84 ECONOMICS OF LAND TENURE IN GEORGIA [84 



The figures show that in 1900 about one-third of the 

 farms of the state were operated by share tenants. In 

 the decade 1880 to 1890 there was not only a large 

 absolute but a relative increase in the number of share 

 farms. In the next decade, however, although there was 

 an increase of about twenty per cent in the absolute 

 number of farms worked on shares, the relative number 

 of farms so operated underwent a seven per cent in- 

 crease. 



This showing suggests the interesting query as to 

 whether or not the year 1890 represents the high-water 

 mark in share farming in Georgia. That is to say, is it 

 likely that the above mentioned relative decrease from 

 1890 to 1900 is the beginning of a gradual decline of 

 share farming ? In attempting to answer this query the 

 two plans of share farming must be considered separately. 

 For, since the two are not so interrelated that they must 

 stand or fall together, it is possible that the relative de- 

 crease in the two combined may conceal the fact that 

 one of the systems is increasing, but at a slower rate than 

 the other is decreasing. As a matter of fact the " third 

 and fourth " system attained its widest prevalence in the 

 seventies or early eighties. Since then it has been on 

 the decline so that it now includes only a small percentage 

 of the farms. In answer to enquiries as to why that par- 

 ticular system is no longer widely used, the landlords say 

 that it is an unfair arrangement for them — they can com- 

 mand a larger return through some other system. 1 



1 An analysis of the way in which pure economic forces have worked 

 out this change will be made in the following chapter. It will there 

 also be pointed out that the same forces are working to overthrow the 

 cropping system, but that the full effect of such forces is delayed in the 

 case of the cropping system because of the operation of a countervailing 

 economic force. 



