A journey in the seaboard slave states : with remarks on their economy

Front matter

STEPHEN B. WEEKS

CLASS 0F1886;PH.a THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSTTY

OF THE

Preface

The chief design of the author in writing this book has been, to describe what was most interesting, amusing, and instructive to himself, during the first three of fourteen months' traveling in our Slave States ; using the later experience to correct the erroneous impressions of the earlier.

He is aware that it has one fault — it is too faultfinding. He is sorry fur it, but it cannot now be helped ; so at the outset, let the reader understand that he is invited to travel in company with an honest growler.

But growling is sometimes a duty ; and the traveler might well be suspected of being a " dead head," or a sneak, who did not find frequent occasion for its performance, among the notoriously careless, makeshift, impersistent people of the South.

For the rest, the author had, at the outset of his

X PREFACE.

journey, a determination to see things for himself, as far as possible, and to see them carefully and fairly, but cheerfully and kindly. It was his disposition, also, to search for the causes and extenuating circumstances, past and present, of those phenomena which are commonly reported to the prejudice of the slaveholding community ; and especially of those features which are manifestly most to be regretted in the actual condition of the older Slave States.

He protests that he has been influenced by no partisan bias ; none, at least, in the smallest degree unfriendly to fair investigation, and honest reporting. At the same time, he avows himself a democrat ; not in the technical and partisan, but in the primary and essential sense of that term. As a democrat he went to study the South — its institutions, and its people ; more than ever a democrat, he has returned from this labor, and written the pages which follow.

South-Side States; Island, Jan. 9, 185G.

CONTENTS,

Chapter I. Washington

The Institution for Travelers, 1 ; Servants, 3; A Maryland Farm, 5 ; Slave Labor, 10 j Market Day, 11; Anecdote of a Washington Market- Woman, 12; Land and Labor, 13 ; Free Negroes, 14; Dangerous Men, 15.

Chapter II. Virginia

Rail-road Glimpses, 16; Richmond, 19; The "Public Guard," and what it means, 20 ; Pretense and Parsimony, 21 ; The Model American — Houdon's Statue, 22; Public Grounds, Arboriculture, 23 ;*A Slave Funeral, 24 ;*rhe Slaves on Sunday, 27 j Dandies, White and Black, 28 ;*Slaves as Merchandise, 30; A James River Farm, 40; Slave Labor, the Owner hard worked, 44; Overseers, 45 ; A Coal Mine— Negro and English Miners, 47 ; Valuable Servants, 49; Dresa and Style of People, 50; The Great Southern Route, and its Fast Train, 52 ; One of the Law-Givers, 54 ; Freight Taken — the Slave Trade, 55 ; Taking Care of Negroes, 58 ; Rural Scenery, and Life in Virginia, 59 ; Pretty Jane, 62 ; A Sovereign — A School House, 64 ; " Old-Fields" — Wild Beasts, 65 ; Explicit Direction, 67 ; The " Straight Road," 69 ; A Farm House, 71 ; The Grocery, 73 ; The Court House, 74; The Inn, 75; The New Man, and the Old House, 77 ;* Domestic Life, 80 ;* White Laborers, 82; A Calamity, 83 ; "Bed-time, 85 ; Settling, 86 ; The Wilderness— The Meeting- House, 87; An Old Tobacco Plantation, 88; Thinking and Working — Irish and Negro Labor, 91 ; A Free Labor Farm, 94 ; Freed Slaves, 95 ; Uncle Tom, 97; White Hands, 99 ^Runaways, 100 ; Recreation and Luxury,among the Slaves, 101 ; A Bar-Room Session— Ingenuity of the Negro, 103 ; Qualities as a Laborer, 104 ; Improvement— Educational Privileges, 106 ; A Distinguished Divine, 107; How they are fed in Virginia, 108 ; Lodgings, 111; Clothing

Xll CONTENTS.

