is from $8 to $10 per acre. We have very good school facilities. The Grenada Female Collegiate Institute for young ladies is doubtless unexcelled by any institute in the South, and we have a good system of public schools throughout the country. We have in the way of manufactories one ice factory, one cotton compress, one cotton seed oil mill and a number of cot- ton gins and saw mills in town and the immediate country, all doing a first-class business. Grenada is beautifully situated on the main line, and at the terminus of the Memphis Division of “The Model Railroad of the South,” the great Illinois Central, whose passenger equip- ment and shipping facilities stand without contradiction, second to none. A Great Place for Cotton and Cabbage. W. Lee Patton, Summit, Miss., Oct. 13, 1893. — Summit is on an elevated plateau, 108 miles north of New Orleans, and 420 feet above the sea level. It has a population of 2,000 inhabitants, and is in a remark- ably healthy pine woods region, with large creeks on either side at a distance of from one to three miles. In fact, it may be said it is surrounded with these water courses — all of them bold, clear, runing streams, with rich, alluvial soil, of greater or less extent along their course. These bottoms are covered with a growth of oak, pine, poplar, gum and other valuable timber. We have, in the town proper, six churches, large, well at- tended public schools and a chartered female college. The creek bottoms are highly productive and the elevated pine woods plateaux, where properly cultivated and fertilized, pay well, cultivated in corn, cotton, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes, fruits large and small, vines and vegetables of almost every variety. The writer has raised larger and finer cabbage in Sum- mit than he ever saw imported from any other state or section. With concentrated farming and gardening two and often three crops of vegetables and farm products can be, and are, raised on the same ground in one year. Corn, cotton and potatoes (sweet) are often and easily raised after oats or turnips. This is of course, “par excellence,’’ a cotton growing* county, and the shipments from the country tributary to this 6 82 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . place alone will furnish of this staple from 10,000 to 12,000 bales, and has under favorable conditions reached nearly 15,000 bales. This crop (cotton) may, in fact, be said to be almost indigenous. The crops of corn, oats, peas, potatoes and hay are limited here, as everywhere grown, by seasons, cultivation and fertilizing. This season there has been a vast quantity of “Lespedeza” (or Japan clover) hay gathered, which has cost no labor other than the cutting and housing, or marketing. The most of this clover will average at least three feet in height, or length of leaf stalk, and yields, without the least trouble, from two to three tons of superior stock forage per acre. Crab grass hay is also an abundant and valuable production of the culti- vated lands. The same surface that has yielded twenty to thirty bushels of corn, will yield a greater monied value in hay, which matures after the corn is “laid by,” than the crop of corn. There are very few Northern or Western men in this imme- diate neighborhood, and those that heretofore immigrated here selected, invariably, worn out, “cheap” lands, which had in most instances been exhausted years before. I would not recommend Northern, Western or European immigration to this section unless they purchased our fairly good lands and in large bodies and colonize it, dividing it into farms to suit the wants of the settlers. These large tracts of land can be purchased at from $5 to $10 per acre, and are capable of yielding a generous support in the crops suited to the section. The writer has been a resident of this place over a quarter of a century, and has never known a farmer, either white or colored, who farmed on his own capital, that did not succeed and prosper. The farmer or market gardener who begins in debt and is compelled by this urgent necessity to plant cotton and cotton alone, and unsupported by other adjunct crops, by reason of his monied necessities, must, here as anywhere, fail, ignominiously fail. This has been a great drawback to our sec- tion. The mere fact that the moment a farmer lays off a field for cotton he can anticipate its crop value to a close margin, is a temptation and a snare that few Southern reared men can resist. In conclusion, thrifty, working farmers and gardeners of any nationality or section, that will come here in such numbers as will enable them to purchase our good lands, and have the monied facilities to improve their purchases, can and will make money with perhaps more ease and less care than in any other section of the South. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 83 I had omitted to say a word about rearing stock. It is as well adapted to raising high-class stock as any section from Maine to Florida, or the Atlantic to the Pacific. The writer speaks of what he knows from experience, and from no idle theory. Hospitality a Living Reality. W. F. Shaffner, Water Valley, Miss., Oct. 16, 1893. — Water Valley has 5,000 inhabitants. The principal crops are corn, cotton, vegetables and fruits. Fruits of all kinds do well. North- ern men in this immediate vicinity — L. B. McFarland, J. H. Doug- lass, J. W. Copeland, John M. Allen and F. Eldridge. Where any attention is paid to stock raising in this section it is always successful. The Valley Stock Farm, one mile south of the city, operated by a syndicate, has proven a success and is well stocked with high grade horses, trotting and pacing. The country is well stocked with high grade cattle, and the grazing facilities are such that stock only have to be fed three months in the year. The average price of land is from $5 to $10 per acre and is sold on easy terms, within reach of the poorest. The school facilities of this place cannot be surpassed — ten months school free each year, 650 pupils enrolled at present. The University of Mississippi, at Oxford, eighteen miles north, is unsurpassed by any school in the South. There is situated at Water Valley the Yocana Cotton Mills, employing 300 hands; the Illinois Central Railroad Machine and Car Shops, employ- ing 450 skilled hands; the Water Valley Canning and Manufac- turing Company, a new and prosperous industry employing 100 hands and taking up all the surplus vegetable crop. This will make truck farming very profitable in the future. Fewell & Cooper’s Foundry and Machine Works do a profitable business building and repairing. The I X L Steam Laundry gives every facility in this line enjoyed by any city. The Herring House will be completed within two months and, while not the largest, it will be amply commodious for all purposes and the most handsomely finished hotel within the state. The Illinois Cen- tral Railroad has begun the erection of a large and hand- some depot. Water Valley has two banks that have with- stood the “hard times.” No failures of any kind have occurred at this place for several years. This being the relay point for all trains gives facilities for the quick handling of vegetables and fruits enjoyed by few places within the state, placing it within quick ' reach of Chicago, St. Louis and all the prin- 84 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . cipal produce consuming centers. The large force of factory and railroad employes being a class of regularly and well paid consumers make this city prosperous regardless of the condi- tion of crops. While there are a great many of our citizens who were engaged in “the late unpleasantness,” they enjoy such excellent health that all recollection of the war has been for- gotten. Northern men will find a warm and hearty welcome and learn that the hospitality for which Mississippi is noted is a living reality. A Few Southern Advantages. C. C. Foote, McComb City, Miss., Oct. 18, 1893. — I came to this country four years ago on account of ill health of some of my family. I left my farm of rich prairie land of Northern Illinois and came to McComb City, Miss., purchased a piece of land 400 feet square of the Mississippi Valley Co., and made the home where I now reside. During these four years this town has grown remarkably. There has been at least 250 good substantial residences erected, and many more are being planned and built. The business por- tion of the town has been improved in many ways. Stores and hotels have been built, also a fine bank that would do credit to a much larger city. The business of the town seems to be car- ried on in a safe, reliable- way, as there have been no failures in the past four years, notwithstanding the late financial troubles. The religious denominations are all well represented, each having a nice comfortable house of worship; free school nine months in the year, with an attendance of 400 scholars and requisite number of efficient teachers, also several private schools. This town is situated on the Illinois Central Railroad, 105 miles north of New Orleans. The Company have extensive ma- chine shops here, which are a permanent advantage to the town and country surrounding it. I think there can scarcely be