I09 ] ECONOMIC WORKINGS OF THE SYSTEMS jqq 



command. The plan to which reference is made may be 

 called the plantation system because it bears a certain 

 analogy to the system that existed under that name be- 

 fore the war. The old plantation was worked by slave 

 labor, the new plantation is worked by free labor. It is 

 the plan of farming on a large scale to which the produc- 

 tion of cotton is admirably adapted. It is the plan of 

 hiring laborers, putting them under efficient management, 

 and conducting the operations of farming in accordance 

 with approved business methods. 



It is a well-known fact that most of the croppers, 

 especially those of them who are negroes, make splendid 

 farmers when put under the direction of one who knows 

 how to manage. The cropping system does not offer 

 sufficient inducements for landlords to undertake either 

 in person or through a hired manager this much-needed 

 work of supervision. The plantation system offers the 

 highest inducement for efficient management. 



The specific gains for the landlord are entrepreneur's 

 profits and the increased productiveness of land and other 

 capital goods. It has been demonstrated in hundreds of 

 cases in recent years that, by intelligent supervision and 

 co-ordination of the forces, farming can be made to yield 

 in Georgia a large profit over and above the outlay in 

 wages and interest. 



As an example of the capabilities of the system under 

 discussion the case of a large planter in Coweta county is 

 given. Near his home there is a small tract of land con- 

 sisting of about thirty acres, the greater portion of which 

 fifteen years ago was considered worn out and worthless. 

 In the early nineties he began to give personal direction 

 to the work of this farm — using hired labor exclusively. 

 The result was that for the year 1895, when, owing to 

 the low price of cotton, many of the farmers were unable 



