SOaAI, AND ECONOMIC PROGRESS OF THE NEGRO FARMERS 



97 



From this table we see that in the South Atlantic and East South 

 Central States almost half, and, in the West South Central States, almost 

 a third of the farms are managed by coloured tenant farmers. The tend- 

 ency to increase in the numbers of both white and negro landholders and 

 tenant farmers is clearly shown from the statistics (based on the figures in 

 the preceding table) showing the increases per cent in the period 1900-1910. 



Table IV. — Increase per cent of White and Coloured Farmers (1900-1910). 



The area cultivated by both white and coloured tenant farmers has in- 

 creased in smaller proportion than the area of the improved farms and the 

 average value of the land and buildings. The advance has therefore been 

 rather in quality than in quantity. 



It must be observed that in the ten years 1900-1910 the increase in the 

 number of tenant farmers has been greater than in that of the landowners. 

 However, the total area owned by the negroes has increased in greater pro- 

 portion than that leased by them, while the contrary has been the case with 

 the area owned and leased by the whites. 



The percentages in the West South Central States differ considerably 

 from those for the other two groups of Southern States, since, wliile in the 

 latter the increase of the white tenant farmers and landholders has been 



