CHAPTER IV. 



THE MEN WHO MAKE COTTON: WHITES AND 



BLACKS; PLANTERS AND TENANTS 



Unique in many other features already men- 

 tioned, cotton is also unique among American staples 

 in that it is the favorite crop of the negro farmer 

 and that in its production a larger number of ten- 

 ants are employed than in any other crop. 



WHY THE NUMBER OF TENANTS INCREASED IN 1890- 



1900 



Of the farms in the ten Cotton States in 1900 

 48.3 per cent, were operated by owners, 20.3 per 

 cent, by cash tenants, and 31.4 by share tenants 

 showing a decrease for the decade of 15 per cent, in 

 proportion operated by owners, a gain of 12 per 

 cent, in the proportion worked by share tenants, and 

 a gain of 33.1-3 per cent, in percentage operated by 

 cash tenants. Of share tenants there are several 

 classes. Some rent land only, paying therefor 

 one-fourth of the farm product; others are fur- 

 nished land, stock, tools, and one-half fertilizer, 

 and receive one-half the crop, while still others are 

 content to furnish labor only for one-third the yield. 



The relative decrease in number of farms op- 

 erated by owners during the last census decade must 

 be attributed to the emigration of farm owners to 



(35) 