a healthier location, the town being built on high pine woods land with no swamps near and no chance for malaria; and while I cannot truly say the climate is sure cure for hay fever, my wife, who suffered from it for many years before coming here, is almost entirely cured of it. It seems to me that this town and country is well adapted for the manufacture of all things which can be made of wood. Many kinds of this material are right here in untold quantities, also a market for the manufactured articles. Labor is cheap, fuel plenty, and work can go right on here the year round with- SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 85 out the erection of expensive buildings as in the North. Land is cheap, but the soil is poor compared with Northern land, still it holds fertilizers well, and large crops of hay, sweet potatoes, sugar cane, and all garden crops are sure if neccessary efforts are put forth. As for the people of the South, they are as kind and friendly and more hospitable than at the North, and Northern people may feel as secure both of property and person as, we will say, in Old Vermont. Now I have no land for sale and no axe to grind, but have tried to write briefly of a few of the advantages of the South as I have found it-. The Crops That Bring Cash. J. T. Davidson, Terry, Miss., Nov. 8, 1893. — I moved from Berrien county, Mich., to this place, in the fall of ’88. We can grow anything that we grew in Michigan, besides cotton, sweet potatoes and peanuts in abundance. I am fattening five hogs on sweet potatoes and corn and they seem to prefer the po- tatoes, and I think fatten as quickly. There is considerable fruit and vegetables sent from this place to Northern and Southern markets, bringing lots of money and making good times. I do not advise those that have good homes to come South unless they are sick and need a change for the benefit of their health; but to those who are looking for a cheap home in a healthy, genial clime, they cannot do better than come to Terry, Mississippi. Land here sells for from $15 up. I live one mile from town. A few miles further out I be- lieve it can be bought for $5 or $6. Fullest Expectations Realized. J. L. Churchill, Madison Station, Miss., Nov. 9, 1893. — I moved from Freeport, Stevenson county, Illinois, ten years ago, to my present home in Madison county, Mississippi, two and a half miles from Madison Station. Cereals of all kinds can be grown and harvested when land is properly prepared. Fruits of all kinds, except the tropical, can be, and are, grown successfully. Vegetables of all kinds are grown for an early Northern market, and are very profitable. This is the home of cotton, sugar-cane, sweet potatoes and peanuts. 86 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. The country has come up to my fullest expectations. I find the Southern people to be the real cream of the American people. I will say to my Northern friends, that if they wish to come South, to locate at Madison, I will assure them that they will be received, in business and social circles, as one of them, if worthy. Lands sell for from $5 to $30 per acre; the variation of prices is due to the distance lands are located from Madison Station, the shipping point. I am ready to answer any and all questions regarding this country, its productiveness and prices. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 87 Letters from Northern Men in Louisiana. Tobacco Raising; a Paying; Business. R. C. Strain, Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 19, 1893.— I moved from Kearney, Buffalo county, Neb., one year ago to Baton Rouge, La. Live five miles east of the capital; am a farmer, have bought land here and am well pleased with this country, climate and people. This is the finest climate in the United States. We haven’t suffered with the heat as much here this last summer as we have during summers in the North. From the first of October until the first of June is the most delightful weather — not too warm nor too cold. We had two frosts last week, but not hard enough to kill the flowers. Crops of all kinds were fairly good and it is no use to try to mention all we can grow here. We raise everything but coffee, tea and wheat. Flour is cheaper here than it is in Nebraska where there are big crops of wheat raised every year, and coffee aud tea is just as cheap as there. Cotton crop is all gathered. Sugar making is in full blast. There is a heavy cane crop; corn crop was fairly good as well as the hay and oats crop. Melons, fruit, berries, garden vegetables of all description, sweet and Irish potatoes, were all good crops. I had in an oat crop last year, and am sowing oats now and have been for the last month. They can be sown from the first of October till the last of Jan- nary, and make a good crop. Corn and potatoes we plant in February. This is a good stock country, and a good place for butter- making and poultry-raising. The Southern people are very clever and kind. We have several Northern men living near. Tobacco raising is a paying business here. We have splendid soft water, very cool and nice. 88 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. We want a good sized colony of good, thrifty, working Northern people to move here and make their homes with us. I think this is a very healthy country. We have had better health here than we had in the North; a bad cold comes very seldom. We don’t have severe changes, and yet it gets cold enough some times to freeze ice as thick as a window glass. Land in my neighborhood is selling from $9 to $20 per acre. Plenty of nice timber abounds. Nice cleared land, with fair im- provements, sells from $15 to $20 per acre and only five or six miles from the capital of the state, a city of 2,000 inhabitants. We have good transportation facilities, both by rail and river. We are 90 miles north of New Orleans, on the table lands east of the Mississippi river. Our timber is all hard wood and very large trees. White oak, black oak, pin oak, bur oak, mag- nolia, poplar, hickory, ash, holly, elm, beech, gum, mulberry, sassafras, dogwood, willow and honey-locust are the main varieties. Ten Thousand Barrels of Early Potatoes. F. L. Maxwell, Mound, La., Nov. 12, 1893.. — I moved from Sullivan county, Ind., to Madison Parish, La., in 1866. I am well pleased with the country and people. Madison Parish is all alluvial and naturally very fertile. It is well watered with numerous rivers, bayous and lakes, all well stocked with fish. There is plenty of game — deer, bear, squirrels, rabbits, coons and opossums. Cotton is our principle monied crop. Corn grows as well here as in the Wabash bottoms. Oats, rye and barley do well. Clover and most all kinds of grasses grow well. Potatoes, cabbage, all kinds of vegetables and fruits do well. Madison Parish ships yearly ten thousand barrels of early potatoes to the Northern cities. We have an abundance of fine timber, consisting of cypress, ash, red gum, cottonwood and oak. Stock of all kinds do well here. What we need most is a good supply of Western farmers to develop the country. Lands are selling from fifty cents to $50 per acre, depend- ing on improvements and location. I am of the opinion that the Western farmer with some means can greatly benefit his condi- sion by coming south. The health is good and we have good schools. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 89 A Place for Prosperous and Happy Homes. R. F. Patterson, Baton Rouge, La., Nov. 6, 1893. — I was born in Butler county, Ohio, in February, 1833. Moved to Central Indiana in 1848, where I remained till 1869. I then moved to Charleston, Coles county, 111 . I resided there until January, 1874. From that time till the present my home has been either in the city or Parish of East Baton Rouge. It will be twenty years next January. As I have written several articles, which have been pub- lished, giving my views of Louisiana, and especially the city and parish of East Baton Rouge, 1 send them to you. Two are con- tained in the report of a mid-summer convention at New Or- leans, held in 1888; the other, a paper read at the State Agri- cultural Society at Memphis, last January. I now endorse every word that I said in those papers with emphasis. You are at liberty to make any extracts from those papers that you may think will aid you in bringing Louisiana be- fore the people. I nou y think that East Baton Rouge Parish, La., furnishes the best opening for prosperous and happy homes for industrious people of any place I know, and I have traveled from the Gulf to the Lakes, and from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. West Baton Rouge Parish lies on the west side of the Mis- sissippi river, immediately west of the city of Baton Rouge, ex- tending up and down the river. The land is alluvial and pro- tected by levees. From the river front back, from a mile and a half to three miles, the land is dry and practically inexhaustible. Back of this belt, the land is lower and interspersed with swamps, where grow large groves of cypress, which, as all know, yields the finest lumber known. The staple crops of the dry lands are cane, cotton and corn. All ^vegetables are produced abundantly for home consumption. As yet but little effort