Management of Negroes-Police. 177 are worthy the note of planters every- vegetables be at all times served with where: the meat and bread. PLANTATION MANAGEMENT.-POLICE. 1st. It is strictly required of the manager that he rise at the dawn of day every morning; that he blow a horn for the assembling of the hands; require all hands to repair to a certain and fixed place in ten minutes after the blowing of the horn, and there himself see that all are present, or notice absentees; after which the hands will receive their orders and be started to their work under charge of the foreman. The stable will generally be the most convenient place for the assembling of all hands after morning call. 2nd. All sick negroes will be required to report to the manager at morning call, either in person, if able to do so, or through others, when themselves con fined to the house. 3rd. Immediately after morning call, the manager will himself repair to the stable, together with the ploughmen, and see to the proper feeding, cleaning, and gearing of the horses. He will also see to the proper feeding and care of the stock at the farm-yard. 4th. As soon as the horses and stock have been fed and otherwise attended to, the manager will take his breakfast; and immediately after, he will visit and prescribe for the sick, and then repair to the fields to look after the hands; and he will remain with them as constantly as possible during every day. 5th. The sick should be visited not only every morning immediately after breakfast, but at such other times of the day and night as cases may require. Suitable medicine, diet, and other treatment, be prescribed, to be administered by the nurse; or in more critical cases, the physician should be sent for. An intelligent and otherwise suitable woman will be appointed as a nurse upon each plantation, who will administer medicine and otherwise attend upon the sick. 6th. There will be stated hours for the negroes to breakfast and dine, and those hours must be regularly observed. Breakfast will be at eight o'clock, and dinner at one o'clock. There will be a woman to cook for the hands, and she must be required to serve the meals regularly at those hours. The manager will frequently inspect the meals as they are brought by the cook, see that they have been properly prepared, and that 7th. The manager will, every Sunday morning after breakfast, visit and inspect yards are kept clean and in order, and every quarter, see that the houses and that the families are dressed in clean clothes. 8th. Comfortable and ample quarters will be provided for the negroes. Each family will have a separate room with fireplace, to be furnished with beds, bedsteads, and blankets, according to the size of the family; each room will, also, be furnished with a table, chairs, or benches, and chest for the clothes, a few tin plates and cans, a small iron pot for cooking, &c. 9th. The clothing to be furnished each year will be as follows: 1 pair do. pants, 1 pair do. socks, 1 shirt, To each man and boy, 1 woolen coat, 1 pair shoes, 1 wool hat, and a blanket every second year, to be given 15th Nostraw hat, 1 pair shoes, to be given 1st 1 shirt, 1 pair cotton pants, 1 June. vember. Field Hands.-To each man, three and a half pounds bacon, and one and a half pecks meal. To each woman, girl, and boy, two and a half pounds bacon, and one peck meal. In-Door Hands.-To each man and boy, two pounds bacon, and one peck corn meal. To each woman and girl, two pounds bacon, and one peck corn meal. To each child over two years and under ten years, one pound bacon, and half a peck of corn meal. To the above will be added milk, butter-milk, and molasses, at intervals, and at all times vegetables, and fresh meat occasionally. 11th. As much of the clothing must be made on the plantation as possible, wool and cotton should be grown in sufficient quantities for this purpose, and the women having young children be required to spin and weave the same, and the managers' wives will be expect ed to give particular attention to this department, so essential to economical management. 12th. A vegetable or kitchen garden will be established and well cultivated, so that there may be, at all seasons, an abundance of wholesome and nutritious vegetables for the negroes, such as cabbages, potatoes, turnips, beets, peas, beans, pumpkins, &c. 13th. A horn will be sounded every night at nine o'clock, after every negro will be required to be at his quarters, and to retire to rest; and that this rule may be strictly enforced, the manager will frequently, but at irregular and unexpected hours of the night, visit the quarters and see that all are present, or punish absentees. 