We merely raise them for home consumption in case of a disaster to our cotton crops.

The cotton crop is subjected to very many vicissitudes, and we want to have all our supplies at home, so that in case of a failure of the cotton crop we have our living made at least.
Q.Are the planters and those who labor upon the plantations substantially independent of the small farmers surrounding them, or do they constitute consumers for the smaller farmers in the interior?
-- A.

We have our own gardens, and generally raise our own supplies, but every planter interests himself to find a market for all the products of his laborers.

For instance, we encourage them to raise poultry to a great extent.

If they have a surplus of potatoes, or eggs, or chickens, we will buy it and create a market for it, and ship the articles off in order that if they have any surplus they may realize on it.