has been made to raise them for shipment. In the lower lands rice is the principal crop. There is much land at present on this side of the river uncultivated, which, when protected by suitable levees, will no doubt be utilized. East Baton Rouge is largely high land. At the city of Baton Rouge, the land suddenly rises about forty feet above high water mark. This is the first high land from the Gulf. Here a beautiful table-land begins, extending east and north un- til the Parishes of Livingston, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, East and West Feliciana are embraced. The natural beauty of this dis- ILLINOIS CENTRAL PASSENGER DEPOT, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 91 trict of country is rarely surpassed. The surface is undulating and where not in cultivation, is covered by beautiful groves of magnolia, beech, holly, red gum and almost every variety of oak. Much of this timber will be eventually valuable for lumber. In Livingston and Tangipahoa an excellent quality of pine abounds. The soil of this table-land -is fertile, being mixed loam — clay sub-soil. It readily responds to fertilizers and retains their value with wonderful tenacity. This land, especially in East Baton Rouge Parish, grows cane, corn and cotton as staple crops. There has been produced from three to four thousand pounds of sugar to the acre. Cotton yields from one-half to two bales per acre, results depending largely upon cultivation. All vegetables do well. Irish potatoes yield two crops a year. Red Rust Proof Oats do especially well — yielding from twenty to fifty bushels per acre. They are sown in October and harvested in May. Then a good crop of hay may be gathered from the ground in time to sow another crop of oats in the fall. By following the oats with cow peas, which makes elegant hay, the same ground may be sown in oats indefinitely. Many beautiful clear streams of water traverse this portion of country, generally flowing in a southern direction. These abound in fish and in winter migrating fowls are found in abund- ance. These streams and their tributaries give abundance of pure water, and thus make this section especially attractive to stock- raisers. As yet little has been done in this line except with the common native stock. It would be supposed that such a country would be healthy — and so its history proves. There are no prevailing diseases. It is peculiarly free from throat and lung diseases, and a genuine case of typhoid fever is rarely found. I have been living in the Parish of East Baton Rouge for fifteen years and have not paid a doctors bill for myself during that time, and only on two occasions was a physician called for members of my family — except in accidental cases — these were cases of bilious fever, which yielded readily to treatment. I have lived in Miami Valley, in the state of Ohio, in Cen- tral Indiana, and on the prairie of Illinois, and I have no hesi- tation in saying that the table-lands of Baton Rouge are more healthy than the above named states. Since living in the State I have done a good deal of mis- sionary work, and have not missed a single appointment from personal illness. 92 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . While in Charleston, Illinois, my wife was a victim of the terrible combination of asthma, plurisy and neuralgia. Her physician said she could not survive another winter in that cli- mate. For years she has had no symptoms of the above named troubles and although not vigorous is able to look well to the ways of her household. Justice demands that we bear testi- mony to the healthfulness of this locality. Dr. R. H. Day, one of the oldest physicians of Baton Rouge, remarked to me a few days ago: “I have practiced medicine in Maryland, Illinois and Arkansas. I have been practicing here for 35 years and I do not hesitate to say that this is the healthiest country I ever saw.” The physician in charge of the State University and A. & M. College at Baton Rouge, in his annual report to the board of supervisors, says: “From a careful analysis of the reports of the entire Union, that Baton Rouge has the best health record of all the Posts in the Southwest. With industry, intelligence and piety I see no reason why East Baton Rouge and its surround- ing parishes should not soon become a Nineteenth Century Garden of Eden.” At the meeting of the Louisiana State Agricultural Society held at Mansfield, La., January, 1893, Mr. Patterson said: The great range of the Allegheny mountains begins on the border of Canada, between the St. Lawrence river and the New England States, and extends in a southwestern direction to the northern boundary of Alabama, which rests on the Gulf of Mexico. The whole length of this range of mountains is 1,300 miles. On the west of the United States the great range of the Rocky mountains extends from the south to the north, cutting the territory by an immense range of irregular ridges more than a thousand miles wide. Between those two ranges of mountains lies the most exten- sive and most fertile valley in the civilized world. This valley contains nineteen of the great states of the American union and contains nearly one million and a half square miles of territory. Here is the largest food supply, in the way of grain, meat and hay, that is produced in any valley in the known world. From the Allegheny mountains this valley dips west. From the Rocky mountains it dips east, and these two dips meet in the great water way, the Mississippi river, which heads near the great northern lakes and flows almost due south for a distance of 2,986 miles and empties into the Gulf of Mexico By looking at the map of the United States it will be seen SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 93 that all the rivers from the east run in a southwestern direction and empty into the Mississippi river, and all the rivers from the west flow in a southeastern direction and empty into the Missis- sippi river. Or the Mississippi may be compared to a vast tree, whose roots rest on the Gulf of Mexico and top at the northern boundary of the United States, then the branches on the right and left would represent the tributaries. Taking the more prominent of those tributaries and we have a water way navigable for steamboats of more than 16,000 miles, and navigable for barges of more than 20,000 miles. Now, as all these waters flow into Louisiana, it is but natural that the comm erce should flow with the waters. The mountain ranges referred to, present great barriers, both east and west, that must be overcome to carry the com- merce either way, and water transportation is cheaper than land, as we have seen, to our cost, since the Ohio river has been closed by ice, in the advance of coal, although the railroads were in full operation. When these water ways are utilized, as they will be, commerce will take its natural course. It is no distant day when there will be a deep water way from the northern lakes at Chicago, by way of the Illinois river into the Mississippi and on to the gulf. The survey and esti- mates, around Chicago, have already been made. The far- seeing Chicagoans have caught the drift of commerce and they will be ready for it when it comes. When the Nicaragua canal is completed and commerce is adjusted by all these things, you can no more prevent the trade of this vast valley from converg- ing with the waters, than you can stop the Father of Waters flowing to the gulf. The great carrying companies have seen the trend, and instead of building their great lines of railroads east and west, as they used to do, they are running with the dip of the country and converging on Louisiana, that they may dump their freight on the banks of the Mississippi river, that it may go on its way to feed the world. Now when this vast amount of commerce shall flow through Louisiana what an amount of capital and how many skilled and active hands will be necessary to handle it! In navigable lakes, rivers and bayous that penetrate Louis- iana, she has a greater length of navigable waters than any state in the Union, thus securing for her both facilities for and cheap transportation. Many railroad lines have already entered the state and many more are coming, and thus with competition between 94 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . railroads and waterways cheap transportation is secured, which is an important item to immigrants, as any Western man will tell you. So much then for natural advantages. If money, only, is the object sought, daring adventurers and reckless speculators will risk life itself to obtain it; but when a man is looking for a home for his wife and children, the first thought is, will they be healthy and happy. It has been the impression of Northern and Western people that Louisiana was a charnel-house — a place to receive the bones of Western men coming hither. I remember when I was a boy in Ohio, if a man had the cour- age to man a flatboat to go down to New Orleans in order that he might get a little more for the produce that he and his neighbors had raised, the whole community met to see him off, and there would be farewells said with weeping and wailing and wringing of hands, thinking it was highly probable they should see his