SOLON ROBINSON, 1849 203 



as to pitch it down into the mill, he brings it up to a level, 

 and there it is seized upon by two rollers that feed it to 

 the mill in a very regular manner. All the bagasse is put 

 in a pile to rot, for manure, as he is satisfied that, how- 

 ever rich the soil may be at first, manure will be of great 

 advantage after a few years. 



The amount of team required upon this place, besides 

 oxen, is about 75 mules or horses, the latter being pre- 

 ferred. Upon this point, there is great difference of 

 opinion. Many contend that, as horses only cost about 

 half as much as mules, will do more work, and live nearly 

 as long, that it is economy to use them. 



The annual expenses of this plantation average about 

 $8,000 ; and yet, they make a full supply of corn and hay, 

 and manufacture almost everything that can be done 

 upon the place. The wool and cotton are purchased in 

 the bale, and cloth is spun and wove by the feeble portion 

 of the people. Carts, wagons, plows, spades, hoes, &c., 

 are all made upon the place. So are the shoes. But there 

 is half a pound of pork for every mouth, every day, to be 

 paid for, which swells the amount ; but it is the intention 

 of the bishop to try hard to obviate this by raising his 

 own hogs. This is an experiment I doubt the policy of. 

 The difl^culty of curing pork in this climate, is one ob- 

 jection, but the main one is, that the labor bestowed upon 

 cane, instead of corn, will buy more pork than the corn 

 will fatten. Then why try to make it? I also doubt the 

 policy, upon most plantations, of manufacturing cloth; 

 though the bishop says that his is spun and woven by old 

 people, and by mothers, just before and after giving 

 birth to children, and by invalids, or convalescents, who 

 are unable to go to the field. The whole business of 

 manufacturing of the materials and clothing all the 

 people, is in the hands of one negro, who receives a cer- 

 tain number of bales of wool and cotton, and therefrom 

 provides all the clothes required by the people, without 

 ever troubling his master, or overseer, about the matter. 



It is worthy of note here, that all labor ceases upon 



