HUMAN ELEMENTS IN COTTON 267 



He raised from four to eight bales of cotton from an aver- 

 age of thirty acres each year. Usually he ended the farming 

 season with nothing. 



Thinking Texas offered better opportunities for the tenant 

 farmer and believing health conditions better, he decided to 

 move west in 1903. The history of his farming follows: 



Rented 50 acres of black land in Lamar County. Moved 

 after the first year. Rented 45 acres of sandy land. Moved 

 at the end of the year. Broke even both years ; made 1 1 bales 

 of cotton and 1,000 bushels of corn. Went in debt at the 

 beginning of the next year. Cut wood at times to increase 

 earnings. Lived on this farm two years, making $200. Wet 

 land prevented good crops. Moved south of Paris in 1907. 

 Cultivated 55 acres, five of which were in corn. Incurred 

 doctor's bills and gave notes for store accounts. Moved at 

 the end of the first year. Made $200. 



He did not stay on this farm, he said, because the house 

 was not good, no schools and unsuitable surroundings. Lived 

 two years 13 miles from Paris. Worked 35 acres of corn and 

 75 acres of cotton, making 34 bales of cotton and 750 bushels 

 of corn. No more than broke even the first year because of 

 high prices of commodities and low price of cotton. Gave 

 mortgage for provisions. Raised fair crop next year. Sold 

 cotton to buyers who told him the grade. Steward does not 

 know anything about grading cotton. 



Moved three miles away the following year and cultivated 

 125 acres. This year he bought the implements and team of 

 the farmer who left the place Steward rented. He then began 

 as a "third-and-fourth" farmer. Made 48 bales of cotton 

 and 100 bushels of corn. Paid for his pair of mules and 

 wagon and tools and had 800 bushels of corn worth 65$ a 

 bushel, but no money. He moved at the end of this year be- 

 cause the landlord sold out. 



In another part of the county he farmed 120 acres. Made 

 62 bales and 800 bushels of corn the first year. Cotton sold 

 for 12# to 15#. Broke even. Store account for this year totaled 



