HOW THE COTTON FARMER LIVES 231 



Texas. In this region the change from a grazing econ- 

 omy to cotton farming has been unusually rapid and 

 the development of the tenant system has kept pace. The 

 historical background of the plantation system was ab- 

 sent in the Black Lands, and cotton farming has accord- 

 ingly been based on an infiltration of white tenants. Ac- 

 cording to the 1920 Census the percentage of Negro 

 farmers was still low 15.9 per cent. 40 



The standards of living as shown by the total cost 

 of family living for 368 unselected farm operators was 

 $965 for share croppers, $1,243 for share tenants, and 

 $1,742 for owners. The average size of families was found 

 to be about the same, so that the living cost of the crop- 

 per family can be estimated at 55 per cent, and the 

 average share tenant's living at 71 per cent of the cost 

 of family living of owners. 41 Of all living expenses crop- 

 pers have $262 furnished by the farm, share tenants 

 $424, and owners $575. Thus croppers receive only 41 

 per cent, and share tenants 75 per cent as much family 

 living from the farm as owners. Croppers, thus with the 

 lowest standard of living, $965, buy the most groceries, 

 $310, to $296 for tenants and $294 for owners. The 

 figures are not adequate in that they do not show the 

 wide variations in knowledge of the selection, preparation, 

 use, and qualities of the articles of diet. Many of these 

 articles are bought at country stores, where often no 

 provision is made for an adequate supply of milk, vege- 

 tables, and fruit. 



The average amount spent for recreation, education, 

 and advancement goods is strikingly small for all classes. 

 Ten to fifteen dollars per family per year is spent for 



40 Ibid., p. 1. Ibid., pp. 53-54. 



