The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01

labor will be very little/and they can be grazed
occasionally during the winter, and then ma
ture in April to feed D1ilch COWS, or other stock.
The planting of cow peas is very satisfactory,
women and children pick them for thirty cents
per one hundred pounds, and the vines are
then turned under to fertilze the land. There
is nothing, however that has proved 80 profit
able for feeding milch cows as sorghum. Cut
while the stalks are tender, 1t springs up and
makes rapid growth. During this drouth 1t
keeps up the flow Of milk and gives the
butter good color. The last tub was
shipped with thermometer at one hundred
and one degrees. 1t reached Augusta all
right, but II this weather continues, 1t is
suggested that the butter be transported in
bottles. 1t sells at present for forty-five cents
per pound, and will hardly command more I'M
til the absentees return to their homes In the
city. There are many pleasant things con-
nected with farm life in the South even in sum-
mer. The great variety Of choice fruit, wells
of pure soft water, and in middle Georgia the
healthfulness OF the climate. There are no
tramps. The farm laborers have their own
homes, and receive ratioDs once a month, one
bushel of meal and fifteen pounds OF bacon.
Even the house servants leave when their
work is done, and II wanted are summoned by
the bell. II carpenters or masons are hired
they bring their own blanket and fryiDg-pan,
receive their rations and go to one OF the cabins
to cook and sleep. There is no house so small
nor family 80 large that they cannot take lodg-
ers Il lessons the cares of the southern house,
wife very much, yet there are plenty of de-
mands upon her time and patience. The ne
groes rely entirely upon the white people for
medicine and if sick or bruised come at once
for treatment. With their ignorance Of the laws
of health and careless habits, they have all
kinds of aches and pains, from misery in the
head " to " fever in their bones" Then, too,
the children have spasms fall into the fire, or
the water and one is often puzzled to know
just what to do. If a physician is called and
they feel better after dose of medicine, they
very likely take the whole prescription to
effect a speedy cure. II not better throw it
out the window and conclude they are con-
jured. There are no beggars, except for church
purposes, though they expect to buy all the
cast-off clothing for trife and dresses are
often engaged from the hands of the dress
makers, and a close watch kept that they are
not worn too closely. Southern housewives,
too, take charge of the gardens, and personally
superintend the planting of the seeds and Gull
tivation afterwards. In addition to all these
duties my nearest neighbor has cotton patch
of thirty acres, the proceeds to be ap-
piled to the education of her youngest
son. She not only assisted in burning brush
and briars in early spring, but took her sewing
to the field daily, that she might see that her
hands neither chased rabbits or quarreled over
their hoes. And this lady WAS reared in luxury
with slaves always at her call, and until the
| war, every thing that wealth could command.
would like to give her name and her many
neghborly kndnesses, but my letter has grown
| quite too long already. ~ NJ.