14th. Each manager will do well to organize in his neighborhood, whenever practicable, patrol parties, in order to detect and punish irregularities of the negroes, which are generally committed at night. But lest any patrol party visit his plantation without apprising him of their intention, he will order the negroes to report to him every such visit, and he will promptly, upon receiving such report, join the patrol party, and see that they strictly conform to the law whilst on his plantation, and abstain from committing any abuse, In a late number of the Manchester Guardian appears a paper upon the Cultivation of Cotton in Trinidad, in which the author, whilst he admits the appropriateness of climate, considers the present free negro population of the island as untirely unfit for any profitable industry, and proposes to obtain laborers from Barbadoes and from the United States. He says: The failure of Mr. Walkinshaw's experiment does not determine the question of the policy and feasibility of establishing cotton growth to any desired extent in the island. From Point Galeota to Point Icacos, that is to say, the south ern coast of this island (nineteen-twentieths of which are, at the present moment, in the hands of the crown) presents a cotton field of seventy-five miles, along the windings of the coast, in length, varied by a breadth of from one to six miles say three miles-of the finest cotton land in the known world. Through out its entire breadth, the lands are shel tered from the northern winds by our southern chain of mountains; and on the spot already exists every necessary for buildings. The only drawback that exists to its occupation would be the difficulty of reaching it in the present unopened state of the country; but as the attention of the government is already seriously directed towards making a road from San Fernando to the mission of Savannah Grande, it would not be a very gigantic undertaking to connect the spot where they terminate their labors with Moronga; and so connected, the whole seaboard would then be "come-at-able" with ease. Another apparent, but not real, disadvantage of this locality is, that it is almost destitute of population. I say this is not really a disadvantage; because if sugar is still to continue the sta ple of this colony, it would be impolitic to trespass on the present laboring population for a supply; in fact, the planters want twice the quantity they now have. But even supposing this population available to the cotton grower, I much question the policy of using it. Our peasantry is decidedly the most apathetic and lazy in the world, and, more than all, they are not only unskilled, but manifest a decided objection to the proper use of agricultural implements. Hoe husbandry, and hoe husbandry alone, is their forte; and I am of opinion that, although the young may hereafter be convinced of the utility of implement assistance, you will never get the adult population to adopt it. Now, without implemental husbandry, to grow cotton at a paying rate anywhere would be impossible, simply because it would have to compete with the implementary husbandry of other places and there is no doubt of the result of such a competition; and hence, I contend that, even if available, it would be impolitic to employ our present population, lazy and unskilled as it undoubtedly is, where nothing but energy and intelligence can hope for success; and I view the isolation of our southern coast as an advantage to any cottongrowing undertaking, inasmuch as the population brought to work the soil would stand less chance of the contaminating influence of our most inferior peasantry. The people in the northern section of the United States would be much less adapted for such a cultivation than even our own population; but a finer peasantry, skilled in the most improved agricul Cotton in Trinidad--Cultivation of Grasses. tural implements, than the colored population of the slave states, are not to be found and although they decidedly refused to go to Trinidad as the serfs of the sugar planter, they were ready to migrate, to a considerable number, if placed in a position of being independent of the whim and caprice, to say nothing else, of our proprietors and their managers. I took some pains to ascertain their feelings with regard to a migration to Trinidad, as cotton growers, and am well satisfied that arrangements might be made with them to move in large numbers-in fact, I had several propositions from them to that effect; and at a public meeting at Baltimore, they carried a resolution, requesting me to act as their agent here, to obtain them some concessions from the colonial government to this end; and I think that a comparatively small capital would annually command an immensely increasing population, engaged in cotton growth in this island. 179 yielded us a fine crop of grass, and is now very nearly ready for a second mowing. It is frequently cut five or six times in the course of one season, and yields a large crop of hay each time. During the last season, we measured a small lot in which it was growing, as accurately as we could by stepping it off, and found it to contain 1000 square yards, which is a little over one-fifth of an acre. After the grass which was cut off of it was sufficiently cured, we shocked it till it was dry enough to stack, and weighing an average shock, we found that the piece of ground had yielded 1,000 lbs. of hay; which, though not entirely cured, was sufficiently so to allow of its being safely stored in a house. This would make an acre yield nearly 5,000 lbs. at one cutting. This was the second or third cutting; and it yielded four crops, but none as heavy as the one we tried the experiment with. The soil in which it was grown was a deep sandy loam, highly manured, and The Cultivation of Grasses should originally rich. It is in vain to expect receive at the south much more at- any land to yield so large a crop of any tention than it has in the past. The vegetable