TOBACCO CULTURE.
province upon the express condition that he would introduce a specified number of colonists. Rcdemptioners were invited in at all times,
and the laws, at least, protected them scrupulously, and made ample
provision for them, after they had served out their time. Some of the
best people in Maryland are descended from these indentured servants,
who frequently acquired position and fortune. Alsop, whose pamphlet has
been so much quoted in these pages, was himself a redemptioner; and
Hammond, the author of Leah and Rachel, seems to have been one likewise. Tobacco culture made labor so valuable, that many persons were
crimped in London and Dublin and sent over to be sold in the colony.
The landlords at first were granted land in proportion to the number of their
servants, and a lord of a manor was required to have a certain following. A
man who could rent 2,000 acres for 400 pounds of wheat, or 1,000 acres
for twenty shillings, payable in the commodities of the country, and who
was entitled to take up one hundred acres per capita of his servants,
might be trusted to import servants as extensively as his means would allow.
These servants could themselves become proprietors or tenants at the expiration of the term for which they had been sold, and nearly all of them
did so.
It was a new country, and full of invitations to people of every class who-
sought to better themselves. Land and living were very cheap, while labor-
was very high, comparatively. In Eddis' time, land could be taken up for a
cost of about sixty-five cents per acre. It was much cheaper in earlier times.
One hand could till with ease 6,000 hills of tobacco and five acres of corn, and
many driving planters got double this much work from their slaves. One
pound of tobacco would buy three pounds of beef; two pounds would buy a
fat pullet; a hogshead would purchase all the luxuries a family needed in
the course of a year, and the net and gun supplied every deficiency.1
Under all the various impulses adverted to, the colony grew rapidly in
population, importance and riches. The Indians receded before the buckskins, and their hunting grounds were turned into tobacco fields. The bay
teemed with craft, large and small.    Roads were made, manufacturing began,
1 In the Maryland Gazette of August 20,1754.
we have the following:
"Memorandum for a Seine-Hauling in Severn
River, near a delightful Spring at the foot of
Constitution Hill:
" Six bottles of wine, right old, good and clear—
A dozen, at least, of English strong beer;
Six quarts of good rum, to make punch and
grogg—
(The latter a drink that's now much in vogue);
Some cyder, if sweet, would not be amiss—
Of butter six pounds, we can't do with less;
A tea-kettle, tea, and all the tea-geer—
To treat the ladies; and also small beer;
Sugar, lemons, a strainer, likewise a spoon-
Two China bowls to drink out of at noon;
A large piece of cheese, a table-cloth too—
A sauce-pan, two desses, and a cork-screw;
Some plates, knives and forks, fish kettle, or
And pipes and tobacco must not be forgot;
A frying pan, bacon or lard for to fry—
A tumbler and glass to use when we're dry;
A hatchet, some matches, a steel and a flint-
Some touch-wood, or box with good tinder
in 't;
Some vinegar, salt, some parsley and bread—
Or else loaves of pone to eat in its stead;
And for fear of bad luck at catching of fish-
Suppose we should carry—a ready dress'd
dish."
Transcript TOBACCO CULTURE. 13 province upon the express condition that he would introduce a specified number of colonists. Rcdemptioners were invited in at all times, and the laws, at least, protected them scrupulously, and made ample provision for them, after they had served out their time. Some of the best people in Maryland are descended from these indentured servants, who frequently acquired position and fortune. Alsop, whose pamphlet has been so much quoted in these pages, was himself a redemptioner; and Hammond, the author of Leah and Rachel, seems to have been one likewise. Tobacco culture made labor so valuable, that many persons were crimped in London and Dublin and sent over to be sold in the colony. The landlords at first were granted land in proportion to the number of their servants, and a lord of a manor was required to have a certain following. A man who could rent 2,000 acres for 400 pounds of wheat, or 1,000 acres for twenty shillings, payable in the commodities of the country, and who was entitled to take up one hundred acres per capita of his servants, might be trusted to import servants as extensively as his means would allow. These servants could themselves become proprietors or tenants at the expiration of the term for which they had been sold, and nearly all of them did so. It was a new country, and full of invitations to people of every class who- sought to better themselves. Land and living were very cheap, while labor- was very high, comparatively. In Eddis' time, land could be taken up for a cost of about sixty-five cents per acre. It was much cheaper in earlier times. One hand could till with ease 6,000 hills of tobacco and five acres of corn, and many driving planters got double this much work from their slaves. One pound of tobacco would buy three pounds of beef; two pounds would buy a fat pullet; a hogshead would purchase all the luxuries a family needed in the course of a year, and the net and gun supplied every deficiency.1 Under all the various impulses adverted to, the colony grew rapidly in population, importance and riches. The Indians receded before the buckskins, and their hunting grounds were turned into tobacco fields. The bay teemed with craft, large and small. Roads were made, manufacturing began, 1 In the Maryland Gazette of August 20,1754. we have the following: "Memorandum for a Seine-Hauling in Severn River, near a delightful Spring at the foot of Constitution Hill: " Six bottles of wine, right old, good and clear— A dozen, at least, of English strong beer; Six quarts of good rum, to make punch and grogg— (The latter a drink that's now much in vogue); Some cyder, if sweet, would not be amiss— Of butter six pounds, we can't do with less; A tea-kettle, tea, and all the tea-geer— To treat the ladies; and also small beer; Sugar, lemons, a strainer, likewise a spoon- Two China bowls to drink out of at noon; A large piece of cheese, a table-cloth too— A sauce-pan, two desses, and a cork-screw; Some plates, knives and forks, fish kettle, or pot— And pipes and tobacco must not be forgot; A frying pan, bacon or lard for to fry— A tumbler and glass to use when we're dry; A hatchet, some matches, a steel and a flint- Some touch-wood, or box with good tinder in 't; Some vinegar, salt, some parsley and bread— Or else loaves of pone to eat in its stead; And for fear of bad luck at catching of fish- Suppose we should carry—a ready dress'd dish."