The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-11-19
COLUMBIA
Tuesday Morning, Nov. 10. ls67.
'1nmigrants ana their settlenasnt

AJhchourS paper says that the
great problem with the farmers of
Virginia-and the same is, to q
greater or less extent, that which
many of the other Southern States.
viii have to solve-is how to improve
eheir large estates, at the same time
drawing an income from them. It
takes the ground that if landowners
rent their lands to such tenants as
they usually fnd willing to rent. the
damage to their estates, from careless
.and unskinfnl cultivation generally
exceeds the rent. If they attempt to
cultivate all their lands thsmselves,
even If they could get abundance of
aaSor, they cannot get the capital to
carry on 80 large a business pro-
aerly.
The advocates Of large farms state
'~s3correotly, that English experience
demonstrates that large farms are
more profitable than small ones, but
forget that, according to the same
experience, large capital is necessary
to carry on a large farm. The
average cost per acre of these large
farms in England is twenty-five dol
lars in gold, for labor, machinery,
So., exclusive of rent. Now, it is
evident, at q glance, that this sort of
farming is impracticable here, and
must be SO for years to come, for
want of capital; no matter how
abundant the labor might be. Nor
can this capital be procured in suffi.
cient amount by selling part of the
farms or plantations; for if this sys-
tenn should be generally adopted, SO
much land would. be thrown on the
market as to bring prices down to
ruinous figures.
Our Virginia cotemporary assumes
that sufficient number of small,
tenants would be able to carry on
farming on their own account, with
out assistance; most of those immi-
grants, to carry on business for them
selves, will become tempted, by the
low price Of land in other sections,
and will, as experience has shcwn,
buy a homestead for themselves.
The paper referred to, recommends
Che cotter system of Great Britain, as
a plan. which will, besides the great
object in view-the cultivation of the
soil--enable the land owners to derive
a reasonable income from their large
estates. This system has the follow
ing asits principal features:
1.-The cotter system takes its name
from its distinguishing feature, the
settlement of the farm laborers in
cottages, each family living in their
own cottages, and supporting them
selves by the cultivation of g. little
ground attached to the cottage, and
by laboring on the estate on which
they live, or for the neighboring
farmers, as we'll as by service as do
mestics when occasion offers. In
England and Scotland they now pay
rent for their little cabin and patch
q of ground, to which there is usually
annexed the common right to fuel
and the privilege of grazing COW or
two on the common pasture of the
estate, though in former times it was
most common for them to pay only
nominal rent. The advantages of this
system are many and great. In
moral point of view, the home in
fiuences are of inestimaole value to
the laboring class, when they live
thus Independently in families, and
the family ties keeping the laborers
in one locality, the neighboring
farmers have sure supply of skilled
labor when they want it.
The labor system and its proper
reorganization for the South, is the
great problem to be solved; and,
therefore, we present from time to
time, such suggestions as we deem
worthy of the consideration of our
planters and farmers. The great OBJ
ject to be attained, affects them di-
rectly, and indirectly every other
business interest of our section.
THE UNITED STATES SENATE. The