face no more. It was believed that malarial or yellow fever squatted behind every bush or shrub ready to leap out and catch him; or if he should chance to escape them, the assassin’s dag- ger was sure to fetch him. I am glad to know that that feeling is somewhat dissipated, but it is not all gone yet. Now/acfe are the hardest things in the world to get rid of; so let us have some facts on this subject. On the 7th and 8th of August, 1888, at Grunewald Hall, in the city of New Orleans, I attended a convention of Northern and Eastern men, now resident in Louisiana. The period of their stay in the state ranged from six months to forty years. They were convened for the purpose of obtaining facts concern- ing the climate and health of the state of Louisiana. That convention was composed of more than 500 men, representing every parish in the state. Before this body of wide-awake Northern men, Dr. C. P. Wilkinson, President of State Board of Health, made an elab- orate report in which it was clearly shown that Louisiana com- pared favorably with all of the states of the Union; but even a lenghty extract of that report would be more than I can give here, so I will content myself with one citation. The annual mortality per 1,000: V ermont has - - 15^12 Indiana 15.88 Texas 15.86 Tennessee 15.21 Louisiana 1 545 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 95 That is, Louisiana is more healthy than Indiana and Texas and only a small fraction below Vermont and Tennessee. This ought to satisfy the most doubting. But, once more. Before the same -body of Northern men, Dr. J. D. Graybill, from Ohio, read the following statement: From the official records for a series of years I have found the health record of the following states thus: New York, per 1,000 annually Virginia, per 1,000 annually New Jersey, per 1,000 annually Tennessee, per 1,000 annually New Mexico, per 1,000 annually Ohio, per 1,000 annually Indiana, per 1,000 annually Massachusetts, per 1,000 annually Maryland, per 1,000 annually North Carolina, per 1,000 annually South Carolina, per 1,000 annually Georgia, per 1,000 annually- 'Kansas, per 1,000 annually Nebraska, per 1,000 annually California, per 1,000 annually .. Texas, per 1,000 annually Missouri, per 1 000 annually Louisiana, per 1,000 annually... -40 -32 -32 -33 -39 -40 -41 -37 -36 -3i -31 -30 30 31 -33 -3i -34 .28 So that in a series of years Louisiana has the best health record of all these eighteen states, and these states represent the whole of the United States from the extreme east to the extreme west and northwest. Hon. John W. Austin, of Plaquemine, Iberville parish, makes the following statement: “When I came to Louisiana, in 1849, I thought of going back North, after gaining strength for my weak lungs, but finding the climate congenial , the people friendly and hospitable , I concluded to stay longer. With my health restored I found new life” He goes on to say, l ‘in 1853 I had yellow fever; my only recollection now is, that I was in bed, took medicine, drank freely of cold lemonade, and was well in five days.” He says, ; ‘my friend, J. McWilliams, of Plaque- mine, came from New Jersey the same time I came from Ver- mont. He had the yellow fever the same time I had, and was well in forty-eight hours, and has never consulted a physician for himself from that day to this.” I know these two men intimately. One is president of the bank and a merchant planter, and the other is treasurer of the parish. The same can be truly said to-day, that Mr. Austin said three years ago. Many such cases could be cited. The surgeon of the post at Baton Rouge when the soldiers 96 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. were in the garrison, said: “By a careful analysis of all the reports it is found that this is the most healthful of the posts of the northwest.’’ Dr. Day, an old and eminent physician, said, “I have practiced medicine in Pennsylvania, in Illinois, in Arkan- sas, and I have been practicing here t for thirty-eight years, and this is the healthiest country I ever saw.” For myself I can say I have been here nineteen years, brought a family of small chil- dren with me, all of whom are now grown, and we have not had as much sickness in the nineteen years as we had in Indiana in nineteen months. We have never left the state in summer on account of the heat. The climate is mild and equable — to be appreciated must be enjoyed. The thermometer rarely falls below 20 degrees above zero in the winter, and seldom rises above 90 in summer. In a record kept at Baton Rouge for thirty years, 96 is the highest; the record made at 10 a. m. and at 2 p. m. While the sun shines hot at midday in summer, it is always pleasant in the shade, and the nights are always cool. This is caused by the gulf breeze, which doubtless has much to do with the sanitary condition of our state. We have no such hot waves as are felt n the Northern and Middle States in July and August. Here, after 8 p. m., we can sleep with a spread over us. Northern people will not believe this until they come and see for them- selves. I did not. Of the lands of Louisiana, volumes might be written. Here as in every other good quality, Louisiana is misrepresented. It is the impression of all Northern and Western people that the state is all low , and a large part of it is wood-swamps and sea- marsh Only a few days ago a person said to me that two- thirds of the state was under water. Now, what are the facts? Prof. S. H. Lockette, State Topographical Engineer, has made eight grand divisions of the land, as follow: Good up- lands, pine hills, bluff lands, prairie, pine flats, alluvial lands, wood-swamps and sea marsh. Good uplands 8,200 square miles Pine hills 8,600 square miles Bluff lands 2,480 square miles Prairie 3,800 square miles Pine flats 2,000 square miles Thus we have 25,080 square miles almost all of which is highland and all above overflow. This gives us a body of highland more than three-fourths the size of the great state of Indiana. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 97 What then becomes of the assertion that our state is all lowlands and marsh? These highlands are not found in one place, but are well distributed over the state. The lowlands are mostly found in the basin of the Missis- sippi river. This basin is from twenty-five to fifty miles wide and extends from the bluffs on the east to the highlands on the west. The highlands lie along both sides of this basin. The alluvial lands of Louisiana are found along the basin of the Mississippi and its tributaries and the bayous. These are made lands, the cream of the great valley of the Mississippi, washed down year after year and deposited. It ranges from twenty-five to fifty feet deep and is practically inexhaustible. Here is the home of the Southern sugar cane. Rice is produced in great abundance in the lowlands of this belt, also corn, cot- ton, oats, vegetables, and much valuable hay can be grown, but up to this time has not been general, because the planters thought more could be made by cultivating the land and buying hay. The sugar problem has been solved in the central factory system , where the cane is bought from the surrounding country and manufactured on a very large scale. This is found to be so economical that the manufacturer can afford to pay a good price for the cane and yet make a good profit for himself, while the planter is well paid for his labor. Cane yields from fifteen to fifty tons per acre, the yield depending largely upon the culture. This cane is worth from $3 to $5 per ton, price depending somewhat upon distance from factory and the facili- ties. This year cane was bought for $3.75 and hauled more than 100 miles by railroad. Cane near the factories was sold as high as $5. Railroads are now being constructed through lines of plantations so that the cane can be loaded on the cars and conveyed to the factories. This opens up the cane culture to small planters. It is easy to see the profits that can be made. Any good land will bring from twenty to thirty tons per acre. Any good worker can raise ten acres of cane and all the other crops of feed and vegetables he needs; many do much more. This cane is laid by in June, so his crop is made before the hot weather comes on. But cane is not confined to these alluvial lands. In Tangi- pahoa parish (pine lands) thirty tons of cane was produced. In Calcasieu parish (prairie) twenty-eight tons. In East Feliciana parish (good uplands) twenty-five tons. In Ouachita parish (North Louisiana upland) thirty tons. In East Baton Rouge 98 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . (bluff land) thirty-five tons. It is found that cane grown on these uplands is richer in sugar by three to four per cent, than the alluvial lands. In many places the people are making their own sugar and molasses, and soon the central factory will be established in these uplands. Here is almost unlimited oppor- tunity for small planters to make a good commercial crop and at the same time make plenty of provisions for their families and stock. We have three great staples in Louisiana — cane, cotton and rice. There will never be a time when they will be less in demand than now, while civilization lasts. The tooth that has