Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1867-08-24
. New Phase of Southern Life.
A PLANTATION TILED BY WHITE LABOR.

a PLANTATION TILED BY WHITE LABOR.
The editor of the Columbus Miss
Sentinel describes in glowing colors
visit recently made by him TO planta-
ton in his neighborhood, cultivated en-
trely by white labor. He says:
1.-The number of acres cleared is about
900, acres under cultivation coo. There
are 81 able hands and or 8 youngsters;
they cultivate 90 acres TO the hand; have
10 mules and yoke of oxen, together
with large number of cattle and hogs.
There are 81 men, women and children
on the place 10 be fed, 10 whom provs-
ions are supplied at cost price. These
81 have, up TO The present time. consum-
ed 800 bushels of corn, 1900 pounds
Of bacon and 600 pounds of pork. They
have had advances of S535 for dry goods
and groceries; and, 10 the surprise OF the
editor there has no! been a gallon OF
whshey on the place during the year.
Great attention is paid 10 the stock. not
one head Of which has been lost since the
beginning Of the season. The quarters
are not as good as they might be, having
been occupied last year by negro laborers.
But the dust and the filth have been re-
moved, and the wel-swept yards and
cleanly floors and fronts proclaim the
presence OF white inmates.
The cotton on this model plantation
stands three feet clear, well limbed, and
apparently full Of 'sqares,' and seems new
er 10 have suffered from wan, of work. If
August be a dry month, one thousand two
hundred pounds will be gathered to the
acre. The corn is equal 10 any ever
grown in the Green River county, Ken
lucky, two large ears to the stalk, the
stalk drilled closely in four-fooi ,and
almost impenetrable as canebrake. The
season so far has been entirely favorable.
and the crop having been properly and as
siduousl y worked as the work was need
ed, ii is in the best condition.
The proPrie,ors of this green sposin
tho southern desert had promised their
working people barbecue and a dance
as soon as the crops should be laid; and
it was in honor of this occasion that the
editor Of the Sentinel made his journey.
The msnor-house was the locale of the
festive scene, and when our c0nfrere srri-
we'd he found large gathering from 'Cy-
press 'Noxubee,' Dancing Rabbi and
other euphonious settlements adjacent.
All the hard fstel, open hearted sterling
yeomanry of Oknbbeka county that took
an interest in their white brethren were
there. With them docked wives and
children.
"Afler speech, the dinner was sat
down to at long table, stretched beneath
an outrageous grove in front of the house
and loaded with meats, vegetables and
pastry, the first barbecued in approved
style. The editor must speak for HIM
self:
The distinctive feature Of the dinner
was the chicken pie and barbacued pigs.
In our section of country pigs and chick
ems are great rarity, owing 10 the dead.
ly hostility existing between them and the
freedmen, and we were gratfed 10 learn
upon plantations cultivated by whites
neither the pig nor the chicken were ever
hUOWU ~ Ulc, duuI NbGIClVICI IIIOsC StG
tures are not killed unnecessarily
"After dinner, the young folks cleared
up space near the cabins, under some
large oaks, and prepared for dance. A
light shower had cooled the atmosphere,
and everything was favorable for the sport
Ye editor left dozen happy couples kee-
ping time in beautiful evoluliOns TO the
tune that brought the preacher out OF 'N"
loft, in order to Gull more Items abou
arrangements of The farm. %
ale says that the great advaniag" ."a'
white labor has over black is that the ioI
mer make better farmers, and the land Is
more valuable every year that it is cult
vated, than when it lies out or is butcher
ed up. White labor is easier CONTROLLED
because more intelligent, and the LIE /
not worried out of you by careless i'm
providence. You do not have TO tell Iher
when 10 go or when 10 qnit work, no
follow them from post TO pillar. Saturda
is no more with them than Monday"