Дванадцять років рабства

           Cornisgrowninthatregionforthepurposeoffatteninghogsandfeedingslaves;verylittle,ifany,beingsenttomarket. Itisthewhitevariety,theearofgreatsize,andthestalkgrowingtotheheightofeight,andoftentimestenfeet. InAugusttheleavesarestrippedoff,driedinthesun,boundinsmallbundles,andstoredawayasprovenderforthemulesandoxen. Afterthistheslavesgothroughthefield,turningdowntheear,forthepurposeofkeepingtherainsfrompenetratingtothegrain. Itisleftinthisconditionuntilaftercotton-pickingisover,whetherearlierorlater. Thentheearsareseparatedfromthestalks,anddepositedinthecorncribwiththehuskson;otherwise,strippedofthehusks,theweevilwoulddestroyit. Thestalksareleftstandinginthefield. 

           TheCarolina,orsweetpotato,isalsogrowninthatregiontosomeextent. Theyarenotfed,however,tohogsorcattle,andareconsideredbutofsmallimportance. Theyarepreservedbyplacingthemuponthesurfaceoftheground,withaslightcoveringofearthorcornstalks. ThereisnotacellaronBayouBœuf. Thegroundissolowitwouldfillwithwater. Potatoesareworthfromtwotothree"bits,"orshillingsabarrel;corn,exceptwhenthereisanunusualscarcity,canbepurchasedatthesamerate. 

           Assoonasthecottonandcorncropsaresecured,thestalksarepulledup,thrownintopilesandburned. Theploughsarestartedatthesametime,throwingupthebedsagain,preparatorytoanotherplanting.