The Opelousas courier., 1893-04-01

THE OPERATING SYSTEM ON BIG
SOUTHERN ESTATES.
The Planters Dealings With Hi.

~ s in ths ,,soo aays 's sf Sis , oply "a a
hundred acres or so) to cultivate himself
and rents out the rest in small plots to
his colored %tenantry, he must assume al
most as much responsibility, if he means
to be at all successful in making his col.
l~ections as in the days of the old regime,
when Well-tralned workmen carried out
his directions. The law in most South
ern States gives the landlord his rent
first, no matter what other claims there
may be against the crop grown, but as
most of the larger plantations are remote
from towns where the tenants could pro-
cure the provisions it is necessary for
them to buy-as long as so much of
their land is devoted to planting cotton,
and where they could purchase the
needed farm implements-the proprie-
tors keep a stock of such articles on hand
themselves for the convenience of the
families on their place.
As most of his tenants own no animal
with which to plow their crop the land
lord keeps on hand a large number of
AluICS WulCA liz 4OAOo " UAShAS AZ 20
course, being greatly to his advantage
to see that these mules are properly cared
for and kept in good condition, since, in
the event of an animals death from over
work, ill treatment or lack of food, the
loss wound fall on the owner. A stock
of medicines for sick animals is con-
stantly kept on hand, and il. tenants
beast is ailing it is Immediately brought
to the "boss" to be doctored. House
holds containing only r,"men or hail
grown boys do not rent a mule outright,
but work several days in each week in
the fields of their landlord in exchange
for blowing done to their crop by a nan
and mule sent from the projectors own
outfit.
Sometimes the women rent an OK with
which to pillow, and as many of the
women are very robust and strong they
get along we'll with their horned fellow
workers. Another plan sometimes
adopted is to plant a certain tract OF
land on shares, the owner furnishing
the land and the mule and the workman
and family giving their labor, the pro-
duce to be divided between the partners.
In any and all of these various methods
of getting the soil cultivated the land
owner must ride around frequently and
see to it in person that the different
crops are being properlyHcared for, kept
free from grass, ETC., or at the end OF
the year he will be very much out of
pocket, having provided for the needs
of these families durpg the summer
months, when he has had to buy bacon
and corn from the West at high prices to
feed both their stock and themselves.
These depleted corn hous5 are owing
to the fact that the corn harvested in the
autumn is too often disposed of in the
winter to get things that are not neces-
sary to the welfare of the purchaser,
rather than to a scanty crop of corn hav-
ing been raised. The beads, ribbons,
brass jewelry, cologne, fancy watches,
ETC., so much priced are often bought
with corn sold in the winter at just one
half the price which will have to be
paid for the necessary corn the next
summer. Yet one can scarcely blame
blGIu NuCu OHS "LtACSSCS tAC o0SOAAVO
bliss the possession of these worthless
baubies afford them, and if by hard
work, scrimping, and saving, a thin,
cheap silk dress can be gotten for a
''big meetin'," their satisfaction is un-
bounded. The cake walks aud other
social entertainments which always take
place at the Christmas season have also
muchto do with lessening the bushels
of corn IN the crib.
Even fodder Is sstraded" for corn, the
latter procuring money with which to
make purchases.
1t is customary to give uncleared land +!
free of rent for three years to the settler
out IN the dense woods. Aud often, in
an incredibly short space of time, a crop
of cotton or corn is planted in between
stumps. roots and trees standing so close
together that the beholder wonders how
the plowman had the patience to plow
with so many Interruptions. The nu-
merous pine trees are not cut down, but
are ''wrung," that is, a deep circle is
hacked entirely around the tree near the
base, which kills it gradually. The bark
drops away from the trunk and limbs,
leaving the tree standing, gray and
ghostly, for years before the heart dies
and it sprawls its length on the earth.
Often crops are cultivated successfully
among myriads of these dying pines, so
thick that one hesitates to term the tract
of ground a "feld." This new land,
freshly cleared, is much sought after, as
it makes the best crops, with less fertil-
izing. After the crops are harvested
indeed, during that process-the land
lord has to be on the alert to see that the
''bushels" and ''baies" owing to him are
not spirited away and sold when he is
to some merchant dwelling else
where, and who is not supposed to know
anything concerning the obligations of
the parties whose produce he is purchas-
ing. Large plantations lie between or
on many roads, leading IN many direc-
tions TO various villages, where there are
stores, and it is very easy for a wagon to
be loaded with cotton or corn aud driven
off in n of these unseen directions
while the man to whom it rightfully be-
longs wonders why a certain crop has
fallen so short.
Experienced planters, seeing a field of
cotton in bloom, or a number of acres
of corn just previous to maturity, can
judge very nearly the yield it will make.
Sos little riding around and inspection
OF the crops On the place affords the
landlord a very good idea of the ability
or inability of the various farmers to pay
their debt to him.