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CHAPTER XV

LABORS ON SUGAR PLANTATIONS — THE MODE OF PLANTING CANE — OF HOEING CANE — CANE RICKS — CUTTING CANE — DESCRIPTION OF THE KANE KNIFE — WINROWING — PREPARING FOR SUCCEEDING CROPS — DESCRIPTION OF HAWKIN'S SUGAR MILL ON BAYOUR BOEUF — THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS — THE CARNICAL SEASON OF THE CHILDREN OF BONDAGE — THE CHRISMAS SUPPER — RED, THE FAVORITE COLOR — THE VIOLIN, AND THE CONSOLATION IT AFFORDED — THE CHRISTMAS DANCE — LIVELY, THE COQUETTE — SAM ROBERTS, AND HIS RIVALS — SLAVE SONGS — SOUTHERN LIFE AT IT IS — YHREE DAYS IN THE YEAR — THE SYTEM OF MARRIAGE — UNCLE ABRAM'S CONTEMPT OF MATRIMONY.

IN consequence of my inability in cotton-picking, Epps was in the habit of hiring out on sugar plantations during the season of cane-cutting and sugar making. He received my services a dollar a day, with the money supplying my place on his cotton plantation. Cutting cane was an employment that suited me, and for three successive years I held the lead row at Hawkins', leading a gang of from fifty to an hundred hands.

In a previous chapter the mode of cultivating cotton is described. This may be the proper place to speak of the manner of cultivating cane.

The ground is prepared in beds, the same as it is prepared for the reception of the cotton seed, except