Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-08-03
Farmers Department.
NEGRO Houses,


cation for his buildings. This should always
be done with great care AMI with an espe-
cial view to health. Good water is indispen-
sable, and should be obtained at almost any
cost, as without it, there can be no perma-
nent health. 1t should be obtained from wells
or springs, if possible bot if that cannot be
done, then proper cisterns should be construc-
ted, and placed to receive the rain water
from the buildings, by which means con.
slant supply of healthy water may be kept
OH hand.
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 growth should be
Immediately trausplanted, SO as to cover the
buildings in some degree, from the rays OF
the summers sun. The buildings should be
placed about two feet above the ground, so
that the air can pass freel ly under them, and
also be well ventilated with doors and win
dows. They should be sufficiently large, say
about sixteen by twenty feet, aud but one
family should be put in house there is
nothing more injurious to health or demoral-
izng in feeling, than crowdng them together.
They had much better sleep in the open air
than in crowded tight houses. Each house
or family should be furnished with suitable
bedding and blankets, for while a proper
outfit costs few dollars in the beginning,
they save twice much in the end they
add greatly to the comfort and health Of the
slave, and enable him much better to per-
form the labor required.
FEEDING OF SLAVES.
In former years the writer tried many
ways and expedients to economic in The
provisions of slaves, by using more of the
vegetable and cheap articles of diet, and
less of the more costly and substantial. But
time and experience have fully proved the
error of stinted policy ; and for many years
the following uniform mode has been adop.
ted, with much success and satisfaction, both
to owner and to the slaves.
The allowance now given per week to
each hand, men, women, boys, and girls
that are old enough to go into the field to
works five pounds of good clean bacon,
and one quart of molasses, with as much
good bread as they require; and in the fall
or sickly season Of the year, or on sicky
places, the addition of one pint Of strong
coffee, sweetened with sugar, every morning
before going to work. These provisions are
given out on some designated night of each
week; and for families it is put together;
but to single hands it is given to each sepe-
rately, and they then unite in squads or mes
ses, and have their meat cooked for them
by woman who is detailed for that pur-
pose, or keep it to themselves, as they please.
Their bread is baked daily in loaves, by a
woman who is kept for that duty. Each
house or family should have a garden attach
ed for raising their own vegetables.
The mode of alowaucing relieves the
owner from much trouble in daily supervis-
ing their provisions, and is much more
satisfactory to the slave. Under this system
of treatment word Of complaint in relation
to their living is seldom heard. Some plan
tiers, however, differ on this subject, and
prefer the plan Of cooking and eating at one
common table; and it is possible, with a
small number of hands, and where the owner
is willing to devote good deal Of attention
to that matter, that he may save small
amount. But i, will not be as satisfactory,
and he will probably not gain enough to pay
for the trouble Children, of course, must
be fed and attended to as their wants require
they are not likely to be neglected, as they
pay good interest upon the amount of care
and expense bestowed upon them.
NEGRO CLOTHING.
The proper and usual quantity Of clothes
for plantation hands, is two suits of cotton
for spring and summer, and two suits of
woolen for winter four pair 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
Neatness in dress is important to the health
comfort and pride of negro which should
be encouraged by the owner. They should
be induced to think well of themselves; and
the more pride aud self respect you can
iustl into them the better they will behave,
and the more serviceable they will be; so
they should always be aided and encouraged
in dressing, and their own peculiar fancies
INDUCED to reasonable extent.
HOURS OF WORK.
In the winter time, and in the sickly sea-
son Of the year, all hands should take break
fast before leaving their houses. This they
can do and get 10 work by sunrise, and stop
no more until twelve o'clock; then rest one
hour for dinner, then work until night In
the spring and summer they should 60 to
work at light, and stop at 8 o'clock for
breakfast, then work until II o'clock, and
stop two hours for dinner, and work from
two o'clock till night. All hands stop on
Saturday at twelve o'clock, and take the
afternoon for cleaning up their houses and
clothes, so as to make neat appearance
on Sunday morning.
TASK WORK.
The usual custom of planters, is to work
without tasks during the cultivation of their
crop; but in gathering cotton, tasks are
common and experience has proven that
whenever work is of that kind or character
that it is much better to do so. If the
overseer has judgment, he will get more
work, and the negro will be better satisfied
he will generally make an effort, and gain
time to devote to his own jobs or pleasures
NEGRO CROPS.
1t was at one period, much the custom oi
planters to give to each hand small piece
of land, to cultivate on their own account, if
they choose to do so; but this system has
not been found to result we'll. 1t gives an
excuse for trading, and encourages traffic
on their own account. and presents temp.