238 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Aug. 
In the gardens at Dalkeith there are two borders of 
equal size, in one of which a trap-bitten mole, (for when 
once nearly caught they are exceedingly wary after¬ 
wards,) had taken up its abode for nearly a year, and 
out of which it could only escape by coming up through 
the surface, as the foundation of the wall along one 
side with a large main drain under it, is six feet deep, 
the solid gravel natural to the soil being ten feet deep 
under the walk, formed the other side and ends of the 
border. The means of escape are at one end of the 
border, and , from the appearance of the hole, it is pret- 
•Jj freonentlv used ; and by this we conclude that the 
mole passes out at night in quest of food on the surface 
around, and b)' it retreats again in the morning. For¬ 
merly both borders were so over-run with wireworms, 
that the crops were destroyed. In both we have this 
Season set traps of sliced potatoes fixed to the end of 
tvooden skewers, and have set an equal number, and at 
ft depth of from three to four inches in each. These are 
examined by a person we have the highest confidence in 
every three or four days, and the result is—in the bor¬ 
der inhabited by the mole, only two wireworms have 
been detected, while in the other, the total number ta¬ 
ken at three examinations was 6360, the number of 
traps being 106 ; average number at each trap being- 
20, and at one taking 2120. 
Comparative Profits of Free and Slave Labor. 
In reply to the inquiry of “ A Southerner/' we 
published last month the remarks of “A Northerner.” 
Having thus opened our columns to the subject, we are 
desirous of treating it with fairness, and therefore in¬ 
sert below, two other communications; with which,—as 
the most important pointy seem now to have been 
brought out,—we close the discussion.— Eds. 
Eds. Cultivator —In the May number of The Cul¬ 
tivator, “ A Southerner ” asks for information on the 
subject of labor. Whether it would not be more pro¬ 
fitable to employ free labor than slave? Another South¬ 
erner undertakes to answer the question promptly and 
unhesitatingly in the negative. There is no labor in 
this country so cheap as slave labor. There is no labor 
in this country so well adapted to agriculture, particu- 
cularly on large farms, as slave labor. 
11 Southerner,” on his farm of 1200 acres, could not 
afford to employ free labor at all; without he changed 
his cultivation of grain and converted his land into pas¬ 
turage. He has 800 acres arable land. If he culti¬ 
vates the four shift system, he has 200 acres in corn, 
200 in small grain, and 400 acres in grass. To culti¬ 
vate this quantity of grain, it will require from 15 to 
20 field hands. He has the labor on his farm, and 
owned by him, and it is kept up perpetually by the na¬ 
tural increase of his slaves, so that it costs him nothing 
after the first purchase, but to feed and clothe them. 
There is no labor he could obtain so cheap to him. 
Let us suppose “ Southerner ” instead of owning the 
slaves, (which is a decided advantage) had to hire 
them. Say 20 field hands, men, boys and women, were 
to be hired. They could be had in Virginia at an ave¬ 
rage of fifty or sixty dollars per year, depending of 
course upon the proportion of men to women. The 
men being worth more. Twenty hands at fifty dollars 
would cost,... $1000 
Clothing and taxes,. 200 
Food,.... ... 400 
$1600 
There are no physicians bills to be paid by the hirer, 
as they are paid by the owner. 
Let us see now how it will be in estimating the cost 
of free labor. According to the Patent Office Report, 
which is held as good authority in such matters, field 
laborers are worth in Massachusetts, and several other 
northern states, from $10 to $12 per month. We will 
suppose 16 men to perform as much labor as 20 mixed 
hands. It will stand thus: 
16 hands at say $11 per month, being $132 
P er year,. $2112 00 
Cost of board, say $50,... 800 00 
Being cost of free labor,. $2912 00 
do of slave labor,. 1600 00 
Difference of cost,. $1312 00 
Thus it will be seen, that free labor will cost four- 
fifths more than' slave labor, where each kind has to be 
hired. But where the farmer owns the slaves on his 
farm the difference is much more more decidedly in fa¬ 
vor of slave labor. 
“ Southerner ” says he has “ a great deal of trouble, 
vexation and solicitude, on account of my (his) depend¬ 
ants.” I can assure him that he will not find any situ¬ 
ation in life free from its troubles and vexations. And 
I am decidedly of the opinion that there is as little trou¬ 
ble and vexation in the management of slaves as any 
other kind of laborers whatever. Suppose he were to 
substitute free labor for the labor of his slaves. Where 
would he obtain it? Necessarily from Ireland, as being 
the next cheapest to slave labor. Now I would ask 
him if he would not greatly prefer the management of 
twenty negroes on his farm, to the vexation and trouble 
of twenty Irishmen ? I am sure he could not hesitate 
in his decision. 
“ Southerner” says, “ we frequently see it stated in 
northern papers, that free labor is more profitable than 
slave, and that if southern people were to liberate their 
slaves, they would be more prosperous and happy.” 
This is a very great error on the part of the northern 
people. The south is the most prosperous country in 
the world, and I presume equally as happy as any oth¬ 
er people. 
Its prosperity is mainly produced by the existence of 
slave labor. Without that species of labor, its fields 
would not be tilled, but suffered to be overrun by rank 
and poisonous weeds. #The vast amount of agricultur¬ 
al products now annually exported from the south, would 
not be produced. Our northern brethren would be de¬ 
prived of the great profits derived from their shipping 
and manufacturing interests. And the slaves themselves 
would be a wretched set of beings. As they are situa¬ 
ted at present, they are the best fed, best clothed, most 
happy and contented body of laborers of any in the world. 
To our northern brethren we would say: if you prefer 
free labor we are perfectly satisfied with your choice. 
But as we prefer slave labor, all we ask of you, is to 
mete out the same measure to us, and let us alone. A 
Virginian. Matlwws Co., Va. 
Eds. Cultivator —Having read in the May number 
of your paper, what appears to me to be a very honest, 
interesting, and intelligent inquiry in regard to free 
labor, from the pen of “ A Southerner/’ and considering 
that it merits a careful and faithful answer, I thought I 
would furnish you a few remarks in regard to it. 
The object the gentleman has in view, is certainly a 
most laudable one; for it is impossible to conceive of a 
more noble desire, than that for the mutual improve¬ 
ment of the condition of himself and those around him. 
That he may receive such information as will assist 
him in the execution of his wishes, is my most fervent 
hope; and if these lines contain ought that is of value 
to him, I shall have attained my object. 
I am sanguine in the belief, that by a judicious intro¬ 
duction of free labor, he will greatly diminish his 
“vexation and solicitude,” as well as increase his an¬ 
nual income. A laborer, who feels that he is receiv- 
