The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-17
AFFAIRS IN GEORGIA.
Things Agricultural OF the
Cotton Crop-Negro Labor.

Things Agricultural Prospect Of the
Cotton Crop-Negro Labor.
The we'll informed correspondent of the New
York Times, writing from Lexington, Ga.'
Gays:
am satisfied from what have seen and
heard during nv tour through the principal
cotton. producing counties OF Georgia, that tne
total number of acres planted IN cotton tnls
wear is not greater than in 1868. II there 10 any
difference. think it is less. owing 70 the th ae.
crease in the supply of farm labor, and to the
prevalent idea that q smaller area OF land well
prepared, carefully planted, liberally manured
and thoroughly cultivated, will produce more
than larger space Gu tlvated IN the olo way
In consequence Of the very backward spring,
the heavy rains retardlpg planting by several
davs, and the cold days and nights when the
seed was coming up stuntlug the young srowtn
and killing considerable number OF the ten
der plants, do not think. even if the seasons
from now to gathering time should be propl.
tious. that the crop will be as large as was that
of last year, nor will it be as profitable to the
planter, if it be as large, because the planting
the crop OF 1869 h:s cost much more IN I'M
proved preparation. fertilizers, and higher
wages for labor. When the seed for this crop
Was planted, cotton was selling at twenty-five
TO twenty-six cents per pound. 1t was on this
figure wages were raised, and should the pr1ce
this fall 90 much below it, the cotton planters
will. I fear, experience what happened in 1867,
and find that it ls unwise to place all ones
eggs in one basket. ,
AS general thing, the agricultural popula-
tion have staked ell their available means on
this crop. They bought, in many instances
wildly, every imaginable fertilizer that was of,
fered for sale; they purchased improved
ploughs. harrows, seed planters. g9ano dig.
trlbu ors; they renewed their plough stock,
and thus exhausted their supply OF green
backs. Many did more. They have bought
these things on credit, and have pledged their
paper. They have resolved to "make spoon or
SPOIL horn" and though believe that with
ordinary good weather they will make very re-
spectable medium sized spoon. have no idea
that they will make anything magnificent:
Several planters whose cotton has ''dled ont,
and who have had to repant, are apprehensiv,
that a spoiled horn will be the result.
Should this years crop be failure, the dam
ago would be incalculable, not only in its i'm
mediate pecuniary results, but in the dlscour-
asement 1t would give to improved agriculture.
The stupldeet opponent OF 'book-iarming," J"
who believes that deep plougbiDg kills the
land" and that fertilizers "aint no account. !"
would achieve lasting victory, and patent
steel ploughs and superphosphates would be
unsaleable at any price.
The most salgulne anticipation l can make
consistently with truth, s that Georgia will
produce as much cotton this yea: as she did
in 1868: and to realize thus the weather must
be peuial, and caterpillars, army worms, rust,
&c., &C., must keep out Of the way. l have
seen some very fine, some vtry poor, and
good deal OF moderately good cotton, during
nv tour. have seen no cotton this year as
fne as 1t was this time twelvemonth. But the
ox %1ao 10 ot1 nnW
and the cultivation Of the plant is incompara-
bly, better.
I have great pleasure in recording the bene-
foent mutuality OF the entente cordsdle between
the white employers and the black laborers.
With one or two exceptions, I have not heard
any complaints from either race, and took
considerable pains to investigate this very i'm.
portsnt branch of the agricultural question. ]
have seen thousands of negroes, and more
cheerful, contented, industrious and hopeful
set Of laborers have never seen. They are
docile, obedient and eood-natured, and between
them and their employers have observed Q
confidence and goodwill which promise the
best results. They are well led, ard well paid.
They ha We realized that work is the only rvad to
money that q Rratuitous land distribution;
with mules throM in. ls "su foolishness, !"
and that even to hear the most impaesione1
harangue Of the Reverend Turner is not suffi-
cient compensation for ''letting the grass git
the crap" Ali this is progress, and promises
peace. have spoken to hundreds OF negroes
within the last Nw weeks, and they have all
expressed an utter indifference to politics and
politicians. They are rather jealous OF their
brother Africans who have got Office. For IN
stance, asked several il they were not proud
their man Turner had been appointed Post
master at Macon. They invariably replied
'.no;" that the "niagers don't use no post
ofice;" that the white folks got those places,
and that ut amt right to put nigger boss
over white gentlemen"
dustriously. desire to qualify this express
sion. They do not work as industriousiy as
the corresponding class Of white talm laborers
do at the North. nor as industnously as did
the negro slaves, but they work with more in
dustry than at any time since they became
free. For couple OF years they worked as II
labor was temporary nuisance, from which
they would speedily be relieved. and as If till
lug the soil was necessary condition to
share Of the land. All the older and steadier
plantation hands regret the almost universal
retirement Of the female negroes from field SER
vice; and despair of being able to change this,
because they avoW the insuficiency OF their
authority to m Ike their wives and daughters
shoe the row. This regret is not unnatural.
The men are obliged to support number OF
women who do absolutely nothing. They can
not sew, anu III luey cOulu lucy uafo uo1 pS"-
lug to employ their time. They know nothing
but farm labor, and that they refuse to do,
whatever may be the necessity for their help,
or however urgently their own families inter-
ests require their services. l think, too, that
il these unemployed "ladies" had som mething
to do, that hog-pens, hen-roosts. garden vege-
tables, &C.. would be lees frequently shorn of
their fair proportions.
But, take hlm for all that" if the negro for
apy cause should abandon the shovel and the
hoe. and abandon cotton culture, "we neer
shall look upon his like again" as cotton
worker. 1t is practically impossible tor white
men, however accllmated or industrious, to
cultivate cotton we'll in Southsrn Georgia, or
in the hot temperature OF the ''cotton belt"
Within the last few de Us I have watched ne
groes worang along under broiling sun,
which 10 me, under an umbrella and dong
nothing. was almost insupportable. They did
not mind the heat in the least, sung gayiy as
they swung then hoes, and worked along, and
when dinner-time came seemed just as fresh
as when they started in the morning. No
white man could do this for any length OF time.
Therefore, immigration or 10 immigration, If
ever negro labor becomes unattainable from
any causs-whether from death. emigration,
Or drain to supply vacant postof6ces
becomes unsttainable at the same time.
-That the neoro whom left To his own deyi.