/ J

112 ; Religious Condition, 113 ; Falsehood, 116 ; Stealing, 117 ; A Sermon fox Slaves, 118 ; Another for Masters, 122; A Firm Faith, 123 ; Free Negroes, their Condition in Virginia, and elsewhere, 125; Petersburg to Norfolk, 133, James River — Norfolk, 135; Neglected Opportunities, 137; Legitimate Trade — Mopus, 141 ; Education of Laborers, and of Merchants — Influence of Slavery, 146; Labor for the Navy, 143: The Dismal Swamps, and the Lumber Trade, 149 ; Slave Lumbermen Life in the Swamp — Slaves Quasi Freemen, 153 ; The Effect of Wages to Slaves, 155 ; Agricultural Value of Swamp Land, 156 ; The Truck Business of Norfolk, 158 ; Runaways in the Swamp, 159 ; Dismal Negro Hunting, 169.

Chapter III. The Economy Of Virginia

Statistics of the Elements of Wealth, and of the Actual Results of Labor, 164; Of Intellectual Labor, 172 ; What is not the Cause of the comparative Poverty, 173 ; Propriety of the Inquiry, 177 ; Explanations suggested, 180 ; Their Insufficiency, 181 ; Cost and Value of Labor in Virginia, and in the Wealthier States, compared, 185 -"Loss to the Employer from Illness, etc., lSGrCurious Complaints of Slaves, 191 ; House Servants, Free and Slave, compared, 195 ,

v Value of Good Will in Work, 198; The Alleged Slavery effected by Competition, 200 ; The Comparative Amount of Work accomplished by Slave Labor and Competitive Labor, 203; Driving, 205; Conclusion, 207;*YVhy Free Labor, if cheaper, does not drive out Slavery, 208 ; Results where Free Labor has been concentrated, 213 ; The Great Experiment of the United States, 214.

Chapter IV. The Political Experience Of Virginia

Some Data and Phenomena of the Virginia Experiments in Political Economy — how Initiated, 216; Convict Christian Slaves, 223 ; Christian Bond Servants, 227; Heathen, or Infidel Slaves, 231 ; Quality and Education of the Colonial Laborers, 234;^The Proprietors, 234 f Early Tobacco Culture, 236; What might have been, 240 • Style of Living, 241; Wealth and Extravagance of the Colonial Aristocracy, 243 ; Industrial Condition of Virginia in the Halcyon Past, 248; The Revolution of 1776— Excitement and Reaction, 255; Religious Liberty, 257 ; Primogeniture and Entail, 259 ; Education and Emancipation of the Slave People, 261 ; Of the White Poor, 267 ; Social Results of the Revolution, 269 ; Industrial Results, 271 ; Downfall of tho Aristocracy, 273 ; Effect of Democracy, 275 ; Industrial Progress, 277 ; Rise of the Internal Slave Trade, 278; Its Industrial Consequences, 280; Influence ••«

CONTENTS. X1H

Condition of the Slave, 281 ; Effect of the Abolition Agitation, 284 ; Present the Political Tendencies in Virginia, 288 ; Education, 291 ; The Future Prospect, 302.

Chapter V. Noeth Caeolina

Mine Ease in mine Hotel, 305 ; Petersburg to Weldon, 307 ; Stage Coaching, 309 ; Lazy Niggers, 313 ; Negroes on Public Conveyances, 315 ; The Idee of Potassum a First-Rater, 317 ; Night Trains, 317 ; Raleigh, 318 ; Evergreens, 319 ; A Stage Coach Campaign, 320 ; Bawley, Rockland Bob, 323 ; The Piny Wood, 325; A Horse-Killer, 329; A Praying Blacksmith, 331; Talent Applied to Inn-Keeping, 332; Fire! Turn Out! 337; Turpentine, and Naval Stores — An Account of the Method of Collection, and of Manufacture, 337 ; Distillation, 343 ; Rosin, 345 ; Tar, 347 ; Slaves in the Turpentine Country, and White Vagabonds, 388; The North Carolina Fisheries,, and Slave Fishermen, 351 ; Titanic Dentistry, 354 ; Slaves Eager to work when stimulatedby Wages, 355 ; Scotch Highlanders — Immigration to North Carolina, 355 ; A Cotton Mill, 356 ; Wagoners, 357 ; Boatmen, 359 ; Tobacco-Rollers, 360 ; Improved Means of Transport, 361 ; Gross Intermeddling of Northerners, 363; Wagon Competition with Rail-roads, 364; Plank Roads, 365; North Carolina Character, 366 ; Slavery in North Carolina. 367 ; Cape Fear River, 368; Wooding Up, 369 ; Labor in the Glue Trade. 371 ; Wilmington, 374 ; Property Interests, 375.

