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MEXICAN GULF COAST ILLUSTRATED.
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of those months the waters of the Sound and bays literally swarm in shoals of small fish of the herring family, (Clupea alba). A lucrative industry could be located at a number of places, by capturing with seines thousands upon thousands of barrels of these fishes, expressing the oil and converting the waste into fertilizer. This is exceedingly valuable by reason of the phosphate it contains.
The value of green manures—green crops plowed under—is well understood, yet not generally practiced. For the pine lands of the Coast nothing of this kind is better than a crop of cow peas. This general suggestion, on this point, must suffice.
It has been demonstrated beyond question, that most of these Coast and long-leaf pine lauds may be brought to a high state of fertility. This assured fact, together with their cheapness, and their adaptation to market gardening and fruit-growing, supplemented by the further facts that three and four crops are raised in one year from the same ground, and a very wide range of products are at home here, gives to these lands a value which is worth considering by home-seekers. Taken in connection with climate and healthfulness, where can this Coast regi»n be matched?
The original scope of this work, included a chapter devoted exclusively to the rural industries, and the matter relating to them has been prepared. The work has grown upon the hands of the writer as it progressed, until it has already outrun the bounds set for it. To extend it is impracticable. “The Gulf Coast and Its Products,” will be issued in the near future, in which the agricultural features of tbe region will be fully set forth. It must suffice now to say that nearly all agricultural products found within the tropics grow on the Coast, and in the long-leaf pine region north of Mississippi Sound.
There are some specialties peculiarly adapted to this region which are and may be made exceedingly profitable. The pear—especially the LeConte and lvieffer—grows in perfection. The tig is entirely at home here, and is very profitable. Grapes also grow in perfection. Tbe Scuppernong—a sui generis—flourishes in its highest form. It is one of the best wine grapes in the world. The pecans grown on the Coast are unexcelled. A great deal of attention is being paid to them. Any one who plants these specialties and attends to them, will in a few years become independent. The orange and the olive are both raised on the Coast with gratifying results. It would not be judicious for any one to plant oranges alone, for commercial purposes, but for those who are partial to this favorite fruit, the chances are sufficiently assuring to warrant planting for home use. In some locations