56 The Journal of the Royal 
no apparent signs of diminished vigour. This fact 
speaks volumes for the attention which self-interest 
leads the farmer to bestow upon the land. A stinted 
use of the fork, where it is of such paramount import- 
ance that the soil should be kept well furrowed and 
receptive to favourable atmospheric influences, would 
long since have manifested itself in sere leaves and 
sickly, attenuated stalks. On the contrary, the cultiva- 
tion is in a most prosperous condition, plants of every 
kind growing vigorously a ad every leaf tinted with a 
healthy green. 
No system of rotation of crops has as yet found 
favour with the small farmer here. In fact, when 
questioned on this head, he betrayed the greatest want 
of knowledge on the subject. It is not a little surprising 
to find that after long years of experimental labour in a 
farm, no practical attempt is made to adapt the cultiva- 
tion to the varying productive strength of the soil. An 
acquaintance with the laws operating in this direction 
would be of inestimable benefit to the planter. The 
effects of ditterent crops upon the soil, and the degree of 
sustenance requisite to the growth of the several esculent 
plants which make up the sum total of the products of 
the Creole farm, would be fruitful topics of study to 
those whose livelihood depends upon remunerative 
farming. Familiarity with these matters must infallibly 
lead to tlie exercise of economy in the using up of the 
food constituents of the land. While the small farmer 
remains what he is now, the rude, unlettered peasant, 
without opportunities for instruction, even if he has the 
relish for it, the rule of thumb will be the only law 
controHing his practice, and one half of the prolific 
