Shreveport semi-weekly news. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1865-18??, 1865-09-02
Southern Planting.

/ that We can secure from those in
authority the necessary degree OF
attention. Such rules and regula.
tons must be established rs will jus
tify the planters in making crop
otherwise nothing will be made. 70.
we will venture the statement that
no prudent planter will hazard more
than small patch of cotton. which
can be cultivated bv two or three
hands. until there is some authority
given to compel laborers to work and
to fulfill their contracts. Those III
authority should understand that the
cultivation of sugar. cotton. aud 9TH
or Southern crops, demands the SER
vice Of the whole plantation force for
the year. Preparation must first be
made to plant, which requires the
whole force. then the crop must be
planted, then cultivated, then gath
cred and sent to market. which brings
us to the end OF the year, ii there has
been anything like Il full crop. In
every one of these processes the
whole plantation force is required !;
or otherwise there will be loss of
a part or the whole Of the crop. As
this subject is of immense import
ance, and but little understood, ex-
cept by experienced. practical South
ern men, we will explain more fully.
A planter employs twenty-five
hands. and plants full crop Of cotton;
as soon as the planting is through
with, his whole force will be required
to work over the corn, and this will
have to be done very rapidly, or 9TH
erwise he will find himself behind
with his cotton, which must be
plowed. scraped out. and thinned
with the hoe. Just "a quick as it can
be done. He will have not "A mo
ment TO spare, nor a single hand 10
spare, until the whole crop, corn and
cotton, is laid by.
When this has been done there is
a breathing spell of a few days; but
very soon the fodder must be pulled.
then comes the fall work. til. money
part OF the business. viz. picking the
cotton and getting it to market; her"
everybody about the plantation must
give a helping hand, and work as il
hey We're lighting fire, and there (
must be no cessation until the crop
S gathered. (
Every body knows that the first
picking of cotton is the best; and all
likewise know that there is great
waste of cotton in the field. hence
he necessity of having il gathered
Is soon rs possible.
Now let us suppose that the tw"m-
y-tive hands engaged at the begin
lin. of the year work on faithfully
mill it comes to the picking season.
When, knowing the Importance OF
heir service, they go to the planter
nd tell him that he must double their
ages or they will quit: now the
DOR planter, in the absence of proper
Avs to fore. the continued service OF
ne hands at contract price, will have
, accede to the demand Of the hands.
r lose the work Of the whole year.
his is all very plain. Now wh.. is
lie duty Of those in authorityl
If they think that the production OF ,
ne great staple is matter OF impor- ;
.nce, they must establish such mi : {
5 experience has found necessary 10 +
ompel tn. hands, not only to labor, :
ut to comply faithfully with their .
ontracts 1t seems that in the lower
art of the State, where the free labor :.
rstem on the plantations has been q
/ operation for three years, they
ave not yet found out any subs,i- j,
l,e for the old syst I'm of compulsion. :,
here is, as far as we have learned =
universal complaint among the ;,
anters on the subject. All agree :.
lat the freedmen will not work, or
least perform but little labor com =
ared to what was customary under ;.
e old system, and many, very !
any speak of leaving the country :,
, engaging in some other business =
lless there is a very early change y
L the better. We have been told
Y several planters from the lower 9
,rt OF the State, prudent men not at :,
| piySm TO sensation that thry can