Question
Letter Three: June 1741, Letter to her father, in Antigua on military duty (Age 19)
Honorable Sir,
…The cotton, corn, and most of the Ginger planted here was cut off by a frost. I wrote you in [a] former letter we had a fine crop of Indigo Seed upon the ground, and since informed you the frost took it before it was dry. I picked out the best of it and had it planted, but there is not more than a hundred bushels of it come up…. I make no doubt Indigo will prove a very valuable commodity in time if we could have the seed from the west Indies [in] time enough to plant the latter end of March, that the seed might be dry enough to gather before our frost. I am sorry we lost this season. We can do nothing towards it now but make the works ready for next year….
My dear Papa,
Your most obedient and ever devoted daughter
Memorandum: October 14, 1741 (Age 19)
Wrote to my father informing him we made 20 w[eight] of Indigo and expected 10 more. ’Tis not quite dry or I should have sent him some. Now desire he will send us a hundred weight of seed to plant in the spring.
Based on the letter and memorandum, how do we know Eliza Lucas was successful in indigo cultivation?
Honorable Sir,
…The cotton, corn, and most of the Ginger planted here was cut off by a frost. I wrote you in [a] former letter we had a fine crop of Indigo Seed upon the ground, and since informed you the frost took it before it was dry. I picked out the best of it and had it planted, but there is not more than a hundred bushels of it come up…. I make no doubt Indigo will prove a very valuable commodity in time if we could have the seed from the west Indies [in] time enough to plant the latter end of March, that the seed might be dry enough to gather before our frost. I am sorry we lost this season. We can do nothing towards it now but make the works ready for next year….
My dear Papa,
Your most obedient and ever devoted daughter
Memorandum: October 14, 1741 (Age 19)
Wrote to my father informing him we made 20 w[eight] of Indigo and expected 10 more. ’Tis not quite dry or I should have sent him some. Now desire he will send us a hundred weight of seed to plant in the spring.
Based on the letter and memorandum, how do we know Eliza Lucas was successful in indigo cultivation?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Eliza Lucas's success in indigo cultivation can be inferred from several key points in her letter and memorandum:
1. **Initial Challenges**: In her letter dated June 1741, she discusses the setbacks caused by frost affecting previous crops, indicating that she faced significant challenges. Despite these difficulties, her determination to continue growing indigo is evident.
2. **Indigo Seed Crop**: She mentions planting the best of the indigo seed, implying that she was actively working on developing this crop and had some confidence in its potential. The remark that "not more than a hundred bushels of it come up" suggests that despite the loss, there was still a yield to work with.
3. **Harvest Progress**: In the memorandum from October 14, 1741, Eliza reports that they produced "20 w[eight] of Indigo" and anticipated another "10 more." This indicates that she successfully harvested indigo, further demonstrating progress and achievement in her endeavor.
4. **Future Intentions**: Eliza's request for her father to send "a hundred weight of seed to plant in the spring" signifies her belief in the viability and importance of indigo cultivation. Her proactive approach to plan for the next planting season reflects her commitment to making indigo a successful crop.
Overall, Eliza Lucas's successful cultivation of indigo is evidenced by her ability to adapt to challenges, achieve a notable harvest, and express strong intentions for future growth and planting.
1. **Initial Challenges**: In her letter dated June 1741, she discusses the setbacks caused by frost affecting previous crops, indicating that she faced significant challenges. Despite these difficulties, her determination to continue growing indigo is evident.
2. **Indigo Seed Crop**: She mentions planting the best of the indigo seed, implying that she was actively working on developing this crop and had some confidence in its potential. The remark that "not more than a hundred bushels of it come up" suggests that despite the loss, there was still a yield to work with.
3. **Harvest Progress**: In the memorandum from October 14, 1741, Eliza reports that they produced "20 w[eight] of Indigo" and anticipated another "10 more." This indicates that she successfully harvested indigo, further demonstrating progress and achievement in her endeavor.
4. **Future Intentions**: Eliza's request for her father to send "a hundred weight of seed to plant in the spring" signifies her belief in the viability and importance of indigo cultivation. Her proactive approach to plan for the next planting season reflects her commitment to making indigo a successful crop.
Overall, Eliza Lucas's successful cultivation of indigo is evidenced by her ability to adapt to challenges, achieve a notable harvest, and express strong intentions for future growth and planting.