The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-07-02
Agrulultural,
From the Edse6eld Advertiser.
THE DUTIES OF AN OYERSEER,
MouNrAIN GREEk. June 5th. 1856.


sary, and it not to try something that is
more profitable than overseeing, | have
concluded TO give my views to my Broth
er Overseas upon the duties Of an Over
seer, ghich they can take Tor what they
are worth.
1t is here supposed that that the Over
seer is not immed ,a,ey under his employ
ers eye, but is left for days Oh weeks, per-
haps months, to the exercise of his own
judgment in the management of the plan
ta,or, To him we woEll say bear in
mind, that You have engaged for a stated
sum of money, to devote your time and
energies for an entire year to one object,
to carry ont the orders Of your employer
Suict y aud cheerfuly, and to the best of
your ability, and in all things TO study his
Interests. This requires something more
than your mere presence upon the pl .nta-
ton, and that at such times as suits yonr
own pleasure and convenicncy. ON en-
,ering upom your duties inform Yourself
thoroughly Of the condition Of the planta.
ton, negroes, stock, implements, &c.
Learn the views of your employer As TO
! the general course Of management he
wishes pursued, and make up your mind
to carry opt those views fully as far as in
your power. fany objections occur to you,
state them distinctly that they may he
yielded to or overcome. Endeavor totake
the same interest in everything upon the
place rs if it were your own-indeed, the
responsibility is greater than if it were all
your own, having been entrusted to YOU
by another. Unless you feel thus, it is i'm
possible that You can do your employer
justice.
The health Of the negroes under your
charge Is an important matter. Much Of
the uSual sickness among them is the re
suit OF carelesSncss and missmanagemcnt.
Overworkcd, or Hadiy cooked food, and
night ramblcs are MI fruitful causes of dis.
ease. Well cooked food, including a
plenty Of vegetables, should be supplied to
them at regular hours that the sick be
cheercd and encouraged, and some extra
| comforts allowed them, and the GONZALES.
cent hot exposed that pregnent women
be particularly cared for and in great
measure exempted from labor, and GER
talnIy from exposure and undue eXcrtion
for some time before confinement; aud that
while nursing they be kept as near the
nursery as possible, but mt no time allow
ed to suckIc their children when overhead.
ed; that the iHlaRt be nur<el thrpe timos
during the day in addition to the morning
and evcmng,untiI eight months old, when
twice q day may suffice; that no whlskcy
be allowed upon The place ut any time or
under any circumstances; but that they
have whilst heated and at work plenty
good cool water; that care be taken 10
prevent the hands from carrying their bas-
kets full of cotton OH their heads--a mos,
injurious practice-and, in short, hv using
such means for their comtort as every ju.
dlcions humane man will readily think OF,
you will find the amount of sickness great
ly dimsaished.
Next TO the negroes tho stock on the
place will require your constant attention.
1t is II part OF the duty in which Oycrsccrs
are generally most careless. The horse
aud mule stock are first in Importance
unless these are kept in good order il is i'm.
possible that The work can 90 on smoothly
or your crop be propeIly tended. Pu,
your stables and lot in good order and
keep them under lock; and have them lit
tered and cleaned out at proper intervals;
to attend to sick or manned animals, to
see that the gears are always hung i:
the;C proper place, kept in good order, and
so on, 1t IS .L easy matter to keep hor-
ses or mules fat with full and open corn
crib and abundance of fodder, but that
Overseer shows his good management,
who can keep lis teams fat at the least
expense Of corn and fodder. Hogs are
generally sadly mismanaged. Too many
are kept and kept badly. One good
brooI sow for every five hands on a place
is amply uflicicnt--indeed, more pork
vii! be cured from these than from great
er number. The implements and tools
require a good deal OF looking after. BY
keeping a memorandum of the distribution
of any set o! !tools, they will be much more
likely to be forth coming 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 il
with steel punch. The strict enforce
ment Of one single rule will keep every
thing strait-"have place for everything
and see that everything is in its place."
OF the provision crops there is most
commonly enough made upon most plan.
tations for their own supply. Rarely how
/ ever is il saved without great and inexcu.
sable waste and fed out without still great
er. And this, to their lasting shame be it
said, is too often the case to disgraceful
extent when an Overseer feels satisfied
that he will not remain another year up
on the place. lis conduct should be the
very opposite Of this.
II is Indispensable thai you exercise
Judgment and consideration IN the mar-
agcment oftlc negroes under your charge.
BE firm and ut the same time gentle in
your control. Never display yourself be-
fore them in a passion; and even in nflict-
ing the severest punishment do SO in
mild cool mauner, and it will produce a
tenfold effect. When you find il necessary
to use the whip, (and desirable as it would
be to dispense with it entirely it is neces.
sary az tintesl annie - siovyly ooJ 4 III