Chapter VI. South Carolina And Georgia

Rail-road Gang, 377 ; Northern Hay, 378 ; Profit of Slave-Labor, 379 ; Rough Riding, 380; " Very Nice Country," 382 ; Natural Scenery, 382 ; The People, 384; Their Habitations, 385; Cotton Plantations, 386; Field Hands, 387; An Overseer, 388 ; A Free Nigger, 389 ; North Carolina and South Carolina Niggers, 391 ; A Pleasant Farm House, 393 ; Negro Jodling — the Carolina Yell, 394 ; Camp Fires, 395 ; Slaves at Work, 397 ; Conversation with a Peasant, 398 ; His Geographical Knowledge— Education of the Children of the Higher Class, 402 ; Manners and Morals in South Carolina, 403; Charleston, 404; Savannah, 405 ; Slave Funerals, 405 ; A Slave Grave- Yard— Tombstones, 406- ; The Eice Coast, 409 ; Northern Invalids and Other Travelers, and the Accommodations for them, 409 ; " Show Plantations," 412 ; The Crackers, 413 ; Negro Quarters, 416 ; A Delightful Mansion, Wonderful Live Oak Avenue, 417 ; Visit to a Eice Plantation, 418 ; The Eice Coast Malaria, 418 ; House Servants and Field Hands, 421 ; Negro Quarters, 422 ; The Slave Nursery, 423 ; Teufelsdroekk's Secret of Happiness, 425; The Watchman — an intelligent and trusty Slave, 426; How he became so— Effect of Education, 429;

XIV CONTENTS.

What is the Economy of Slavery, 429; Field Hands, 430 ; Food, 431 ; More FieldHands, their Dress and Appearance, 432 ; " Water Toters," 433 ; Grades of Field Hands, 433 ; A Native African — Task Work, 434 ; Drivers, 436 ; Punishment, 438 ; kSlaves taking care of themselves, 439 ; Nefarious Traders and Grog-Shops, 441 ; Laws of Trade on the Plantation, 442 ; A Scheme of Emancipation suggested, 443 ; Special Depravity of the Negro, 446 ; Slave Marriages and Funerals, 448 ; Slave Chapels and Worship, 449 ; Slave Clei'gy, 450 ; A Eeligious Service among the Crackers. 451.

Chapter VII. Rice, And Its Culture

Rice, and its Culture — Extent, and how Limited, 462 ; The Atlantic Rice District, 465 ; Slave Labor, as applied on Rice Plantations, 478 ; Treatment of Slaves on Rice Plantations, 484 ; Overseers, 486.

0 II APTEE VIII.

EXPERIMENTAL POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA.

The Democratic Social Theory, 489 ; The South Carolina Social Theory, 491 ; Origin and Early Character of South Carolina, 492; Origin of "Americanism," 495 ; The Early Black Code, 496; Progress, 497; Results, 500; Good Society, 501 ; The Free Laboring Class at the Revolution, 502 ; Its Present Condition, 504 ; The Sand-Hillers, 506; Immigration, 510 ; Present Industrial Condition, 515 ; The Predicament, 522 ; The Origin of the Georgia Community, 523; Early Resistance to Slavery, 527; The Law against Slavery abrogated, 528 ; Influence of the Early Democracy, 529 ; Consequences of Slavery, 531 ; Note on Ship-Building, 540 ; On Manufactures, and other Industry, 542.

