SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 193 



monitory symtoms of cholera, which is not yet quite dead. 



What an unfortunate year for planters. Short crops, 

 low prices, cholera and flood. Add to that the seed cane 

 which should now all be planted, cannot be on account 

 of workikg on the levee, and on account of the rain, and 

 it is decaying faster than ever was known before. Many 

 planters will not be able to plant much more than half 

 the number of acres intended, on account of bad seed. 



I have visited nearly all the plantations below Baton 

 Rouge, and I am satisfied that the crop is not over three 

 quarters as much as it was last year. But the quality is 

 superior. The yield of that will average about 60 gal- 

 lons to the hogshead of sugar. Owing to the unusual 

 warm winter, much of the molasses will be very much 

 opposed to slavery, and will be making constant efforts 

 to escape — from the barrels. 



Buyers will do well to get it up before warm weather. 

 It is already fermenting in some cisterns. 



What effect the present state of things should have 

 upon prices of sugar and molasses is for dealers in the 

 article to determine. A general overflow will destroy much 

 of the present crop, as it is nearly all in the purgeries and 

 in the present state of weather and water, cannot well be 

 shipped from most places. Of course an overflow would 

 destroy growing crops. 



In stating the crop as a quarter short, however, it must 

 be taken into account that there are a good many new 

 sugar plantations, that made a crop last year. 



I am told that Niles & Co., of your place, put up sixty- 

 eight mills last season, and Goodloe sixteen. Pray ascer- 

 tain this fact. If so, I would count all the new mills at 

 one hundred which would give very soon that number of 

 new places — for whereever a horse mill was taken down 

 it was set up again on some other place. 



The winter here has been just no winter at all. The 

 peach blossoms are now gladening the eye beneath my 

 window as I write. Garden vegetables and flowers have 

 been abundant at all times, and strawberries I have re- 



