PRECAUTIONS. 



175 



particularly Indian corn ; wheat usually sells at from 75 

 cents to $1,25 per bushel. For grapes it is not unusual 

 to pay 50 cents per pound. I paid not very long ago, 

 $4,50 for a barrel of potatoes. These prices will surprise 

 you when I aver, that two hours a day of work with, the 

 hoe, will suffice to enable a man to obtain abundance of 

 food for the year. The food of the island which is not 

 imported, is raised, not by farmers using implements of 

 husbandry, but almost entirely by the middle class of 

 negro laborers in the country, who often carry a basket full 

 on their heads, 15 or 20 miles to a market. One of your 

 small farmers would economize his labor, and bring similar 

 products to market in a cart, cheaper, with a profit of 75 

 per cent. 



I wish we had a large, a very large importation of your 

 colored people who have been accustomed to farming. 

 Our climate, and whole state of society, would suit them 

 infinitely better than Liberia, and it would be a cheaper 

 course for them to a comfortable home. 



Great bargains of land, with buildings on it, may still 

 be had here. The sum expended on the purchase of what 

 is called an " improved farm" in the western states, would 

 purchase here in many cases, a large tract of land with 

 buildings. Visitors of every taste, and for every variety of 

 object, may probably visit us, now that the way is rendered 

 so easy and pleasant by the steamers. The most beautiful 

 secluded retirements in a delightful Italian climate in the 

 mountains, may be purchased for a trifling amount, say 

 from 2 to 3,000 dollars ; but large tracts of fine land may 

 be purchased in many districts for 1 or 2 dollars an acre, 



