The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-12
A WOMAN RICE PLANTER.
Trials and Triumphs Of . South Carsaina
woman in Rice Planting.

Trials ana Tr1umpns OF . SCUM CsrOshns
woman in Rice Planting.
You have asked me to tell Of my rice-
planting experience, and ! will do my best.
though hardly know where to begin.
Some years ago the plantation where
had spent my very short married life was
for sale, and against the judgment OF the
men Of my family decided to put every
cent had In the purchase Of 1t, to. grow
old In, I said. feeling Il Q refuge from the
Loneliness which crushed mo. Though OPP
posed to the step. one Of my brothers UNDER
took very kindly to manage 1t until paid for,
then to turn II over to me. Ihad paid 5000
cash and spent 5000 in buying mules, sup
plies, ploughs, harrows, seed rice, &C..
necessary to start. ,
Nv brother succeeded very well for two
years, and the debt was reduced to some
where near s. 000 when things began to 60
behind. and every year was more or less
In debt at the end OF the year. This went
on for several years, when awoke to the
fact that had no right TO burden and worry
my brother any longer with this trouble
some addition to his own large planting
interests, and told him the first OF jan
uary Of is- that l had determined to re-
lieve him and try 1t myself. He seemed
much shocked and surprised and said 1t
was impossible: he had done his level best.
and had not succeeded, and how was II
possible for me, with absolutely no knowi-
edge of planting or experience, TO do any
thing? It would be much wiser TO rent
I said would gladly do 20, but who would
rent Il? He said he would give me $500 a
wear for II, Just to assist me In this trouble.
- q hot xro,sld mat the
; taxes and the interest on the debt, and
would never have any prospect OF paying
on the mortgage. and, when died. instead
OF leaving something to my nieces and
nephews, I would leave only debt. NO.
had thought Of 1t well; l would sell the
FIVE mules and put that money in bank.
and as far as that went I would plant on
, wages, and the rest Of the land would rent
to the negroes at ten bushels to the acre.
He was perfectly dismayed, said / would
! have to advance heavily to them and moth
ing but ruin awaited me In such an UNDER
taking.
However, I assembled the hands and told
them that all who could not support them
selves for year would have TO leave the
place. With one accord they declared they
could do It: but explained to them that |
was going TO take charge myself. that was
a woman. with no resources OF money ne
hind me, and. having only the land l in
tended to rent to them for ten bushels OF
rice to the acre. I could advance nothing
but the seed ] could give them chance
70 work for themselves and prove them
! selves worthy to be free men. Intended
TO have no overseer; each man would De
entirely responsible for the land he rented.
you know very well,' I said, that this
land will bring my ten bushels rent II you
lust throw the seed in and leave 1t, 40 that
every stroke OF work that you do will go into
your own pockets. and hope you Will
prove men enough TO work for that pur-
pose"
Then picked out the lazy. shifilese hands
and told them they must leave, as i knew
! they would not work for themselves All
1 the planters around were eager for hands
and worked entirely on wages. and would
only plant fifty acres on wages, which
| would not be enough TO supply all with
work. Nv old foreman, Washington, was
! most uneasy and miserable and questioned
! me constantly as to the wisdom Of what
vas doing. At last said TO him: WASH
/ jngton. YOU do not know whether have
| the sense TO succeed In this thing, Mass
| Tom does not know. don't know; but we
shall know by this time next year. and In
the meantime you must just trust me and
do the beet you can for me-
II proved great success! Invent through
the burning suns all that summer, twice
a week. Ave miles in a buggy and six In a
boat. i. who had always been timorous
drove myself the Ave miles entirsly alone
hired a strange negro and his boat and was
rowed by him to Casa Blanca plantation
Then, with dear old Washington behind
me, telling Of all the trials and tribulations
no had had In getting the work done.
walled around the 800 acres OF rice In al
stages Of beauty and awfulness Of smell.
But I Wa more than repaid Ipaid o1