Year: 1860

GLENNvILLE, Ala, June l6, 1860.


noticed piece in your last issue ra
ther reproaching the planters for not wri
ting more and giving our brother planters
the benefit OF our experience


have made farming my whole study
for the last twelve years, and would not
engage in any other business .or fear |
might get too many irons in the fire. and
perhaps burn some.


have always prided myself upon the
management OF my negroes, and | be
Ileve they are under as good control as
any | ever saw. | have neve. had one
to run away, though own ueeros that,
l have been told, never took sohipping
without running away either before or
after.


AS my plan for managing negros has
succeeded very well and have been We.
ry prosperous, | propose to give you nv
plan, with the hope that it may benefi,
some new beginner.


In the irst place, hold it to be every
mans duty to affordshis negros religious
instruction, of proper kind. This have
done in some way or other ever since |
have been planter, and think it has
worked well. From the beginning | have
! prohibited all swearing or the use of pro
lane language, and for twelve wears |
have not heard an oath on my place.
made sett OF ruIes-just as few as |
could well get along with-made myself
sure that every negro understood them.
and punished every violation. They are
forbidden to quarrel or fight; to drink or
bring any ardent spirits on the place or
to leave the premises, under any pretense
whatever, without pass from mvself Or
p'cr>eer. never allow them to have
"hSbands or wives abroad-think it bet
Ter tor them 10 mate at home, so that
there may he no separation in case of re
mova!. When they have visitors thew
are taught to bring them to my house
door, or report them to the overseer.-
ihey are taught TO obey implicitly who
ever | put over them, whether white or
black and then hold the overseer or
foreman responsible for the quantity and
9uaIIy Of the work. | will not have them
abused, ana when they disobey one of
my rules they are promptly punished and
freely ierg'ven. show no par,iaIits,
neither will suffer it on the place.
never allow them TO trade, in any man
ner whatever, with any one. You may
'"'"k 'hl' very hard on them, and so il
would be II did not make 1t up 10 them
toy Kindness. buy everything they
ma ke, no matter what, and give the very
highes, price, whether need it or not /
DO this to prevent their trading from
home


have field called the "negros' field"
and work it as do mine, in it's turn, and
give them all the proceeds. The men get
two acres, the women one, and the chill
dren half an acre. generally plant corn
III II, because think they are less table
TO he tempted TO steal to add to its bulk
and when | have it measured in the fall
| give them one dollar a bushel for il
every year, regardless OF the market
price, measure it in the field as | pull
II.


| make Il rule to feed well, rs I think
Vt poor economy TO starve either laborers
or stock. In fact think man commits
sin TO keep more of either than he can
feed well and take care of. strive TO
make them as comfortable rs possible in
their cabins, and add something every
year to their home comforts.


AS they have their crop worked in the
day time, and have no night work, ell
courage them TO have gardens. So each
family has It's garden with a few fruit
trees and grape vines, and plenty of whole
some vegetables. At Christmas give a
premium TO the one that has had The
best garden. During the Christmas hol
idays let them all 60 to the nearest town
and trade, but never without the presence
of myself or overseer | never allow them
to have money unless they can give sat
isiactory account Of the way in which
they obtained it; and whenever they
make request of me never refuse TO
grant II, it 1t is at all reasonable | nev.
or sell one unless fail to coax or force
them into my rules.


have succeeded so well, and have
such pleasant home and so little trouble
with my negros, and they seem so con
tented and happy, that must offer it As
an apology for dwelling on this subject
so long.


FRANCIS BoYKIN.