60 THE LOWER PINE BELT, OR SAVANNA REGION. 



end of the year, than when there is a settlement of accounts, the run of 

 wliich he cannot keep. There is little demand for land ; the price ranges 

 from two to fifteen dollars an acre. It rents for one to two dollars an 

 acre; more generally for one-quarter or one-third of the crop. The 

 system of credits and advances on the growing cotton croj) j)revails largely 

 from one-half to three-quarters of the farmers, both black and white, 

 receiving such assistance. 



In Clarendon, the usual size of a cotton farm is eighty acres. Mixed 

 farming is practiced, but much of the supplies consumed is purchased in 

 Charleston, though the tendency to raise them at home is increasing. 

 The field labor is performed by native whites and negroes. Laborers are 

 usually contracted with by the year, and the settlement takes place at its 

 close. One-third of the crop to the landlord is the usual rate, where 

 cotton farms are worked on shares, he advancing all sup})lies, for which 

 he is repaid. The share system is preferred to wages. The condition of 

 the laborers is good, and about five per cent, of them own houses and 

 lands. Land is worth from three to five dollars an acre, and rents for 

 one dollar per acre. The lions for advances on the gro"\ving crops, re- 

 corded in the Clerk of Court's office for the year ISSO, numbered 2,716, 

 or one to every farm save nine, and aggregate $283,317.18. 



In Horry, the farms average fifty acres, and run from ten acres to two 

 hundred acres in size. All supplies are made at home. The laborers are 

 largely white natives, but there are some negroes. Wages five to sixteen 

 dollars by the month, fifty dollars to $125 by the year. No cotton farms 

 are worked on shares. The soil improves under culture. Wages system 

 preferred'. The condition of the laborers is good, and about twelve per 

 cent, of the negroes own houses and land. Unimproved land sells for one 

 to two dollars an acre ; very few advances on the crop, and those wholly 

 for fertilizers. The liens on the growing crop recorded in the Clerk's . 

 office, 1880, numbered twenty-seven, and aggregate $1,179.80. 



TILLAGE AND IMPROVEMENT. 



In Colleton county, one-quarter to one-half of the swamp lands are re- 

 ported as thrown out of cultivation, but none of the lighter uplands. In 

 Williamsburg, ten to thirty per cent, of the cultivated lands have been 

 abandoned. In Clarendon, at least one-third of the cultivated lands have 

 been turned out since the war ; in Horr}'-, very little. These lands all 

 produce as well as virgin soil when reclaimed and again brought under 

 cultivation. The depth of plowing is usually four inches with a single 

 horse plow; sometimes a doid)le horse plow is used, and a de])th of six to 

 seven inches attained. Subsoiling is little practiced ; fall plowing is es- 



