New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-03
New System of Planting.

From the Sugar Bowl
Messrs. Cragin g. Fisk, owners of the
Magnolia Grove plantation, near Terre-
bonnie station, fully realizing all the annoy
ances to which planters are subjected be-
cause of the scarcity of labor, which causes
them to outbid each other to secure the SER
vices of a sufficient number of hands, have
inaugurated the system of having cane
made by the weight, they paying for 1T
when it is delivered at the mill.
After they had finished planting last
spring. they made the proposition to the
hands that they would sell them the mules,
blows, etc, ON time-we believe to be paid
In annual installments-and each family
would be allowed to take as much land as
they could cultivate, and the cane, when
injured, should be cut and delivered at
81 SO per load; supplies to be furnished and
charged to them. The negroes eagerly &C
eepted the proposition, divided into squads,
selecting one OF their number as leader,
and went to work. Messrs Cragin g. Fisk
reserved the right of general supervision,
and all agreed 10 obey the Overseer; and in
the event any so uad got behind with their
work, their employers had the right to have
other hands to help them, at the expense OF
the negroes. bitches are to be kept open
in the same manner, and they are to make
at least corn enough to feed the mules and
themselves.
There are about forty negroes working in
that manner, cultivating something like 400
arpents of cane and 200 arpents in corn.
During the rainy season in May, when the
crop promised badly, they became some
what discouraged; but they finally laid by
their crops in good order, and when we
visited the place, on the sixteenth instant,
and rode oil over the fields in company with
young Mr.. Cragin, we were compelled to
acknowledge that nowhere between Hounia
and the Station could better crop be found.
True, they have large proportion of stub
BILE, which, like stubble generally this year,
is not good but their plant cane is fine, and
the negroes whom we saw are proud OF their
crop.
Now that the crop is made, the hands
are busily engaged in cutting and hauling
wood for which they are paid the usual
rates-one dollar for hauling, or two dol
lars for cutting and hauling.
During the rolling season they are to cut
and haul just such proportions OF the cane
as their employers direct, and to put up for
seed whatever they are told. In this case
we anticipate trouble, for it will be difficult
to determine the weight of the cane pre-
served for seed-in fact we did not learn
whether the seed was to be each year fur
nished by the planter, or the men were to
keep their own seed.
I pair of large platform scales will be
put up near the mill, and each ear viii be
driven thereon and the cane weighed. No
doubt the weight OF each cart will be
marked upon It's body, but in case of much
mud adhering to the wheels it would I'M
doubtedly have TO be weighed twice. Be
fore starting cart will be properly loaded
with cane, in the presence of all hands, and
its weight shall be taken as a guide; after
which every man will be credited with the
weight of each load
To prevent the hauling to the mill of the
+o,1 ,f tI,a xx-st ha cta
toned near the cane-carTier, to watch each
load dumped, and for every cane cut too
high, the owner will be charged or ''docked"
fifty cents, which, it is thought, Will settle
that difficulty.
Of course, no squad can cut and haul the
cane which they have made without assist
ance, so they must hire, or there will be
hired at their expense, men to help them.
It is thought that the extra work done in
the sugarhouse at night, by the regular
Hands, will fully pay for the extra help
necessary TO cut and haul their cane.
This experiment is certainly a novel one,
and we really hope that it may succeed
but of this we have very serious doubts.
The colOred people have not as "a general
thing, mbition-enough to make them sue
cesSful cultivators on that system, nor fore
sight enough to know that they can not in
dulge in idleness, whenever they feel like it.
True, the crop can be made by hiring others
to assist them, in all emergencies; but in
that event, in the end of the year they will
find that they have nothing left, and of
course will be much dissatisfied. We rather
think that this season will satisfy all parties
interested, Judging from the present appear
ance of their crop, but we believe that
system ultimately can only be success
full with white men, or with the negroes
after they have greater intelligence than
this generation possesses.
1t must be said, to the credit of Messrs.
Cragin & Fisk, that they are working with
the best possible intentions, and are deter
mined to give the laborers all they earn
which can not be determined until after the
trial is made. One years experience will
fully establish the value of cane by the
weight, and they may be taking step
which will eventually benefit all sugar
planters who are seeking intelligent and re-
liable laborers. We certainly hope the ex
pertinent may succeed, for the good OF the
country.