The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-07-10
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From tie Eigcfeld Advcrtiser.
THE DUTIES OF AN OyERsEER


time, and as anticipate quitting tho pro-
fession for the purpose Of going to Kansas
to fight the Internal ALolitionists if neces-
sary, and if not, to try something that is
more profitable than overseeing, I have
concluded to give my views to my brother
oversecrs upon the duties of all ovcrsecr,
which they can take for what they are
worth.
1t is here supposed that the oversecr is
not Immediately under his employers eye,
but is left for days Or weeks, perhaps months,
to the exercise of his own judgment in the
management Of the plantation. To him
VIC would say bear in mind, that you have
engaged for a stated sum of money, to de-
vote your time and energies for all entire
year to one object, to carry out the orders
of your employer strictly and checrfuIy,
and t" the best Of your ability, and in all
things to study his interests. This requires
something more than your mere presence
upon the plantation, and that ut such times
rs suits your own pleasure and convcnicney.
On entering upon your duties, inform your
self thoroughly of the condition of tue
plantation, negroes, stock, implements, &C.
Learn the views Of your employer lis to TIC
general course of management he wishes
pursued, and make up your mind to carry
out those views fully as far rs is in your pow
er. Ii any objections occur to you, state
them distinctly that they may &c yielded to
or overcome. Endeavor to take the same
interest in everything upon the place as if
1t were your own-inlce the responsible
ty is greater than If it were all your own,
having been entrusted to ..ou by another.
Uniess YOU feel thus, it is impossible that
you can do your employer justice.
The health OF the negroes under Your
charge is All important matter Much Of
the usual sickness among them is the result
OF carelessness aud mismanagement Over
worked or badly cooked food, and night
rambles are all fruitful causes Of disease.
Well cooked food, including plenty of
vegetables, should be supplied to them at
regular hours; that the sick Le cheercd and
encouraged. and some extra comforts al
lowed them, and the convalcscent not ex-
posed that pregnant women be particularly
cared for, and in great measure exempted
from labor, and certainly from exposure and
undue cxertion for some time before con-
tinemcnt; and that while nursing they Le
kept as near the nursery us possible, but at
no time allowed to sllckle their children
when over-hcatcd ; that the infant be nurs-
ed three times during the day in addition
to the morning and evening, until eight
months old, when twice day may suffice !;
that no whisky be allowed upon the place
at any time, or under any circumstances;
but that they have whilst heated and at
work plenty good, cool water; that care be
taken to prevent the hands from carrying
their baskets full Of cotton OH their heads
most injurious practice-and, in short,
by using such means for their comfort us
every judicious, humane man will readily
think of, you will find the amount Of sick.
ness greatly diminished.
Next to the negroes, the stock on the
place will require your constant attention.
1t is part of the duty in which over.
seers are generally most careless. The
horse and mule stock are first in Importance
unless these arc kept in good order it is
impossible that the work can go on smooth
ly, or your crop be properly tended. Put
your stables and lot in good order, and
keep them under lock; and have them lit
tered ard cleaned out at proper intervals !;
to attend to sick or manned animals, to see
that the gears are always hung in their
proper place, kept in good order, and 30 on.
1t is an easy matter to keep horses or mules
fat with full and open corncrib and abun-
dance Of fodder, but that overscer shows
his good management, who can keep his
teams fat at the least expense Of corn and
fodder. Hogs are generally sadly misman-
aged. Too many are kept and kept badly.
One good brood SOW for every five hands
on place, is amply ufficient-indeed,
more pork will be cured from these than
from greater number. The implements
and tools require good deal of looking
after. BY keeping memorandum OF the
distribution Of any set Of tools, they will
be much more likely to be forthcoming at
the end of each month. Axes, hoes, and
other small tools, Of which every hand has
his own, should have his number marked
upon it with steel punch. The strict en-
forcement Of one single rule will Keep every
thing straight-"have place for every
thing, and see that everything is in it's
place."
+ Of the provision crops there is most conf
monty enough made upon most plantations