Chapter IX. Alabama

Georgia Rail-roads, 546; Columbus — Manufacturing Workmen, 547 ; Montgomery, 549 ; The Alabama River, 549 ; Loading Cotton, 550 ; Value of Slaves secures Care of them, 550 ; Negro Singers, 551 ; Capacity of the Negro. 552 ; Slave High Life, 554 ; A Negro Lover, 554 ; A Negro Overseeing a White Laborer. 555 ; Natural Affection of Slaves, 555 ; Their Loyalty to their Masters, 556; Conversation with a Good Subject, 557; The Citizens, 559 ; Characteristics, 560 ; A Droll Texan, 560 ; How he talked, 501 ; Not a Bet-

CONTENTS. XV

ting, but a Cotton Man, 56:2 ; Deck Hands, Negro Jollity, and Wastefulness, 564 ; Mobile, 565 j Passage to New Orleans — Texan Immigrants, 568 ; Bad Speculation -with a Negro, 570 ; a Peasant — Conversation about Slavery and Abolition, 572.

Chapter X. Economical Experience Op Alabama

Origin, 574 ; Emigration, 576 ; Present Condition and Prospects, 576.

Chapter XI. Louisiana

New Orleans, 578; French Aspect, 580; The Cathedral, 582; Gradations of Color among the People, 583 , Pine Negro Stock, 584 ; The Slave Trade, Economically, 585; Could Europeans displace Negroes in the Climate, 586 ; Mechanics and Laborers, 587 ; Competition of Free and Slave, 589 ; Commerce and Slavery, 591 ; The Lorettcs, 594 ; Licentiousness and Extravagance— Democratic Education, 598 ; Red River Emigrant Craft, 603 ; Uncle Tom and the Vindication ot Slavery — a Rebuff, 608 ; Negro Boat Songs — Stowing Away, 611 ; Slave Emigrants, 613 ; A Race, 614 ; Sharp Shooters, 615 ; Uncle Tom discussed, 617 ; Another Sort, 620 ; A Carlylist, 631 ; Elements of Progress, North and South, 621 ; Rigolet de Bon Dieu — Use of Claret — The Temperance Problem, 625; Planting and Grazing, 628; Negro Cabins, 629; Positive Morality, A Secret Agent of Satan, 630; Buying the Spanish Vote, 632 ; Free Colored Slave-Owners, 632; Conversation with a Free Negro, 634; Louisiana Lawyers, 637; Egyptians, 638; White Slaves, 640; Opelousas, 642; Germans, 642; Pleasant Retirement, 643; "Fights," 644; Theology and Morality, 645 ; A Creole Ball, 646 ; Court, 646 ; The Nigger Trade. 647 ; The Creoles, 648 ; Condition of their Slaves, 650 ; Planters of Louisiana and Farmers of New York compared, 652 ; Habits of the Planters, 652 ; Cuba, 655 ; Visit to a Sugar Plantation, 656 ; Relation of Slaves and Owner, 658 ; Treatment of Slaves, 659 ; Plantation Economy, 660 ; Sugar Cane, 663 ; Economy of Louisiana, 664 ; Cane Culture, 665 ; The Grinding Season, 667 ; Hard Work liked, 668 ; Manufacture of Sugar, 670 ; Acadiens, 673 ; Chicken Thieves, 674 ; Conversation on Slavery, 675 ; Conversation with a Slave about Abolitionism. 677 ; Expenses of Plantations, 686 ; Condition of Free and Slave Laborers compared, 688 ; Slavery no Security against Famine, 707; Conclusion, 711 ; Influence of Slavery on our own Labor, 712 ; Appendix, 717 ; Appendix A, 724. *»

" Men are never so likely to settle a question rightly as when they discuss it freely." — Macaulay.

" You have among you many a purchased slave, Which, like your asses, and your dogs, and mules, You use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them :

" So do I answer you.

The pound of flesh which I demand cf him, Is clearly bought ; 'tis mine, and I will have it. If you deny me, fie upon your law !" — Shylock. -

" The one idea which History exhibits as evermore developing itself into greater distinctness, is the idea of humanity, the noble endeavor to throw down all barriers erected between men by prejudice and one-sided views, and by setting aside the distinctions of religion, country, and color, to treat the whole human race as one Brotherhood, having one great object — the pure development of our spiritual nature." — Humboldt's Cosmos.

OUR SLAVE STATES.