tasted sugar will not do without it, and the people who have learned the intrinsic value of the cotton fabric will demand it more and more. A cheap, healthy and nutritious diet will always be in demand; this is pre-eminently found in rice. These staple crops as a base and the great variety of grain, grass and vege- table crops, that can be produced so easily and so abundantly, make Louisina alike desirable for the capitalist and small farmer. In much of our land cotton yields a bale or more to the acre. This at present prices is worth $40, and the seed is worth $10 in the market to-day. Many Western planters do well if they get $10 for the whole proceeds of an acre. Hay will bring from one to five tons to the acre, and now sells at from $12 to $15 in the market. Irish potatoes produce two crops a year. Cabbage, lettuce, onions, etc. , can be had the year round with a little care. Sweet potatoes grow in great abundance all over the state. The yield is from 300 to 800 bushels per acre. For feed, two bush- els of sweet potatoes are equivalent to one bushel of corn. There is no better feed for hogs, cattle and mules, and horses do well on them. Now, think of a Western farmer raising 300 or 400 bushels of corn per acre and feeding hogs at present prices! Why, it would be better than a gold mine. Its equivalent can be pro- duced in Louisiana at any time. I have tried it and know whereof I affirm. I have also seen many others do the same. If what I have said be true, why have not the people flocked here instead of going to the cold Northwest country and the home of the blizzards? Simply and solely because they don't know it . There has been no systematic effort made to bring the mer- its of the whole state to the world of homeseekers. The only great corporation that has made any effort in this direction is the Illinois Central Railroad Company. That company has been SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 99 largely instrumental in bringing the large immigration into Cal- casieu parish, and they have wrought a complete revolution on the line of their road where it passes through our State, but until very recently their efforts have been confined to these two localities. But now that they have secured the Mississippi Val- ley route also, they are enlarging their sphere of operations, and are now ready to help develop the whole State. To this com- pany and the Southern Pacific is the State indebted for the great- est progressive movement of this country, namely, the construc- tion of the $5,000,000 cantilever bridge over the Mississippi river, at New Orleans. A glance at this great structure will show the future which this enterprising company sees for Louisiana. What caps the climax for immigrants to Louisiana is the present low price of lands. It cannot be so long, but at present land can be bought all over the State ranging from $2 to $50 per acre, with all the advantages and many more than I have men- tioned. There are also government and State lands. Of State lands there are now on hand to be disposed of at the State House, at Baton Rouge, 3,576, 337 acres. For information, address Capt. John S. Lanier, register of State lands. But always specify the parish in which the land lies about which you want information. Again I say, when the Northern lakes are connected with the Mississippi through the Illinois river, navigation is adjusted to the Mississippi and its tributaries, the Nicaragua canal is in full operation, the commerce of the Northwest will flow through our State and elevators and appliances necessary to handle it will line the Mississippi river from Baton Rouge to New Orleans. And when the merits of our soil and climate become known you ■can no more stop the flow of immigrants to the State than you can stop the flow of the Father of Waters to the gulf. So mote it be. The Lord hasten the coming. A City Man in the Piney Woods. Jas. A. Renshaw, Hammond, La., Dec. 2, 1893. — Four years ago I bought a piece of ground about three or four miles southwest of Hammond. Not a tree had ever been cut from it. Up to that time my knowledge of country life had been derived from reading, having been from my birth a resident in a city. By degrees the timber was cut and the stumps dug, till now I have about twelve acres of cleared ground, divided into a central por- tion, with residence, kitchen-garden and barn lots, while on each 100 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. side is a field of from three to four acres. A portion was planted in strawberries and vegetables. My berry patch was the first cleared, and the season just passed was my second crop of that fruit. My returns this year, owing to the prices prevalent, were not as large as the preceding one, although I had in a somewhat larger crop; but as the mar- ket quotations are things the producer cannot control, and as they vary from season to season, the real information an intend- ing resident desires is, what can be raised. But I will give both, crop and value. In strawberries I had three acres, of which the bulk was planted in the Cloud and Miller varieties, the balance in a local plant called Salters. The ground had been fertilized with bone dust and cotton seed meal, but not heavily. My shipments of the fruit were made principally to Chicago; the first lot (a por- tion of a crate only) going forward on the first day of March, while the half of my March shipments were made during the last week of that month. The results were: 29^4 crates shipped during- March netted $ 60 66 240^ “ “ “ April “ 196 04 68 “ “ up to 12th of May, netted 21 82 338 % crates (24 pints each,) netted — $278 52 This statement does not of course include home consump- tion nor what was sent to friends. By the early part of May, prices became so unremunerative, that further shipments were not made, though the plants were still full of fruit. I had a scant third of an acre in shallots, of which I shipped 68 third-bushel boxes, netting $32.87, including a lot of 11 boxes which became frozen on the way, and brought in consequence, but six cents per box. I retained plenty for seed, and have now at this writing a fine crop growing. I had also another third of an acre in cabbage, radishes, etc., netting $19.92. In Irish potatoes my quarter of an acre brought me $11.23, while three-fourths of an acre in cucumbers realized $51.21. These crops were open field and not forced growth. It will be seen that from 4§ acres the sale of crops realized $393.75, or an average of a fraction over $84 per acre. It must be remembered, that nearly one-half of this land was in cultivation for the first time, which naturally rendered the yield much scantier than it would otherwise have been. It is also worthy of note, that from a good portion of the same land STREET SCENE, HAMMOND, LOUISIANA. 102 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. were since raised melons, corn, pea-vine hay -and an abund- ance of sweet potatoes. No doubt some of my more successful neighbors, should they chance to see this statement, will laugh at such small re- turns; but then it was the work, as I said at the outset, of a city man whose knowledge of farming was very, very limited. It unquestionably proves, though, that to practical and intelligent cultivation, such as an experienced farmer would give, abundant yields would result. As to a market, New Orleans is but 52 miles distant and Chicago not over 30 hours, while interlying cities make a good field from which to choose. Hammond has churches, of the Episcopal, Congregational, Methodist and Baptist denominations, and will probably soon have a Catholic church also. Its lately erected school building is a really handsome structure, and accommodates already a daily attendance of nearly 250 scholars. In health this section is unsurpassed. But my letter is now, I fear, too long. “Come down and see for yourself.” Plums Fruit in Two Years. B. C. Quam, Hammond, La., Dec, 2, 1893. — I came here from Hastings. Minn., in the fall of 1889. My means were lim- ited, and I bought ten acres of ground, mostly on credit, with easy terms. In November I planted my first crop of strawber- ries and marketed them the next April. I am a painter and for the most part worked at my trade, giving my crop but little time, deriving but little profit, but valuable experience. Continuing my trade, at which I found a plenty to do, the next season I planted two acres of berries, shipped to New Orleans and Chi- cago resulting in a profit of $500. I have continued this amonnt of strawberries each season since with variable results, some- times more than the above, once a little less. Meantime I have planted other fruits, several varieties of plumbs and pears. My Kelsey plums fruited in three years, growing the finest fruit, some of it measuring eight inches in circumference. Some other variety of plums fruited the second year from planting. Kiefer pears grafted on Le Conte stock fruited in three years from planting. In the way of vegetables, I have been successful in growing shallots, beats and lettuce, all of which have brought satisfac- tory revenue; on one-eighth acre of beets last year, I took no- SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 103 tice of the cost of everything pertaining to their growth, and cleared $50. Please understand during all of this time I have worked for the most part at my trade, and being unable to give the fruit-growing proper attention, have not attained near the results that were possible. I am a Norwegian. My family comprises self, wife and four children, and we have never been as well as since we cafne here. The climate seems as nearly perfect as can be — neither too warm in summer for me to work at my trade every day, and in winter, I have never experienced the slightest discomfort from cold. The sum of the whole matter is, I am enjoying the hap- piness that comes from contentmemt, and can truely say to my countrymen, that I am no exception. What I have attained can be reached by any one, or better by ordinary industry. Three Crops in One Year. A. B Campbell, Roseland, La., Oct. 17, 1893.