SOLON ROBINSON, 1845 487 



both Durhams and Ayrshires of good quality. He has a 

 good flock of sheep, and has kept them for 30 years or 

 more, without perceiving any unhealthiness or deteriora- 

 tion. He has now both South Down and Bakewell rams 

 which he bought for full bloods, but in which I think he 

 was cheated, but not by a Yankee. 



He also has, he dont know how many hogs, and I am 

 sure I dont; but he raises corn enough "to do him," and 

 make pork enough to supply the plantation, and every 

 year has some bacon and lard to sell. He also raises large 

 quantities of oats, peas and potatoes, and some as good 

 tobacco from Havanna seed, as ever the lover of a good 

 cigar or long stem pipe, puffed into sweet perfume. He 

 cultivates winter oats, clover, Bermuda, blue-grass and 

 rye for pasture, and all of his stock look as though they 

 knew it. The land is very hilly, and was once covered 

 entirely with cane and a growth of white, black and 

 water oak, poplar, ash, hickory, black walnut, dogwood, 

 sassafras, holly, beach, magnolia. 



Col. D. has a steam saw-mill, and he assures me that 

 he saved more than the cost of it, in getting lumber for 

 his own buildings. No wonder, for he has a small world 

 of them. His "negro quarters" look like a neat New- 

 England village; and the interior of the dwellings has 

 as much the air of comfort as the exterior. The negroes' 

 food is all cooked in a very large and neat kitchen, im- 

 mediately under the eye of overseers or owner. There is 

 a large, airy, and excellent building for a hospital. It 

 is also used for the "Christmas Ball" which he gives his 

 negroes every year, accompanied with a feast that many 

 a white man would be glad of a chance to partake of. 

 It is generally contrived to have a few pair of weddings 

 on hand at the same time. Births appear to be "in order" 

 at all seasons. 



He has a large fine house, and beautiful garden, and 

 good assortment of fruit and flowers, for which the 

 good taste and judicious management of one of the best 

 housewives in Mississippi must have the credit. I was 



18— B0109 



