311 
MR. ROBINSONS TOUR. — NO. 10. 
groom, therefore; when he rides your horse to water, 
to throw himself over him from a horse block, and 
kick him with his leg, eA r en before he is fairly upon 
him. This wrong manner of mounting is what 
chiefly teaches your horse the vicious habit against 
which we arc here warning. On the other hand, a 
constant practice of mounting in the proper manner 
is all that is necessary to prevent a horse going on 
till the rider is quite adjusted in the saddle. 
The next thing necessary therefore is, that the 
rider should mount properly. The common method 
is to stand near the croup, or hinder part of the 
horse, with the bridle held very long in the right 
hand. By this manner of holding the bridle before 
you mount, you are liable to be kicked ; and when 
you are mounted, your horse may go on some time, 
or play what gambols he pleases before the rein is 
short enough in your hand to prevent him. It is 
common likewise for an awkward rider, as soon as 
his foot is in the stirrup, to throw himself with all 
his force to gain his seat ; which he cannot do, till 
he has first overbalanced himself on one side or 
the other ; he will then wriggle into it by degrees. 
The way to mount with ease and safety is, to stand 
rather before than behind the stirrup. In this pos- 
ture, take the bridle short, and the mane together in 
your left hand, helping yourself to the stirrup with 
your right, so that your toe may not touch the horse 
in mounting. While your left foot is in the stirrup, 
move on your right till you face the side of the 
horse, looking across over the saddle. Then, with 
your right hand, grasp the hinder part of the sad- 
dle ; and with that and your left, which holds the 
mane and the bridle, lift yourself upright on your 
left foot. Remain thus a mere instant on your 
stirrup, only so as to divide the action into two 
motions. While you are in this posture, you have 
a sure hold with both hands ; and are at liberty, 
either to get safely down, or to throw your leg 
over and gain your seat. By this deliberate motion, 
likewise, you avoid, what every good horseman 
would endeavor to avoid, putting your horse into a 
flutter. 
Dismounting. — When you dismount, hold the 
bridle and mane together in your left hand, as when 
you mounted ; put your right hand on the pommel 
of the saddle, to raise yourself ; throw your leg 
back over the horse, grasp the hinder part of the 
6addle with your right hand, remain a moment on 
your stirrup, and in every respect dismount as you 
mounted: only what was your first motion when 
you mounted, becomes the last in dismounting. 
Remember not to bend your right knee in dis- 
mounting, lest your spur should rub against the 
horse. 
Manner of Holdi-ng the Reins. — It may next be 
recommended to hold your bridle at a convenient 
length. Sit square, and let not the purchase of the 
bridle puli forward your shoulder ; but keep your 
body even, as it would be if each hand held a rein. 
Hold your reins with the whole grasp of your 
hand, dividing them with your little finger. Let 
your hand be perpendicular; your thumb will then 
be uppermost, and placed on the bridle. Bend 
your wrist a little outward ; and when you pull 
the bridle, raise your hand toward your breast, and 
the lower part of the palm rather more than the 
upper. Let the bridle be at such a length in your 
1 hand, as, if the horse should stumble, you may be 
j able to raise his head, and support it by the strength 
of your arms, and the weight of your body thrown 
backward. If you hold the rein too long, you are 
subject to fall backwards as your horse rises. 
If, knowing your horse perfectly well, you think 
a tight rein unnecessary, advance your arm a little, 
(but not your shoulder,) towards the horse's head, 
and keep your usual length of rein. By this means, 
you have a check upon your horse while you in- 
dulge him. 
The Curb. — If you ride with a curb, make it 
a rule to hook on the chain yourself ; the most 
quiet horse may bring his rider into danger, should 
the curb hurt him. If, in fixing the curb, you 
turn the chain to the right, the links will unfold 
themselves, and then oppose a further turning. 
Put on the chain loose enough to hang down on 
the horse's under lip, so that it may not rise and 
press his jaw, till the reins of the bridle are 
moderately pulled. 
MR. ROBINSON'S TOTJR.— No. 10. 
Using Bagasse for Manure. — Mr. Lapice, whom 
my readers will recollect we parted with last month, 
has found great advantage in using bagasse as 
manure. He grinds it through a second mill, which 
makes it dry and fine, and it is then spread directly 
upon cane stubble, where it is suffered to lie a year, 
and then plowed in, together with a pea crop which 
he plants upon the ridges, in May, and from which 
he derives great advantage not only as a manure, 
but by the shade, which greatly assists to kill the 
coco. 
Upon Col. Manning's place, five miles below 
Donaldsonville, Mr. Havvin, his overseer, told me 
that he manured 75 acres last year, with rotten 
bagasse, which doubled the crop. Mr. L. and Col. 
M. both use lime, and pen their cattle upon the 
bagasse pile to rot it. This does it in two years 
effectually. Mr. Havvin plants cane seven feet 
apart, but thinks six feet would be better upon old 
land so set with coco as this place is, as it sooner 
shades the ground, which is the most effectual 
thing to overcome this great pest of the planters. 
There are 850 arpents in cultivation upon this 
place. The regular crop is 250 arpents of cane 
plant; 250 of cotton; 350 of corn; and the work- 
ing force about 80 full hands, and 40 mules and 
horses. 
Donaldsonville is about 80 miles above New 
Orleans, and is situated upon the point between 
the river and bayou La Fourche, which is a fork, 
as the name implies, or outlet, running out at a 
right angle, nearly, and is some 250 feet wide at 
high water, and 25 feet deep ; but 60 feet wide and 
2 feet deep at low water. The distance io the 
mouth of the bayou is about 100 miles, while by 
the river it is double that, and the two mouths are 
about 50 miles apart. 
Burning Bagasse. — Below Donaldsonville, Mr. 
Ford has a new bagasse chimney, 40 feet high, at a 
cost of only $80, which he alleges is built upon a 
new principle; and its cheapness is certainly weli 
worthy the attention of all who are still disposed 
to practise this method of destroying a valuable 
article for manure. 
Mr. Ford's boiler flue, is conducted into the same 