— We have been here five years and like it better the longer we live here. Raising vegetables is the principal occupation of this col- ony, of which three crops can be raised in one year. We have one piece of ground from which we took a good crop of rad- ishes, then cucumbers, and there is now Irish potatoes large enough to use, on the same piece, all since the first of January; no two on the ground at the same time. I have not known a failure in any crop if planted and tended right. This is one of the healthiest places in the United States, as the number who come down here for their health will prove. I will be glad to give any information I can about this place. From $250 to $800 an Acre. T. J. Beecher, Roseland, Louisiana. — The town of Roseland, Tangipahoa parish, Louisiana, situated seventy-two miles north of New Orleans on the Illinois Central railroad; a town settled by Northern people, representing over 600 fam- ilies, from every state in the North and West, located here. The principal occupation of these people is growing early fruit and vegetables for the Northern market. Only five years have passed by since Roseland was first established as a North- ern colony, and now may be seen farms devoted to vegetables and fruit, grown exclusively for the Northern market. In this brief letter will be shown the possible and actual facts in regard to this vegetable business, written by one engaged 104 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. in the business, and whose grounds are always open (and books also) for inspection as to the truthfulness of statements made in this letter. The first vegetables in their season are radishes and lettuce. Just now, in the month of October, the growers are planting out their fields of lettuce. Our crop last year sold, netted us an average of sixty cents per dozen heads. The sea- son of lettuce is from November to July by planting the hardy varieties for winter heading. Next in season is the radish. This vegetable we will commence planting after the middle of Janu- uary, and the profits on this vegetable will depend on the style of package used for shipping in, and the method of packing, and will vary from $250 to $800 per acre. Next we have the early beets. From my own experience, by raising plants in hot beds and transplanting the same as cabbage, the net returns on beets have been $5 per barrel. The next in line will be cabbage. From a careful estimate of the crop the past year, the net returns show a profit of $400 per acre, and cucumbers and green string beans a net profit of $250 to $800 per acre. All the different vegetables mentioned here are followed by a crop of Florida yam sweet potatoes and are now bringing our growers $3.25 per barrel in the Northern market. This crop of sweet potatoes is estimated to pay all expense of labor and fertilizer expended in growing the more early crops. Readers of this article will bear in mind that the difference in summing up of profits will depend upon the liberality with which we distribute our fertilizers. The cost of fertilizing an acre, we can estimate for redishes, beans, beets, from $12 to $15; for lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, from $25 to $35 per acre. These figures may seem very high, but to a person that has made large profits in truck growing the idea and highest aim is to be the first in the market with the largest yield per acre possible. By careful planning the season of vegetable growing profit is nine months. Pear Trees Grow Ten Feet in a Season. I. N. Hunt, Roseland, Louisiana, Oct. 20, 1893. — “Will fruit growing pay, or will fruit succeed here in the vicinity of Roseland?” are questions that are asked. We believe that it will. We see no reason why it will not prove a success. Of course the industry is new and mostly in an experimental state, but so far it looks favorable. The trees are healthy and vigor- ous, making wonderful growth of wood. It is not unusual for pear trees to make from five to ten feet growth in one season. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 105 The long seasons of growing and abundance of rainfall makes it favorable for large growth, and the roots continue to grow dur- ing the winter while the top is resting. Apples seem to do quite well where they have been out long enough to fruit. Pears seem to take the lead. Quite a number of trees have borne that were set out four years ago last spring. There are trees in the vicinity, set out seven or eight years ago, that have borne the third crop. The trees were loaded down this year and were a sight to behold. I never witnessed the like before. They were the LeConte and Keifer, the kind most largely planted. There are some Bartlets in bearing, but they are not as vigor- ous a grower as the LeConte, Keifer and some others. There are many other varieties being put out for trial that bid fair to succeed. They have been set out in the past four years and have not fruited yet. There has been but little blight since I have been here. Plumbs seem to be at home. There are several native vari- eties in fruiting. The Wild Goose succeeds here, the Japan plumbs are being planted, and the Abundance has fruited more than any other kind. It is a very fine plum. I have three trees planted two years ago last spring that fruited this year. They were one year old when put out and small at that. I saw trees four years old that had three bushels of plums on this year. I think there are other varieties that succeed well when they attain the age of fruiting. Peaches are almost a certain crop, though curculio sting them quite badly, which can be prevented by spraying. The trees are healthy and vigorous, often blooming at one year old, and yielding half a bushel of peaches to the tree. At two years old they were three inches in diameter and fifteen feet high. Figs do well, and grapes have done quite well with the trial they have had here. The Japan orange, called satsuma, is being tried. It stood the severe cold last winter, but they have not fruited here yet, although they have twelve miles north of here. Those who have planted most extensively are N. B. Eastman, about 1,400 pear, 400 plum, peach, apple, orange, etc. ; H. Collar of Michigan, about 1,000 pear, plum, etc, ; he having cleared twenty acres of heavy pine land for his orchard, — and I have out over 800 trees (largely for testing the different kinds), consisting of twenty varieties of pears and dif- ferent kinds of plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines, apples, cherries, grapes, figs, etc. There are a number of others who 106 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . have out 500 trees or more. I will name a few: Mark Hus- selby, E. Hiscox, of Illinois, H. R. Arrowsmith and others. There were from 8,000 to 10,000 trees and grape vines planted out here last year, and will be many more put out this year. This shows that we think it will pay to grow fruit and that we have faith that it will succeed here. An Experience Well Worth Reading. H. S. Humeston, Hammond, La., Dec. 4, 1893. — Leaving our home at Maquoketa, Iowa, Wednesday, the 17th, after several stops on the way, we arrived at Hammond Sunday morning, the 21st of October, 1888. Going out of a crowded sleeping car a bright, beautiful morning, r we were greeted with the aroma of the pine forests and the perfume of flowers, which was a great surprise and pleasure as well; too great, indeed, for language to express. We naturally concluded that such an atmos- phere could not be otherwise than healthy and at present writ- ing, after five years of residence, have had no occasion to change our opinions then formed. The soil to an Iowan looked very poor, but we have found since, by experience, that it yields quickly and beautifully to good treatment. It seems to be the natural home of the strawberry, which, in quantity and quality, if treated with intelligence, cannot be excelled, if equalled, any- where. I was the first in this locality to plant and test the adaptability of Oriental fruits, and they have to date succeeded admirably, as the fact that thousands have been planted in this vicinity within the last two years will attest. Some of the Japan plum trees planted in March, 1889, now measure twenty- three inches in circumference at stem, and have borne three crops. When I tell my Northern friends of the rapid growth- of fruit trees here