Chapter I. Inns And Outs Of Washington

Gadsby's Hotel, Dec. 10.

To accomplish the purposes which brought me to Washington, it was necessary, on arriving here, to make arrangements to secure food and shelter while I remained. There are two thousand of us visitors in Washington under a similar necessity. There are a dozen or more persons who, for a consideration, undertake to provide what we want. Mr. Dexter is reported to be the best of them, and really seems a very obliging and honestly-disposed person. To Mr. Dexter, therefore, I commit myself.

I commit myself by inscribing my name in a Register.

Five minutes after I have done so, Clerk No. 4, whose attention

I have been unable to obtain any sooner, suddenly catches the

Register by the corner, swings it round with a jerk, and throws

a hieroglyphic scrawl at it, which strikes near my name.

Henceforth, I figure as Boarder No. 201, (or whatever it

may be). Clerk No. 4 whistles (" Boarders, away ! "), and

throws key, No. 201 upon the table. Turnkey No. 3 takes 1 it, and me, and my traveling bag, up several flights of stairs, along corridors and galleries, and finally consigns me to this little square cell.

I have faith that there is a tight roof above the very much cracked ceiling ; that the bed is clean ; and that I shall, by-and-by, be summoned, along with hundreds of other persons, to partake, in grandly silent sobriety, of a very sumptuous dinner.

Food and shelter. Therewith should a man be content. It will enable me to accomplish my purpose in coming to Washington. But my perverse nature will not be content : will be wishing things were otherwise. They say this uneasiness— this passion for change — is a peculiarity of our diseased Northern nature. The Southern man finds Providence in all that is : Satan in all that might be. That is good ; and, as I am going South, when I have accomplished my purposes at Washington, I will not here restrain the escape of my present discontent.

I have such a shockingly depraved nature that I wish the dinner was not going to be so grand. My idea is that, if it were not, Mr. Dexter would save moneys, which I would like to have him expend in other ways. I wish he had more clerks, so that they would have time to be as polite to an unknown man as I see they are to John P. Hale ; and, at least, answer civil questions, when his guests ask them. I don't like such a fearful rush of business as there is down stairs. I wish there were men enough to do the work quietly.

I don't Hke these cracked and variegated walls ; and, though the roof may be tight, I don't like this threatening aspect of the ceiling. It should be kept for people of Damoclesian ambition : I am humble.

I am humble, and I am short, and soon curried; but I am not satisfied with a quarter of a yard of toweling, having an irregular vacancy in its centre, where I am liable to insert my head. I am not proud ; but I had rather have something else, or nothing, than these three yards of ragged and faded quarter-ply carpeting. I also would like a curtain to the window, and I wish the glass were not so dusty, and that the sashes did not rattle so in their casements ; though, as there is no other ventilation, I suppose I ought not to complain. Of course not; but it is confoundedly cold, as well as noisy. I don't like that broken latch ; I don't like this broken chair • I would prefer that this table were not so greasy in its appearance ; I would rather the ashes and cinders, and the tobacco . juice around the grate, had been removed before I was consigned to the cell.

I wish that less of my two dollars and a half a day went to pay for game for the dinner, and the interest of the cost of the mirrors and mahogany for the public parlors, and of marble for the halls, and more of it for providing me with a private room, which should be more than a barely habitable cell, which should also be a little bit tasteful, home-like, and comfortable.

SERVANTS.

I wish more of it was expended in servants' wages.

Six times I rang the bell; three several times came three different Irish lads ; entered, received my demand for a fire, and retired. I was writing, shiveringly, a full hour before the fire-man came. Now he has entered, bearing on his head a hod of coal and kindling wood, without knocking. An aged negro, more familiar and more indifferent to forms of subserviency thai the Irish lads, very much bent, seemingly with infirmity, an expression of impotent anger in his face, and a look of weakness, like a drunkard's. He does not look at me, but mutters unintelligibly.

"What's that you say?"

" Tink I can make a hundred fires at once ?"

" I dont want to sit an hour waiting for a fire, after I have ordered one, and you must not let me again."

