The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1867-07-18
AGRICULTURAL.
TIE FARMING SYSTEM.

" T. llGf 1Ol te iOlio eltdO uNt'oSueSNs
the division Of our immense Louisiana
plantations into separate fields, where
different crops might be raised, and
our planters left no longer dependent
upon the uncertain yield Of variable
market value of either of our great
staples. The experiment VIC advoca-
ted, we understand, has been tried
successfully on few plantations in
this State and Texas. AS i marked
feature Of its efficacy, the owners of
these places found no trouble in Sc
curing permanent labor, whilst their
neighbors were suffering from broken
contracts, difficulties among their en-
ployes, and inattention to their in
terests. The industrious and care
full laborcrs on a large plantation are
subjected to h thousand disheart-
ming influences. Granting they have
al interest in the crop, they see a
round them in the prolniscuous mul-
titude, many Of their fellow laborers
incapable, or unable to do the same
amount of work us themselves. They
are brought constantly at every point
into direct collision with these men,
are fretted by these listlcssness and
indifference with Which they plant,
plow or hoe the common crop. Care
lessness Of one single individual in
leaving gatesopen, f,uccs down, or let
ting mules or horses loose i'll the crop,
may destroy i'll one night the hope Of
the year. We have seen OH the best
managed plantations, under the old
regime, instances of this want of care,
but the negro then only felt as an
injury to his master, not himself
His wants were provided for, went
the crops well or i'll, and it was there
fore a matter of no vital Importance
if the hopes of the year should be
blasted.
Now his new responsibilities weigh
heavily upon him. He becomes dis
heartened when accidents occur from
the carlcssness that he has no power
to guard against. In more than one
instance VIC have seen frst-class la
borers retire from the fertile soil and
half-madc crop of a large plantation
to some barren sand hill in the pine
woods. But where, "sir,'' he says,
eve can tend properly to our own
business. What [ plants | watches
and raises and looks after, and no
lazy, trifing niger comes in for shares
of my work. l keeps to myself. I
raises my poultry, l raises my hogs,
and they amt stole afore my very
eyes
There is not a really intelligent,
industrious negro on any plantation
in Louisiana who will not tell you
"Build me a cabin on any ten, twenty,
thirty, or moro acres of your planta-
tions. Fence it in and give me the
control of this piece of land to work
as I please, and in what 1 please. l
will pay you more at the end Of the
year in money or produce, than under
your present system Of labor would
have been practicable. Your proper
ty by being thoroughly cultivated,
and its soil tested by variety Of
crops, will become far more valuable
to you, as we'll as my labor more re-
munerative to me. 1 will no longer
be atthe mercy of unequal help and
individual carelessness. You will be
betterable ojudge. of the capabilities
Of those to whom you intrust your
interest. The lazy, shirking laborer
will object to a system that will ex-
pose his own inefficiency; but that is
precisely the class for which you have
no use. If at the end of the year the
result Of my labor docs not satisfy
you, you will find hundreds ready to
step into my place. Men who would
mot be willing to sink their labor in a
general crop. Give us schoolroom
for our children, church where we
can worship God according to our
own views, and you will establish on
your place a cheerful, industrious and
attached tenantry. We have ceased
to be your slaves, but with these adj
wantages common interest will be-
come the strongest bond ofunion. ;"
Even granting that the madness Of
fanatic spirit arouses an unconquera-
bic antagonism between the races, the
only way by which we can combat the
evil spirit will be by substituting for
the labor Of the negro the labor Of
white immigrants. In that case the
division into separate farms becomes
an imperativc necessity. Common
! IL. -