they call me a falsifier, but I can stand it if they can. I have seven varieties of Japan plums, several varieties of Ka-Hi, or Japan persimmons, Japan oonshiu (misnamed sat- suma) oranges, also peaches and pears, all of which fruited well this year and are of excellent quality. Other fruits, such as apples, peaches, pears, apricots, cherries, quinces and figs are all doing fine. Of grapes I have tested ten varieties and, for me, the Niagara, Moor’s Diamond and Concord have done the best, although the Poughkeepsie, a red grape, does fairly well. I have seven varieties of apples, two of which, this, the third year from setting, bore specimens of fruit which were very excellent. Of nut trees I have the pecan, almond, Persian and English walnut, Japan walnut and hickory. The pecan is considered a MAJOR ROUNDTREE’S ORANGE GROVE, NEAR NEW ORLEANS 108 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. slow growing tree. I have some set in March, 1889, that will measure at the steam four inches in diameter. One nut planted two years ago next January now measures eight feet in height and two inches diameter of stem. Japan walnuts, three years from seed, are budded to bloom. Taking all these facts into consideration, why should we not have confidence in this as a fruit country? As for Ham- mond, taking all of its advantages into consideration, its local- ity, its productive soil, its climate, its enterprising business men and citizens, its rapid but healthy growth, and many others not mentioned, gives reason for the close observer to think, as has been expressed, that Hammond in the not distant future will be one of, if not, the largest and most important town between New Orleans and the Ohio river. When we hear of the snow storms and blizzards in the North, it makes us shiver to think of it, and thank fortune that we are not there to endure it, and we never intend to be; indeed we have never had the least desire or thought of returning there to live. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. 109 Louisiana Sugar Experiment Station. Audubon Park, New Orleans, La., Dec. 4, 1893. Capt. J. F Merry , Manchester , Iowa: My Dear Sir: At your request, I send you a short history of the Sugar Ex- periment Station, located at Audubon Park, in the city of New Orleans. In 1885, the sugar planters of this State, finding that their yields were low, their methods of extraction and manipulation imperfect, and their field results less than they desired, determ- ined to call to their aid such experiments as science could sug- gest. By subscription for five years, they inaugurated the “Su- gar Experiment Station,” and located it near Kenner, La. At the end of four years it was removed to this place, and suitable buildings and improvements erected hereon. This station has now an improved sugar house, using the diffusion process, and a 9-roller mill for comparison, clarifiers, filter, presses, double effect, vacuum pan, mixers, and centrifugals, with laboratories complete for all necessary work, barn, stables, etc. Since the inauguration of this station by the planters, both the State and National governments have lent aid in its support, and to-day it may be considered as permanently endowed by these two agencies. This station, while bearing the name of the ‘ ‘Sugar Experi- ment Station,’’ is by no means confiened in its field experiments to this crop. On the contrary, we are growing all kinds of fruits, vegetable, forage crops, grasses, rice, sugar, oranges, fibre crops, etc. By field experiments with sugar cane we have demonstrated the efficacy of the different kinds of fertilizers. We have seventy-five foreign varieties of cane which we are trying to acclimate and improve, besides experiments covering ques- tions in germination and physiology. These experiments in sugar cane are carefully worked up in the sugar house, and the 110 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . work followed closely by the chemical laboratory, investigating the composition of canes and the changes induced by clarifica- tion, and subsequent working of the juices. In this way we are adding largely to the limited fund of information in regard to the sugar cane. We might state, en passant, that we have here also a sugar school, where graduates of other colleges are taken, and after a course of two or three years are graduated as experts in the sugar industry. Of rice we have grown only three varieties up to the pres- ent, and have published several bulletins thereon. We expect next year to grow several new varieties of Japanese rice, and hope from this importation to obtain valuable results. Of oranges and other citrus fruits, we have an experimental grove of over 125 different varieties. Twenty to thirty of these 'varieties have already fruited, and we are doing what we can to demonstrate which varieties are adaptable to this climate and will stand the occasional blizzards which visit the northern and middle portions of this State. With forage crops and grasses we have had an extensive ex- perience covering over 1 59 varieties. These have been detailed in a bulletin recently published. Of the crops prominently de- veloped as specially adapted to the low lands of Louisiana we made mention of alfalfa or lucerne (medicago sativa.) We have this crop now growing at all ages of growth, from a few weeks to four years, and practically find that it is the only crop that will successfully occupy our ground both winter and summer. We frequently get from five to eight cuttings a year, with a ton- nage varying from two to three tons at each cutting, making this crop one of the most valuable forage crops known to this or any other section of the world. We have also introduced this crop into our orange groves as being one which will aid us in securing a clean orchard, that is, free from weeds. We are also growing a considerable quantity of fruit, and among these desire specially to mention the success of the Japa- nese plums and persimmons; of the former we have fifteen to twenty varieties, and eight to ten of the latter. These succeed admirably here and give promise of highly remunerative results in the early future. Last year, in imitation of your efforts at Hammond of the year previous, this station, in conjunction with some citizens of Hammond, aided by your railroad, established a small tobacco -experiment at Hammond, on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. An improved Snow barn was built, and several farm- CUTTING SUGAR CANK, 112 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. ers undertook to grow the plants which were furnished by the North Louisiana Experiment Station. Our tobacco expert, Mr. Clark, was sent several times during the year to give instruction in planting, growing, curing and packing the tobacco, and his report to me shows that the success has been as complete as could possibly be expected. We grew ten or fifteen varieties of tobacco, and he has no hesitancy in saying that this land, and all those adjacent to the Illinois Central Railroad in Louisiana, will grow a most excellent type of the yellow wrapper tobacco, which finds a ready sale in the Virginia and North Carolina markets. So great an interest has been created in the success of these experiments that I am informed that at least four barns will go up next year at this place. In the conduct of these ex- periments more assistance will have to be rendered by the sta- tion in order that they may be induced to make a first-class article of tobacco, which kind alone carries with it good profit. In concluding this report, I want to say the time is not far distant when this section of the country will be filled with a progressive, independent and prosperous yeomanry, utilizing the great gifts the Creator has bestowed upon that section — fer- tile soil, salubrious climate, and splendid facilities for reaching the great markets of the world. Yours very truly, Wm. C. Stubbs, Director. 113 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895. Southern Winter Home. The time is near at hand when many of our well-to-do fam- ilies in the North will build their winter homes in the South, where they may pleasantly spend the winter months in a genial climate, and under their own vine and fig tree. Already the good work has begun and at several points between Jackson, Miss., and Hammond, La., on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, cottages have been erected and are being occupied during the winter months by Northern families, and in summer by families from the city of New Orleans. The question which will naturally arise from reading this' article is, what is the ap- proximate cost of such a place and what are the peculiar advant- ages of the locality mentioned?