THE LOWER TIXE CELT, OK SAVANNA REGION. 59 



From one-tenth to one per cent, of the area is planted in cotton in the 

 lower half of Hampton county, in Colleton county, in the northeastern 

 portion of Charleston county, in the southern third of AVilliamshurg, and 

 in portions of Horry. From one to five per cent, of the area is planted 

 in cotton in the northeastern corner of Colleton, in the northeastern part 

 of Charleston, in the upper two-thirds of Williamsburg, in the lower one- 

 fourth of JMarion, and in Clarendon county. 



LABOR AND SYSTEM OF FARMIXG. 



In Colleton county, the farms on which cotton is planted vary in size 

 from fifty to two hundred acres, and are in some instances as much as 

 four hundred acres. A system of mixed farming is pursued ; food sup- 

 plies mostly, and in an increasing degree, are raised at home. Bacon, 

 however, for the laborers is usually bought in Charleston. There are a 

 few white laborers, and the labor is chietly performed by negroes. Wages 

 vary from $6 a month to $120 and to ^150 a year. Very few farms are 

 worked on shares; when it is done, the landholder usually furnishes all 

 sup})lies, and takes one-third of the cotton and one-half of the provision 

 crop. The share system is not entirely satisfactory ; the quality of the 

 staple is not affected by it, but the cj^uantity produced is small, and the 

 land deteriorates. ]\toney wages are preferred, because it places the man- 

 agement under intelligent control, enables the laborer to meet his current 

 expenses and preserves his independence from debt. The condition of 

 the laborer is good, and about two per cent, of the negro laborers own 

 some land, or the houses in which they live. The market value of land 

 is two to five dollars. The rent is from one dollar and fifty cents to three 

 dollars an acre. The system of receiving advances on the growing cotton 

 crop is. diminishing. 



In Williamsburg county, the farms on which cotton is planted vary 

 from one hundred to six hundred acres in size. Mixed farming is prac- 

 ticed ; the family supplies of the landlord being usually raised at home, 

 those of the laborer purchased in Charleston ; the tendency to raise sup- 

 plies is increasing. There are some white laborers, but generally negroes 

 arc employed ; wages averaging eight dollars a month, are paid monthly 

 or oftener. A few cotton farms are worked on shares — the terms being 

 one-quarter of all crops for the landlord, he for the most part advancing 

 all supplies, for which he is repaid. Land deteriorates under the share; 

 and improves under the wages system, which latter is better for the 

 laborer, his energies being more intelligibly directed his labor is more 

 productive and worth more, besides it induces economy, enables him to 

 understand fully his financial condition, and he is more satislicd at the 