product, unless it is amply support of stock from the crib or grana- supplied with rich, stimulating manures. ry, is an expensive affair. We cannot "The method of propagating it is by expect northern grasses to thrive among the roots, which resemble very much us, but should adopt those of southern the cane roots of the country, but more latitudes. Dr. Withers, of Alabama, nearly the calamus root. In the West has sent us a paper in which he recom- Indies they propagate it by seed; but in mends the Guinea Grass as altogether this country, as far as my experience adapted to our wants: extends, the seed do not vegetate. I see in some of the books, however, that it is said to be raised from seed, but that is not my experience with it. My original stock was brought from Virginia, by Gen. J. H. Cocke, and consisted of about a double handful. By bedding them in a rich loam, we observed roots enough in the season to plant about an acre during the next. As it does not propagate itself by seeds, and is not liable to be taken up and scattered by the birds of the air, the wheels of vehicles, or the hoofs of animals, it spreads very slowly, and may be entirely eradicated by cultivating the land; or more effectually by turning hogs on it in winter, as they are very fond of the roots, and go to a great depth to obtain them. It spreads, however, gradually into the adjoining lands, and should not be planted near a garden, or any place into which hogs cannot be turned, when you should wish to eradicate it. "It is true, that it does not flourish in perpetual verdure here, as it does in Jamaica, but it grows luxuriantly for eight months in the year-and at a time when almost all our other artificial grasses are parched up by the heat of the sun. Being a native of the tropics, it rejoices in the genial heat of the summer's sun. Springing up in our climate with the first harbingers of spring, it bears repeated mowings till the chilling frosts of the fall. As is known to all of us, we had on the 7th April this year a severe freeze, which destroyed much of our corn, and all the cotton which was then growing, The Guinea grass was at that time high enough to mow, but it was killed nearly to the ground. Subsequently, the location on which it was grown was entirely overflowed, by the unprecedentedly high freshet at so late a season as the first of May, and remained upwards of a week under the water from the river; yet it has already "The method of planting is to lay off furrows about two feet apart, and drop is very tenacious of life, and bears transplanting well. "The ground designed for the strawberry bed should be plowed or spaded as deep as tools can well make it. If the soil is light and thin, a thick coat of swamp muck, or partially decomposed leaves, with leached or unleached ashes, will be fine to turn under. After the ground is pulverized and levelled, mark it off into rows two feet apart. Now plant eight rows of Hovey seedling and a piece of the root about as long as your finger, at two feet distance in the furrow. This can be done at any time during the winter, and it must be covered deep enough to protect it from the cold. A slight working in the spring will give it the start of the weeds and grass, and it will soon root out every thing else. The land on which it grows should be topdressed with manure every season; and when you perceive the grass is declining from getting too thick, or by exhausting one of the early scarlet, two feet apart in the land, it should be well manured and the rows, and so continue until the bed deeply ploughed. I trench-ploughed is finished. We speak particularly of mine a year or two since, with evident advantage. It is generally recommended to cut the grass for soiling, or for hay, when it is about two feet high. It is then very tender and succulent, and stock of any kind will leave the finest blade fodder to eat it." these two varieties, as we should consider it labor lost to cultivate a variety which only gives fruit three or four weeks in the season. And we have never found a finer fruit, in point of size and flavor, than the Hovey, and none finer flavored than the early scarlet. In our advertising columns will be Care should be taken that the plants are found a card from the editor of the "Soil put into the ground just as they came of the South," offering to supply STRAW- out of it-that is, with all their laterals BERRY plants, in the culture of which he spreading, and not all gathered together has obtained a very deserved celebrity. and crammed into a little hole. Now, We recommend his method below to if the object be to get a large number of the attention of our readers, and trust plants for another year, keep them well that this delightful fruit will hereafter worked with the hoe, and let the runnot be so rare among us. On another ners take root. The whole ground will occasion we shall give the experience be full by fall. But if fruit be the obof Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, whose ject, cover the whole surface of the success has been recognized by the ground with partially decomposed leaves horticultural societies of the whole coun- or straw-and as the first runners begin try. to show themselves, take them off. Care must be used in taking off the runners; they should be cut, and not pulled off, as careless servants