SOLON ROBINSON, 1848 167 



plowing, they think, keeps the coco grass in check, besides 

 all its other advantages. They also make great use of the 

 pea vine to renovate and improve their soil. I first saw 

 here an instrument called a "sword," to cut pea vines 

 when plowing them under. I will, hereafter, give a draw- 

 ing of this implement, and the manner of attaching it to 

 the plow. 



Everj^thing about this place, not only indicates wealth, 

 but judgment, skill, and taste. The negro cabins are all 

 good, substantial, neat, brisk houses, some thirty in num- 

 ber, all of the same size, colored yellow, to correspond 

 with the mansion, standing in an enclosed lot, with the 

 overseer's house, tool houses, corn cribs, &c. The negroes 

 I found all neatly dressed, and fine, healthy, happy labor- 

 ers. The "cane cutters," thirty-six in number, all in blue 

 woollen shirts, with their formidable-looking weapons, 

 the cane knives, were quite a "uniform company," that 

 might do the state some service in times of peril. 



I did intend to describe the Christmas dinner, but I am 

 taking up quite too much room. I must, however, men- 

 tion the turkey fatted upon pecan nuts, as the finest I 

 ever ate. The turkey is shut in a small, dark coop, and 

 fed upon cracked nuts ten or twelve days, and nothing 

 else. We also had a quarter of a young bear, from a 

 friend over the river, and green peas, beans, tomatoes, 

 beets, carrots, lettuce, and radishes, all fresh from the 

 garden. 



The Messrs. McCatchon have a great variety of young 

 fruit trees, and formerly oranges grew here abundantly. 

 In 1822, a hard freeze killed the trees, and again in 1834. 

 At the latter time the family took "a sleigh ride." Every- 

 thing was encased in ice. Flowers and oranges, in their 

 crystal coating, glistened in the sun like enchanted scenes 

 in the gardens of fairy land. All was bright and beauti- 

 ful, but it was the beauty of death. Apples have been 

 tried and always failed. In the back yard of the house 

 are two live oaks, that Mr. McCatchon planted about 40 

 years ago, that are now two of the finest shade trees I 



