Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-09
UNION AND AMERICAN.
Farm AND GARDEN.
ECONOMY-TN LABOR

This has been fruitful theme since the
close Of the civil war. The great problem
is in what manner to employ labor SO as to
make it effective, reliable and convenient
Every suggestion has its advantages and
disadvantages. Some prefer the share sys-
tenn, because it binds the laborer to the
farm and those inducements increase as the
year advances. Others prefer TO hire, be-
cause they are more Immediately under the
control of the employer, but the objection
to hiring is that larger wages offered by az
other VIII tempt them away. Some prefer
q division of time in preference to divi-
sion Of crop, others give good wages and a
portion Of time in which they may culti-
vate a small crop for themselves. f. w.
Vesey, in q Communication to Philips
Southern Farmer on economy for Southern
farmers, recommends still another plan that
doubtless, in practice, wiz prove in the end
to combine a greater number Of advantages
than any yet proposed. Farmers, he says,
complain that they cannot make any re-
pairs or improvements on their places with
free laborers. This is the fault of the share
system, and in expecting TO get work done
without paying for it. How do Northern
farmers get fencing, ditching, etc, done? By
having no such thing as year crop share
system, and by paying daily, weekly OF
monthly wages. The wages system (year-
" wages) viii break any man, and the
share system viii ruin any farm. What
then9 Why, a blending Of the two, Of
course. How viii this plan do? A com
Portable house, garden and few fruit trees
for each family of laborers. Then TO each
hand rent about half as much land as be
ought TO cultivate, say ten acres, and en-
ploy him at daily wages on crops Of your
own, and improvements, making due allow
snee for idling, working for neighbors, etc,
The cash paid each night will secure labor
black or white, and beginning gradually,
soon the whole can be effected. The ecOnO-
my Of machinery over manual labor all un-
derstand, and would adopt but for the fact
that many are too poor to be able to prac.
tce economy.
We have tried this plan in few cases
The laborers have usually, however, beer
the most reliable that could be found. Ou
experience with them was decidedly favor
able. They always did good days work
when employed and were never averse tC
working any day they were called upon
The truth is the so-called troopers need thi:
t'blending system" They need #, because
the usual thriftlessness Of the negro leads
him to spend the money for his crop just
30 soon as he disposes of it if he has moi
spent it before. If he could work one-hali
his time for wages his little necessities
would, in this manner, find relief, and ht
would work with more cheerfulness in hi
crop the remainder of the time
Such a system as this woulC
also give the employer time enough to at
tend to his outside duties without neglect
ing his business at home. Both partie
would be benefited, and both parties slim
ulated to renewed exertions. 1t is higl
time this problem was solved in some man
ner best for all. Seven years has been lon
enough for making experiments. Neithe
party, under the crop or hiring system, Il
satisfied. Any arrangement that viii Civ
greater quietude to this question and NOR
contentment and satisfaction to those in
terested will add largely to the profits an
pleasures Of the farm, and Of course ad
largely to the wealth of the country.