The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29

Is aores) has often put that much in the
bank and sometimes more; 30 felt justified
in doing II, but now
am trying to cut and cure some pea
vine and crab grass hay but II 10 very up
bill work. Every one is so Ignorant o.
hay making and cannot tell them with
authority because ! know nothing myself
except what common sense dictates. The
putting up and starting OF the moving ma
chine was very difficult, but now Il Ia work
ing fairly well. and the weather Ii perfect
for the purpose The stacking cannot get
properly done-they are accustomed 70
pile straw IN heaps and they will only pile
the hay instead Of making compact
stack
eight women with hoes; but they make
slow progress. l insisted on having Jim
open some with the plough. but Bona
parte said the plough covered up too many,
and as he has been experimenting this work
a long time, and has the banking and stor-
ing Of the potatoes, / thought t the part
OF wisdom to let him do II in the way which
he assured me would secure the greatest
number Of potatoes for my use
Oct. 1s.-Still digging potatoes, though
only one and three-quarter acres were
planted, and they are not turning out as
well as usual they generally yield over
| one hundred bushels to the acre. Inc
hay-making goes on pretty well. Jim Is
getting to run the mower and rake very
| skifully, but the man have stacking the
hay Is very obstinate. As long as stand and
! look at him the stack Is packed and properly
| formed, but as soon as leave he just tosSes
the hny lightly on the pole and rain would
| ruin 1t.
Oct. 23-The potatoes are all in and the
| hay nearly so. The other evening 1 was
superntending the stacking OF the nay
! when five children came to ask me to let
them go in the potato field and hunt eta.
L let them go, az i always do for my heart
is tender TO children and like to see their
delight over the potatoes they find:
was 30 much interested in getting perfect
stack that went up the ladder TO the top
TO see II 1t was well packed. while the wagon
went for another load. II was SO lovely
up there that | sat long time. The sun
was nearing the end of its journey, and the
slanting rays glorified the fields with their
borders OF bright colored leaves, the ruddy
brown of the cypress giving its neh tone
to the landscape. ! saw from my vantage
point nearly the whole upland. and in the
foreground the children in the potato
patch. They all had hoes and it struck
me they were digging very regularly
in rows and not here and there; as
they generally do. and | watched them
more closely. In the little time that they
had been there the boys had each about
bushel in their bags and realized that the
women had systematically covered up
potatoes in the rows as they dug them
l did not stop the children, but let them go
on every afternoon, with the result that
they each got about ten bushels OF potatoes
Another year will not employ the women
on the place to dig them, but will get hands
from outside for whom the temptation
will not be so great TO hide the potatoes for
their own children to find. like the
children TO CLEAN for their parents are
so careless and improvdent that very
few make a crop of potatoes, though they
have every opportunity 10 do so, ana
children always love potatoes, but when
IL comes to having the best ones covered
up for them | feel it is time to call halt
One year | superintendent the digging very
closely myself, and there was no chance
for covering zip. The crop turned out
finely and l was pleased. but after the
potatoes were banked in the BARNARD
they were stolen, so that have since left 1t
entirely TO Bonaparte.
Oct 3f.-The harvest OF my twenty-five
acre field at Casa Blanca began to-day
most beautiful weather and the hands
worked very well, cutting down Sc ven and a
half acres, so that hope We viii get II all
in the fats by Saturday.
Nov. 1.-Another brilliant day. and the
hands getting on merrily with the work.
II this were April rice we would tie up to-
day what was out yesterday. but the June
rice straw ia so green that one days sun
II not enough to dry it, and 10 the tying
will not begin until tomorrow.
Nov. 2.-Seven and half acres cut again
10 > CNlt NIth anu pun
in little cocks in the field. Though we have
only had the few hands living on the place.
the work Is getting on finely. The sky IL
somewhat overcast, but trust II does not
mean rain
Nov st began to rain late last even
ing, and poured all night. | could not
sleep for thinking Of my rice on the stubbe.
That which il stacked may not be much
hurt. but that lying united on the stubble
will be terribly injured. During all the
T,,f lar- #
! was eager TO get the field harvested, but
Marcus said it was not quite ripe enough.
and when rice is cut under ripe theRrain is
soft and mashes up in the pounding, making
a very poor quality Of rice 30 l was forced
to wait.
Nov. 4.-Reports from Casa Blanca are
terrible The gale OF east wind we have !
had forced in the sea water till it swept over
the banks and only the tops Of the stacks !
arc to be seen above the water and II is still 1
raining Marcus had to put boat in the |
fields and he padded down over all the |
banks to examine the condition of the rice |
in Marshheld
Nov. To-day / moved from the pine I
land to the plantation cherokee. There
has been no ice, but we have had three
heavy frosts and think the vegetation
sufficiently killed to make il safe.
Nov IO-A glorious day after all the /.
rain. | have lot written for some days |
because things are too depressing all |
cannot bear 10 write them down Sat |
urday paid out SIS, the amount il usually /
takes 10 put Marsh Field IN the barnyard; /
and it is still in the field, The turning and |
drying OF the nee have been very OK pensive
To-day went down and wns much relieved I
to see ii in such good condition Marcus
greeted me with that subtle iattery Of which
the darkies are masters. cheerful respect
full, hearty greeting and then Mics dc
Laud mus believe yer, ma am! | neber see
seoh ting, was shock wen | see de rice
fu it amt damage none tall, yes. ma am
de Laud must sho'ly love yer!." | expressed
my gratitude for the great mercy. for in
deed it looks wonderfully we'll One fiat,
the Sarah, was loaded to-day. She was to
have had eight acres put in. but when they
got seven on she began 10 leak and no more
could be put on / have ordered hands
down from Cherokee TO bring her up the
river by hand, for she is leaking too much
TO be left loaded until Saturday. when !
have ordered the tug 10 tow the others up.
Nov. i6.-Down at Casa Binnca again,
in the field all day the hands toting rice
to -7s,' my largest fat. She is expected to
carry nine acres. II Is lovely down on
the banks, and my glish friend, an artist,
who Is sketching the field with its pictur-
esque workers, IL enthusiastic over the
wonderful soft COlOra and the pnChnntin ]