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LETTERS OF R. L. ALLEN.-NO. 5. 
LETTER ' OE R L. ALLEN.—No. 5., 
Domestic Stock in ike South .—Throughout a large 
portion of the southern valley of the Mississippi, 
and the country east and west of it, little attention 
is paid to the breeding and rearing of domestic ani¬ 
mals. There are several substantial reasons for 
this, and some causes which are not reasons. 
Where sugar can be made a profitable crop, there 
is no doubt of the propriety of keeping the fields, 
and force, and capital employed in this object, to 
the exclusion of all stock breeding, excepting such 
cattle, sheep, and swine, as can be conveniently rear¬ 
ed on the premises, and are necessary for the supply 
to the plantation in working oxen, milch cows, 
wool, and fresh meat. Such can find an ample 
range in the uninclosed grounds in the rear of the 
cultivated fields, which are generally suited to their 
thrift; or when wanted nearer home, they have 
cleared inclosures that may be stocked with grass 
or other green forage. By a little attention to this 
object, a large amount of money may be saved, an¬ 
nually, to the plantation, and the necessaries or 
luxuries afforded by the domestic herds, will be al¬ 
ways within reach. Oxen may be used for a part 
of the season, with decided economy and advan¬ 
tage ; but generally, mules are the only reliable 
sources for brute labor. These cannot be so ad¬ 
vantageously reared on the plantation, as in 
the more northern states, Tennessee, Kentucky, 
Ohio, &c. 
The same observations hold true with regard to 
the cotton planters, located on the deltal lands of 
the Mississippi and its tributaries, below latitude 
about 36°.^ Cotton, on such lands, is not only a 
remunerating crop, but the temperature, and the 
low swampy lands, which abound here, are not fa¬ 
vorable to that full and vigorous development of 
the animal system, which is essential to the highest 
thrift, and the perpetuation of a prolific and hardy 
progeny. Such, at least, is my opinion, and though 
many may be disposed to dissent, and cite numer¬ 
ous examples partially refuting the position, I yet 
believe it to be substantially true as a general prin¬ 
ciple. 
The high and rolling lands, reaching even as low 
as the gulf coast, are not liable to these objections, 
except with some limitations. Cattle thrive com¬ 
paratively well here, when properly acclimated; 
and there are many descendants of the ancient 
Creole stock, the indiscriminate mixture of the early 
Spanish and French importations, which show 
much substance and stamina. But the northern 
and western cattle, several fine specimens of which 
I have seen here, are subject to numerous diseases, 
and many of these prove fatal the first season. 
How far these difficulties to the improvement of the 
race, by the introduction of choice foreign stock, 
can be obviated, remains to be seen. Peculiar care 
and attention may remove or mitigate some, but 
there are probably others which will bid defiance 
to human skill. 
The native cattle exhibit some odd specimens of 
bovine organization. They illustrate, in a peculiar 
manner, the operation of those high-sounding 
phrases, “ liberty, equality, and fraternity,” which 
have recently become quite the rage across the water. 
They are mostly dun, speckled, black, brown, or 
marked with large patches of black, or dark colors, 
and white ; and sometimes are of that pied, or mea¬ 
ly color denominated calico , or pumpkin and milk. 
They are of all sizes, shapes and features ; some 
very trim and well made, while others are big-head¬ 
ed. bull-necked, sway-backed, and cat-hammed. I 
have seen here what might have stood for the exact 
original, in shape and feature, of the supposed cari¬ 
cature, illustrated in Vol. i. page 331 of the Agri¬ 
culturist. With increased size, many of the cows 
would not prove bad specimens of the ox, and they 
might be judiciously applied to his duty, as they 
are certainly unfit for any other. Herds of these 
animals, kept in the suburbs of this city, number¬ 
ing 50 to 60, would hardly furnish as much milk, 
as many I have seen in the north of 10 or 12. 
Some of them yield scarcely more than a large 
goat, though the milk is richer than where it is 
more abundant. 
Cattle are raised in great numbers on the Opelou¬ 
sas prairies, west of this place. Some proprietors 
number as high as 5,000 in a herd, which roam 
over these wild meadows with even less restraint 
than did those of Abraham and the patriarchs. 
They depend on the season and climate alone for 
their food and shelter, and, consequently, like other 
nomadic tribes, frequently suffer great hardships 
and fatalities. Although they afford ample safe¬ 
guards against want, yet they are seldom the means 
of pecuniary gain to their owners. They are entire¬ 
ly within the control of the latter, whenever they 
choose to exercise it, owing to their habitual skill 
in this wild herdsmanship. It is the pride and 
glory of these border Rob Roys, to throw the lasso 
with that skill and accuracy which will unerringly 
secure the object sought. They not only single 
out the particular animal they wish to secure, but 
it is a point of honor with them to secure him in 
the precise manner they previously indicate, and at 
will, attach the lasso to the horn, or either leg, 
when he is easily thrown and secured. If some 
sturdy bullock, however, get the weather gage of 
the huntsmen, or contrive to hold the long end 
of the lever, the unlucky Nimrod will suffer him¬ 
self to be trailed through mud and mire to the an¬ 
nihilation of all his dress, and no little hazard of 
his bones, rather than suffer defeat. 
The blood horse has been reared here, even upon 
the low lands, and has proved himself superior both 
in speed and bottom: but his parents w T ere im¬ 
ported, and it yet remains to be proved how far 
he will retain these traits when bred on the del¬ 
tal lands for successive generations. With this 
exception, there is very little attention devoted to 
the rearing of horses. Most of the serviceable 
animals, both in the city and country, are imported 
from the north and west. The remainder are most¬ 
ly such tackies as are bred at hap-hazard by the 
Creoles, from anything within their reach, and ap¬ 
parently, from such as are fit for nothing else. 
Many of these are descended from the wild horses, 
or have been caught themselves from the hordes 
abounding on the Texan prairies. But the very 
fact of their capture proclaims their inferiority, as 
the mode of catching them, by pursuing with the 
ordinal y subjected beast, shows them to be of very 
inferior mettle. When taken, as is sometimes done 
by inclosing them among the precipices surround¬ 
ing some favorite watering place, choice animal# 
