THE UPPER PINE BELT. 85 



lars ; the share system is also practiced here ; no preference expressed be- 

 tween the two. The condition of the laborers is reported as good. The 

 market valne of land is from two dollars to ten dollars ; and a good deal 

 is rented from two to four dollars. 



In Darlington, wages b}^ the 3'^ear are one hundred and twenty dollars 

 for men, ninety dollars for women, with house, rations, fuel and truck 

 patches. The share system and tenant system are largely practiced ; 

 the laborers do not work so well, nor do they realize so much, but 

 they prefer less and to be independent of control ; their condition is 

 good, two per cent, own houses and land. The market value of land 

 is ten dollars, and the rental yields about seven j)cr cent, on the invest- 

 ment. 



In Marlboro and Marion, a considerable part of the field labor is per- 

 formed by whites ; day wages are from thirty to sixty cents, by the month 

 six dollars to twelve dollars, and the same when engaged for the year, in 

 all cases with board. The share and tenant system are largely practiced 

 (see above for terms, &c.). Condition of the laborers good, they are 

 contented and happy ; three to five per cent, of the negroes own 

 land or a house. The market value of land is ten dollars to fifty dollars 

 per acre, and rents are from three dollars to fifteen dollars per acre. 

 (For further particulars see abstract of reports of township corres- 

 pondents.) 



From the southwest of Aiken county it is reported that the tendency to 

 raise supplies fluctuates with the price of cotton, being increased by low 

 and diminished by high prices. The share system is largely practiced, 

 the laborer having one-third where he feeds himself, one-fourth where he 

 is fed, the land owner advances everything, and the laborer's proportion 

 of the expenses is taken out of the crop. The share system is not gene- 

 rally satisfactory ; it is difficult to get cotton cleanly handled ; land worked 

 under the supervision of the proprietor generally improves ; when rented, 

 especially to negro tenants, it rapidly deteriorates ; five per cent, of the 

 negro laborers own land or their house ; those who work steadily are 

 prosperous, the proportion that do this is not, however, large. The 

 market value of land is four dollars to fifteen dollars per acre, in- 

 cluding wood land ; tilled land rents for from one dollar to five dollars 

 per acre. 



The following comparison in some of the regards above treated of be- 

 tween Darlington and ]\Iarlboro counties is off"ered, because in 1870 Dar- 

 lington led all the counties in the State in the production of cotton, nearly 

 doubling the crop of the next highest ; now it stands eighth in total pro- 

 duction, and Marlboro stands highest in the yield per capita and per acre; 

 the counties lie side by side : 



