274 FARM MANAGEMENT 



In 1910, there were seven counties in Mississippi that 

 had over 10 colored farmers for each white farmer. The 

 area of improved land per farm in these counties varied 

 from 23 to 29 acres with an average of 25 acres. 



When we realize that large plantations have been forced 

 to divide into these small patches and use a tenant system 

 rather than operate with hired labor, we are forced to the 

 conclusion that these small farms are generally better 

 adapted to the conditions, otherwise they could not have 

 driven out the large farm. 



174. Cotton farms of white farmers. How large a 

 farm would be best in the cotton-belt in a region where 

 white farmers, who have the necessary capital, do the 

 farm work as such farmers do in the North, is hard to say, 

 because there are few, if any, counties where the land is 

 nearly all worked by well-to-do white farmers. 



In Coffee County, Alabama, there are nearly 5 white 

 farmers for each colored farmer. The average size of farm 

 in this county in 1910 was 91 acres with 47 acres of im- 

 proved land. The farms had only one and one-third work 

 animals per farm, but they raised about 37 acres of crops 

 per farm, half of which was cotton. 



These are family-farms, as indicated by the fact that 

 hired labor cost only $35 per farm. These farmers were 

 nearly all poor, as is indicated by the fact that the total 

 value of all farm property per farm was only $1583. If 

 these persons had more money so that they could use 

 more mules and machinery, it is probable that larger 

 farms would be found to be more efficient. 



The difficulty of getting cotton picked usually limits 

 the area of this crop to what the family can pick. But if 

 there is money enough to provide mules and equipment, 

 other crops can be grown. It will be seen that these 



