SOLON ROBINSON, 1851 463 



ing a cotton plantation are probably greater than in any 

 other state east of the Mississippi. Improved lands can be 

 bought from $5 to $10 an acre — less than the present 

 value of a single crop. In fact, the greatest misfortune to 

 the country is, that lands are too cheap — men will waste 

 them when of so little value. This is the true cause of so 

 much waste and worn-out land throughout all the cotton 

 states. It is more profitable to destroy than to save. I 

 have something further to say of Florida in my next. 



Solon Robinson. 



The Traveller. — No. 6. 



[New York American Agricnlturist, 10:234-36; Aug., 1851] 



[March 9?, 1851] 



One of the most improving planters in the vicinity of 

 Tallahasse, is Col. Robert W. Williams. His plantation, 

 on Lake lamonee, twelve miles north of the town, is suc- 

 cessfully side-hill ditched, and that is more than can be 

 said of many others. He has more improved plows and 

 other tools, and saves more manure, oyster shells, and 

 bones, than any other man I know of in Florida. He is 

 laughed at by his neighbors, as a theorist, experimental 

 book farmer, &c. ; but they are glad enough to follow him 

 in everything that is successful. It is easy now to pro- 

 cure good plows of the merchants, or other agricultural 

 implements from your New-York Agricultural Ware- 

 house; and yet, few are aware how much they are in- 

 debted to Col. Williams for what he has done in the way 

 of introducing such things into Florida. 



There are many other persons and things which I shall 

 notice hereafter, in this "land of promise." At present, 

 being a traveller, I must travel on, merely giving the 

 very pleasant town and people of Quincy a passing re- 

 mark. The location is about as handsome as could be 

 desired; the surface gently undulating, sandy-loam soil, 

 and being surrounded by deep hollows, requires no arti- 

 ficial grading. These hollows abound in springs and ex- 



