The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-06-14
IN ADVANCE
N UNI B E R l8

The houses should be placed if possible
under the shades of the native forest: but
where that cannot be done, the china, or
mulberry, or some quick growlh,should be
Immediately transplanted, so as to cover the
building, in some degree, from the rays of
the summers sun. ] he buildings should
be placed about two feet above the ground,
50 that the air can pass freely under them,
and also bc we'll ventilated with doors and
windows. They should be sufficiently large
say about sixteen by twenty feet, and but
one family should be put in a house; there
Is nothing. more injurious to health or de-
moralizng in feeling, than crow ding them
together. They had much better sleep in
the open air than in crowded tight houses,
Each house or family should bu furnished
with suitable bedding and blankets, for while
proper outfit costs few dollars in the be-.
ginning, they save twice rs much in the end
they add greatly to the comfort and health
OF the slave, and enable him much better TO
perform the labor required.
Feeding Of SLares
In former years the writer tried many WAYS
and eXpcdents to economic in the proyi-
sion of slaves, by using more of the yeGeta-
bic and cheap articles of diet, and less of the
more costly and substantial. But time and
experience have fully proven the error of n
stlntcd policy; and for many years the fol-
lowing uniform mode has been adopted, with
much success and satisfaction, both to the
owner and 20 the slave
The allowance now given per week to
each hand-men, women, bows, and girls.
that are old enough to go in the field to work
is five pounds of good clear bacon, and
one quart cf molasses, with as much good
bread as they require; and in the fall or
sichly season Of the year, or on sckly pa-
ces, the addition Of one pint of strong coffee,
sweetcncd with sugar, every morning before
going to work. These proyisionsar are given
out on some designated night "f each week.
and for families it is put together but to
single hands il is given to each separately,
and they then unite in squads or messes :,
and have their meat cooked for them, by
woman who is detailed for that purpose, or
keep it to thens 'lVes,Qs thcyp!ease. Their
bread is baked daily in loayes, by II woman
who is kept Tor that duty. Each house or
family should have a garden attached for
raising their own v getlbles.
This mode of allowancIng relieves the
owner from much trouble in daily supervis-.
ing their provision, and is much more sat-
lsflctory to the slave. Under this system of
treatment word of complaint in relation to
their living is seldom heard Some planters,
however, differ on this subject, and prefer
the plan of cooking and eating a, one eoGl-
mon table; and it is possible, with small
number of hands, and where the owner is
willing to devote n good deal Of attention
to that matter, that he may save a small a.
mount. But it will not be rs satisfactory,
and he will probably not gain enongh to
! pay for the trouble. Childre of course,
must be Ici and attended to as their wants,
require; they are not likely TO be neglected.
| ms they pay good interest upon the amount
Of care and expense bestowed upon them.
NgrO CiotLing.
The proper and useful quantity ofclol os
for plantation hands, is two suits of cotton
for spring and summer, and two suits of
wooden for winter; four pairs of shoes and
three hats, which, with such articles of dress
as the negro merits, and the owner chooses
to give, make up the years allowance
Ncatncss in dress is important to the health
comfort and pride of negro, all of which
should be encouraged by the owner. They
should be induced TO think wello them
selves; and the more pride and sef.respect
| you can instil into them, the better they
will behave, and the more servicablc they
| will be; so they should always be aided and
encouraged in dressing, and their o@u PEI
culiar fancies INDUCED to a reasonable ex-
tent.
Hours 9f Work.
In the winter time, and in the slckly sea-
son of the year, all hands should take break
fast before leaving their houses. This they
can do and get to work by suarise, and stop
no more until IL o'clock; then rest one hour
for dinner, then WORK until night. In the
spring and summer they should go to work
at light, and stop at O'Clock for breakfast
then work until IL o'clock and stop two
hours for dinner, and work from ? o'clock
till night. All hands stop on Saturday at
IL o'clock, and take the afternoon forclenn-
ing up their houses and clothes, SO as TO
make neat appearance on Sunday morn
ing.
Task Work
The usual custom Of planters, Is TO work
without tasks during the cultivation oftheir
crop, but IN gathering cotton, tasks are COM
mon, and experience has proven that when.
lever work is of that kind or charscter, thls
is much better 10 do so. If the oyerseer
has Judgement. he will get more work, and
the negro viii be better satisfied; he win
gepsraIly make an effort, and eaiu tine to
devote to his own jobs or pleasure
Nsgro Crops.
I was at ono period, much The suston Of