166 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



"batture" is very extensive; and when not covered vi^ith 

 high water, is very valuable for pasturage. Upon some 

 plantations a fair portion of land is devoted to pasture 

 ground, while upon others they can't affort it; and so the 

 whole stock must be fed with hay or fodder, (corn 

 blades,) and corn. This is why the consumption of corn 

 will appear so enormous in some of the statements that I 

 shall give by and by. 



There are upon this place 190 negroes, old and young, 

 about half of which are counted as "field hands." The 

 team is 60 mules and 40 yoke of oxen, though the latter 

 are but little used except to haul wood out of the swamp ; 

 and there, too, they get a good portion of their living. 

 Some six or eight family horses are also kept. There are 

 in use, 40 carts, wagons, and drays. Some of the carts 

 are enormous vehicles of the kind, though no more so 

 than is common elsewhere. Some work them with three 

 mules abreast, which is most common ; but here they are 

 worked with one in the shafts and two ahead. The wheels 

 are often six feet high, and stronger and heavier made 

 than New-England ox carts. 



The wagons are equally strong, with beds made to hold 

 100 bushels, and to tip out the loads. This brings an un- 

 due weight upon the hind wheels, which is very great 

 when full loaded with cane, and very injurious to bridges 

 and roads. The plan of setting the beds upon the railroad 

 plan, so as to sit fair and equal upon fore and hind wheels, 

 and shove back to tilt, would obviate this trouble. 



The number of plows of all kinds upon this place, is 

 too great to keep count of. It is common to plow with 

 four to six stout mules, and then follow with the subsoil 

 plow. It is the intention of the Messrs. McCatchon to sub- 

 soil all the land planted in cane; and they often run a 

 smaller subsoil plow upon each side of the "rattoons." 

 These are canes growing from the old roots the 2d and 

 3d, and sometimes the 4th year. This, they think, facili- 

 tates drainage, which is one of the all-important things 

 to be attended to on a Louisiana sugar plantation. Deep 