will ruin many plants. When the vine has once commenced fruiting, it will show but little disposition to run, as its whole effort is to make the fruit-particularly if the vine is not over-stimulated. It is not enough that the strawberry bed is in a moist, cool location-for if the ground is moist, the plants want water to set the fruit, and to swell the fruit when set. It is asserted by some English cultivators that the plant should not have water when in bloom, as it washes the pollen away. This may do for England, but it does not do here. We care not how much water they have when in bloom. If the season proves dry, we give water to set the fruit by artificial rain; and unless it rains twice a week, we give artificial rain to swell the fruit, and then we give artificial rain to form the next fruit stems, and so on. Fear not to give "The secret of strawberry culture is, to cultivate for fruit, and not for vine or blossom. Much depends upon the locality of the strawberry bed. No tree or plant should be near it; the strawberry loves shade, but not a shade that sucks its very life-blood out. The lowest part of the garden, the bank of some little stream of water, are proper localities, and, where it is possible, select new land. As to the soil, our beds are on as poor pine land as gopher or salamander ever built into pyramids, and we believe it is pretty generally conceded now, within a circle of a few hundred miles, that we do occasionally have a strawberry. We do not know but a stiffer land may suit them better-but ours does well enough, and we are not disposed to act like that foolish healthy man, who was well, wished to be better, took medicine and died.' The strawberry may be transplanted any time from September until March. The plant, properly taken up, Strawberry Culture-Hovey's Seedling. 181 But in The leaves cracked under our too much water-water morning and beds. evening. If grass and weeds show tread like glass. We picked a handful themselves, use the hoe freely. After it of large, shining, crimson berries, as is no longer an object to gather fruit, let solid as marble. Farewell, thought we, the vines run and mat together. In the to strawberries for this season. winter go through with the hoes, thin- fifteen days the beds were again crimson ning out from twelve to eighteen inches, with the fruit, and the market wagon leaving the cut-up vines to decay where daily supplying the market, which, in they were cut, and then cover the whole the absence of all other fruit, brought bed with leaves, straw, swamp-muck, fine prices. This demonstrates that the Let strawberry crop is the most certain fruit &c., but use no animal manure. the proportions of male and female crop cultivated at the South, and, taken plants remain the same as when first with its continuous bearing, certainly planted. We are astonished that in the makes it the most valuable. "We have frequent applications for moister, colder latitudes of the North, they do not have strawberries from frost strawberry seed. Strawberries will grow to frost again. The heavy frost the six- from the seed, but they do not produce teenth of April, three years ago, took their like. All the new varieties which There have been many our strawberry grounds in full fruit. We are sold as choice varieties, have been made an early rise the next morning, hybridized. and walked out with a long countenance, new seedlings produced from Hovey's to look at the destruction. Trees, shrubs seedling, hybridized with the greatest and plants were stiff in the cold embraces care; but as yet they bear no compariof Old Jack. Alas! the fruit was all son to that "ne plus ultra" of all strawgone. We strolled into the strawberry berries." ART. XI.-COMMERCIAL PROGRESS-HOME AND FOREIGN. COMMERCE OF SPAIN LOUISIANA SHIP-BUILDING-COMMERCE OF MOBILE-STATISTICS OF AUSTRALIA-CHILI. THE Commerce of Spain appears to be increasing, and in 1851 it reached, for imports, 687,648,640 reals, (for the value of this currency see art. on Cuba in present number,) and for exports, 497,507,432 reals. Of the imports, 259,165 reals were from America, and of the exports, 190,592,803 were to America. The American shipping engaged in the trade with Spain and her colonies, is as follows: 46 Mediterranean.. Manilla and Philippines.. Porto Rico.. Mediterranean.. Manilla and Philippines. Porto Rico... Vessels Tonnage 21.. 9,940.. Men and 2.. 309.. 13 21.. ture of LoUISIANA granting a bonus of $5 per ton for every vessel over 100 tons burthen, which may be built in the state of Louisiana, and $4 per ton on every steamer. The bonus should attract foreign capital to our midst, for ship-building, since we have all the materials abundantly at hand, and the act will only be in force for five years. In our December number we presented some statistics of the commerce 391 of MOBILE for 1851-1852, and have 599 condensed the previous years in " Indus289 trial Resources." For the last crop the .1548.355,545..14,700 average of prices was, in October, 6 to 294.. 48,336.. 2,217 914; November, 6 to 8; December, 6 513 to 81; January, 614 to 8%; February, 376 614 to 8; March, 6 to 834; April, to 9; May, 6 to 10; June, 8 to 10%; average for season, 6% to 9%; average 1850-1851, 834 to 12; 1850-10 to 12; 1849-5 to 7. 40.. 14,688.. 1627.361,732.15,252 An act has been passed by the legisla 614 |