"Nebber let de old nigger have no ress — hundred gemmen tink I kin mak dair fires all de same minute ; all get mad at an ole nigger ; I ain't a goin to stan it — nebber get no ress — up all night — haint got nautin to eat nor drink dis blessed mornin— hundred gemmen — "

" That's not my business ; Mr. Dexter should have more servants."

" So he ort ter, master, dat he had, one ole man ain't enough for all dis house, is it master? hundred gemmen — "

" Stop — here's a quarter for you ; now I want you to look out that I have a good fire, and keep the hearth clean in my room as long as I stay here. And when I send for you I want you to come immediately. Do you understand?"

" I'le try, master — you jus look roun and fine me when you want yer fire ; I'll be roun somewhere. You got a newspaper, Sir, I ken take for a minit ; I won't hurt it."

I gave him one ; and wondered what use he could put it to, that would not hurt it. He opened it to a folio, and spread it before the grate, so the draft held it in place, and it acted as a blower. I asked if there were no blowers? "No." "But haven't you got any brush or shovel ?" I inquired, seeing him get down upon his knees again and sweep the cinders and ashes he had thrown upon the floor with the sleeve of his coat, and then take them up with his hands ; — no, he said, his master did not give him such things. "Are you a slave1?"

"Yes, sir."

" Do you belong to Mr. Dexter V*

" No, sir, he hires me of de man dat owns me. Don't you tink I'se too ole a man for to be knock roun at dis kind of work, massa? — hundred gemmen all want dair fires made de same minute, and caus de old nigger cant do it all de same minute, ebbery one tinks dey's boun to scold him all de time ; nebber no rest for him, no time."

I know the old fellow lied somewhat, for I saw another fireman in Mr. B.'s room. Was that quarter a good investment, or should I have complained at the office ? No, they are too busy to listen to me, too busy, certainly, to make better arrangements.

It is time for me to call on Mr. S. ; the fire has gone out, leaving a fine bituminous fragrance in the cell. I will " look round" for the fireman, as I travel the long road to the office, and, if I do not find him, leave an order, in writing, for a fire to be made before two o'clock.

A MARYLAND FARM.

Washington, Dec. 14th. Called on Mr. C, whose fine farm, from its vicinity to Washington, and its excellent management, as well as from the hospitable habits of its owner, has a national reputation. It is some two thousand acres in extent, and situated just without the District, in Maryland.

The residence is in the midst of the farm, a quarter of a mile from the high road — the private approach being judiciously carried through large pastures which are divided only by slight, but close b OUR SLAVE STATES.

and well-secured, wire fences. The mansion is of brick, and, as seen through the surrounding trees, has somewhat the look of an old French chateau. The kept grounds are very limited, and in simple but quiet taste ; being surrounded only by wires, they merge, in effect, into the pastures. There is a fountain, an ornamental dove-cote, and ice-house, and the approach road, nicely graveled and rolled, comes up to the door with a fine sweep.

I had dismounted and was standing before the door, when I heard myself loudly hailed from a distance.

" Ef yer wants to see Master, sah, he's clown thar — to the new stable."

I could see no one ; and when I was tired of holding my horse, I mounted, and rode on in search of the new stable. I found it without difficulty ; and in it Mr. and Mrs. C. With them were a number of servants, one of whom now took my horse with alacrity. I was taken at once to look at a very fine herd of cows, and afterwards led upon a tramp over the farm, and did not get back to the house till dinner time.

The new stable is most admirably contrived for convenience, labor-saving, and economy of space. (Full and accurate descriptions of it, with illustrations, have been given in several agricultural journals.) The cows are mainly thorough-bred Shorthorns, with a few imported Ayrshires and Alderneys, and some small black "natives." I have seldom seen a better lot of milkers; they are kept in good condition, are brisk and healthy, docile and kind, soft and pliant of skin, and give milk up to the very eve of calving ; milking being never interrupted for a day. Near the time of calving the milk is given to the calves and pigs. The object is to obtain milk only, which is never converted into butter or cheese, but sent immediately to town, and for this the

Shorthorns are found to be the most profitable breed. Mr. C. believes that, for butter, the little Alderneys, from the peculiar richness of their milk, would be the most valuable. He is, probably, mistaken, though I remember that in Ireland the little black Kerry cow was found fully equal to the Ayrshire for butter, though giving much less milk.

