360 INDIANA HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS 



rich alluvial bottoms, which are liable to overflow, and 

 "high land ridges," that are comparatively poor. The 

 corn is usually planted upon the richest land, 1 foot by 5, 

 and on the upland, 4 ft. 9 in. by 3 ft. 3 in., one or two 

 stalks to the hill. The average yield, last year, 29 bush- 

 els to the acre. The land is deep plowed with two or 

 three horses or mules, and almost exclusively worked 

 with plows, particularly upon the upland, and at the last 

 working, sowed with peas. These are fed off by cattle 

 and hogs, of which more are kept than enough for planta- 

 tion use, though the proprietor is of opinion that keeping 

 cattle upon a grain farm, is poor business. His cattle 

 only pay six per cent. Hogs should only be kept to just 

 that extent required for home consumption and to eat the 

 offal. Feeding corn, at 50 cents a bushel, makes dear 

 pork. Hogs are considerably fattened upon peas and 

 oats, the latter being sown in large quantities to furnish 

 pasturage for hogs and horses. Corn is usually planted 

 the last of March or first of April, and is ripe enough to 

 commence gathering the second week in October. [?] 



The following tables of expenses and sales will be 

 found interesting. It is to be presumed that a full supply 

 of wool for clothing the negroes is grown upon the place, 

 and that the proprietor never bought an article of provi- 

 sions. The usual average number of hogs, about 200 

 head, and cattle 100 head. Horses, mules, and colts, 30, 

 sheep, 100. Stock winter in the corn fields. All the land, 

 except some wet spots, is cultivated upon the "level sys- 

 tem." That is, the ground is plowed as deep as it can 

 be, and then furrowed with a two-horse plow and planted 

 in the bottom of the furrow, and covered with plow or 

 cultivator. Great benefit has been derived from ditching, 

 draining, and deep plowing; and that, the proprietor be- 

 lieves, will improve almost any land, and increase its 

 productiveness as it will be seen has been done upon this. 



1844. — PLANTATION EXPENSES — 25 FULL HANDS, 19 



PLOWS. 



Overseer's wages, $160.00 



Hire of 8 hands, 210.00 