- Both of these questions we will try to answer. No one should think of making a winter home in the South without a sufficient amount of land to furnish an orchard of figs, plums, pears and other fruits. A strawberry bed that would supply the table with this delicious fruit during the months of February, March and April would be indispensable. A garden with all the early vegetables would be not only a luxury, but a necessity; a large yard with roses of every variety, with a few mongolia trees and semi-tropical plants which must sur- round every characteristic Southern home. All this would require not less than an acre of land, and if it were five, all the better. The cost of an acre adjoining one of the villages in Southern Mississippi or Northern Louisiana would be approximately, $200; a 7-room cottage of modern design, $800; fencing, planting, etc., $200; making a total cost not to exceed $1,200. The advantages of being located in the latitude already men- tioned are many. It is the healthiest 'section of country in the 114 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . entire South. It has the best climate, the purest water and the best people in the world. It will grow to perfection every fruit and flower of any semi-tropical country. It is easy of access. Think of it ; leaving Dubuque, Iowa, at 7:30 a. m., or Chi- cago at 2:00 p. m. to-day, by the Illinois Central limited, and to-morrow afternoon you are at any of the points between Jack- son and Hammond. The expense of living is nominal. Your garden will furnish many of the table luxuries, and the markets of New Orleans, only a few miles distant, will supply you with fresh fish, fresh o\'sters, soft shell crabs and shrimp daily. Hunters will find rare sport among the wild deer and turkey. Fishermen by going a few miles can fill a boat in a few hours time, of the finest fish that swim. But best of all is the fact that three or four of the cold winter months spent in the South, renews age and strength and prolongs life. To any who con- template a winter home in the South, we most emphatically rec- ommend the country between Jackson, Miss., and Hammond, La., on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, as possessing more and greater advantages than Florida, Old Mexico, Cali- fornia, or any other section of the entire South. SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR'-. 1 895. 115 NEW ORLEANS. For many years the City of New Orleans has been recog- nized as the metropolis of the South, and every publication using cuts to illustrate the business of New Orleans has invaria- bly shown the business of the levee. Immense quantities of sugar, thousands of barrels of molasses, bales of cotton, vessels from every port in the world along side the great wharves, load- ing a^id unloading every conceivable article of merchandise and every product of Southern orchard, field and farm; and that the people of the North should have conceived the idea that the commerce of New Orleans was almost exclusively confined to her maritime business and the interchange of Southern products is not strange. But a new era has dawned upon that wonder- fully attractive city. Within the past four years the export trade of New Orleans in corn and wheat alone has grown from nothing to more than twenty million bushels in 1893, and to-day occupies the proud position of being the third city in the United States in her exports of the products named. But this is not all. New Orleans is fast becoming the great commercial gate- way to that vast undeveloped country to the southwest; and when the Nicaragua Canal is completed and the water route from New Orleans to San Francisco is only 4, 147 miles, instead of 16,000 by the present route around Cape Horn, who can estimate the commercial advantages that must necessarily accrue to all the country tributary to this city? Japan with its 40,000,- 000 of people will then be 3,500 miles nearer New Orleans than it is to Liverpool through the Suez Canal to-day. New lit) SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . markets open to us where exists to-day a demand for our pro- ducts, which demand cannot be met simply because of the dis- tance in favor of Liverpool, this will certainly add to the intrin- sic value of all real estate in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. We refer to the commercial advantages and the future proba- bilities of the City of New Orleans simply that Southern Home- seekers may appreciate the opportunities of making investments along the line of the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Missis- sippi Valley Railroads, both of which have important terminal facilities in the heart of this great city. Another important factor in the building up of New Orleans is the number of industrial institutions that have been of late, and are now being located in and about the city. New smoke stacks may be seen in every direction; mammoth eleva- tors, new lumber mills, cotton and tobacco manufactories, rice mills: — all indicate that the Crescent City, so long the center of trade on the Gulf coast, is about to divide honors with New York and compete for a large share of the products of the entire Mississipp Valley, much of which in the past has found its way to the Atlantic seaboard. Real estate speculators looking about for opportunities to invest should carefully study the indications, all of which point, not to a boom, but to a legitimate growth and development of the City of New Orleans. PROFILE OF THE o 7 NICARAGUA CANAL. § I i “ Ocean, - -w 169.4 Miles. Length of Summit Level, - *- 153.2 .Miles. z z z5 coc ?< Elevation of Summit Level -Above Sea,' 110 Feet. _ and Basins, - * - 142.6 0 «S dumber of Locks, - Six* z“ 2 4ICARA6UA 68.5 MIL^S. ELEVATION 110 FT. tZai RlO SAN JUAN 64. & MILES. ^ _ f~\ o3 o o **% rA BIRD’S-EYE VIEW C; OF THE NICARAGUA CANAL New Orleans to San Francisco, present route via Cape Horn, 16, 000. miles New Orleans to San Francisco, via Nicaragua Canal, - - 4,147 “ Distance Saved, 11,853 118 SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS* GUIDE FOR 1 895. CONCLUSION. The foregoing description of the country traversed by the Illinois Central and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads in the States of Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana is as nearly accurate as it is possible to compile a work of this character. Some of the statements regarding net profits from a single acre will seem absurd to Northern farmers accustomed to renting land at from $3 to $4 per acre that is valued at from $40 to $50 per acre. You will question the correctness of any statement that lands which can be purchased at from $5 to $10 per acre will yield in fruits and vegetables from $50 to $250 per acre in a single year; but such is the fact and if you contemplate a change of location we ask your careful study of this Guide and the letters contained herein by Northern farmers now located in the South; and when familiar with the products of the different sections herein described, allow us to suggest that before deter- mining where you will locate, you make a trip over the two lines of railroads we have mentioned, stopping at such points as have particularly attracted your attention. In this way you can in- telligently select such a farm and in such a community as you would care to make a permanent, and we trust, a happy home. Northern farmers prosperously located in the South are no longer an experiment. Every train from the North has passengers, tourists and homeseekers for some point on the Illinois Central and Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads, and every mail from SOUTHERN HOMESEEKERS’ GUIDE FOR 1 895 . 119 the South carries to the snow-bound people of the North mes- sages of love and invitations to friends to come South and enjoy the flowers and fruits of their semi-tropical Southern homes. The South is sure to develop rapidly. Another five years and the country described in this Guide will “blossom as the rose.” Lands will double and quadruple in value, and you who have heeded the suggestions made in this Guide will then understand and appreciate as you may not now the advantage of a location on the line of the Illinois Central, the shortest and by far the best route between the most fertile section of the South and the great produce markets of the North and Northwest. inn CITIES AND TOWNS IUU WANTING INDUSTRIES Is the title of a pamphlet issued by the Illinois Central R. R. Company. If you are thinking of making a change in location and are not well-informed as to the advantages of locating either in the West or South, write for a copy. If you want in a nutshell the SALIENT POINTS Of OVER 100 PLAGES on the line of the Illinois Central and Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads, giving the population, city and county debt, death rate, assessed valuation of property, tax- rate, annual shipments, raw materials, industries desired, etc., apply to the undersigned Our line is in the shape of the figure “7” and runs from Sioux Falls, S. D., and Sioux City, Iowa, to New Orleans, passing through South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana and has NEARLY ALL KINDS OF RAW MATERIAL used in manufacturing, together with populous sections which are large consumers of the manufactured product. To sound industries which will bear investigation, substantial inducements will be given by many of our places, and they will be welcomed heartily by the different sections traversed by the Illinois Central and Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroads. For all information on the subject, address, QEO. C, POWER, Industrial Commissioner, I. C. R. R., Central Station, Chicago, 111.,