There are extensive bottom lands on the farm, subject to be flooded in freshets, on which the cows are mainly pastured in summer. Indian corn is largely sown for fodder, and, during the driest season, the cows are regularly soiled with it. These bottom lands were entirely covered with heavy wood, until, a few years since, Mr. C. erected a steam saw-mill, and has lately been rapidly clearing them, and floating off the sawed timber to market by means of a small stream that runs through the farm.

The low land is much of it drained, underdrains being made of rough boards of any desired width nailed together, so that a section is represented by the inverted letter j^. Such covered drains have lasted here twenty years without failing yet, but have only been tried where the flow of water was constant throughout the year.

The water collected by the drains can be, much of it, drawn into a reservoir, from which it is forced by a pump, driven by horse-power, to the market-garden, where it is distributed from several fountain-heads, by means of hose, and is found of great value, especially for celery. The celery trenches are arranged in concentric circles, the water-head being in the center. The water-closets and all the drainage of the house are turned to good account in the same way. Mr. C. contemplates extending his water-pipes to some of his meadow lands. Wheat and hay are the chief crops sold off the farm, and the amount of them produced is yearly increasing.

The two most interesting points of husbandry, to me, were the large and profitable use of guano and bones, and the great extent of turnip culture. Crops of one thousand and twelve hundred bushels of rata baga to the acre have been frequent, and this year the whole crop of the farm is reckoned to be over thirty thousand bushels ; all to be fed out to the neat stock between this time and the next pasture season. The soil is generally a red, stiff loam, with an occasional stratum of coarse gravel, and, therefore, not the most favorable for turnip culture. The seed is always imported, Mr. C.'s experience, in this respect, agreeing with my own: — the Euta baga undoubtedly degenerates in our climate. Bones, guano, and ashes are used in connection with yarddung for manure. The seed is sown from the middle to the last of July in drills, but not in ridges, in the English way. In both these respects, also, Mr. C. confirms the conclusions I have arrived at in the climate of New York ; namely, that ridges are best dispensed with, and that it is better to sow in the latter part of July than in June, as has been generally recommended in our books and periodicals. Last year, turnips sown on the 20th July were larger and finer than others, sown on the same ground, on my farm, about the first of the month. This year I sowed in August, and, by forcing with superphosphate — home manufactured— and guano, obtained a fine crop; but the season was unusually favorable.

Mr. C. always secures a supply of turnips that will allow him to give at least one bushel a day to every cow while in winter quarters. The turnips are sliced, slightly salted, and commonly mixed with fodder and meal. Mr. C. finds that salting the

INNS AND OUTS OF WASHINGTON. V

sliced turnip, twelve hours before it is fed, effectually prevents its communicating any taste to the milk. This, so far as I know, is an original discovery of his, and is one of great value to dairymen. In certain English dairies the same result is obtained, where the cows are fed on cabbages, by the expensive process of heating the milk to a certain temperature and then adding saltpetre.

The wheat crop of this district has been immensely increased, by the use of guano, during the last four years. On this farm it has been largely used for five years ; and land that had not been cultivated for forty years, and which bore only broom-sedge — a thin, worthless grass — by the application of two hundred weight of Peruvian guano, now yields thirty bushels of wheat to an acre.

Mr. C.'s practice of applying guano differs, in some particulars, from that commonly adopted here. After a deep plowing of land intended for wheat, he sows the seed and guano at the same time, and harrows both in. The common custom here is to plow in the guano, six or seven inches deep, in preparing the ground for wheat. I believe Mr. C.'s plan is the best. I have myself used guano on a variety of soils for several years with great success for wheat, and I may mention the practice I have adopted from the outset, and with which I am well satisfied. It strikes between the two systems I have mentioned, and I think is philosophically right. After preparing the ground with plow and harrow, I sow wheat and guano together, and plow them in with a gang-plow which covers to a depth, on an average, of three inches.