134 COTTON PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



fourth or three-eighths of an acre a-day. Next, the old beds 

 are hauled on top, at the same rate. The whole " task system " 

 is equally light, and is one that I most unreservedly disapprove 

 of, because it promotes idleness, and that is the parent of mis- 

 chief. 



The system of upland-cotton and sugar planters, of giving 

 the hands plenty to eat, and steady employment, is a much 

 better system. Meat is not generally fed to the laborers in 

 this part of the State. The diet is almost exclusively vege- 

 table, varying upon different plantations somewhat. The fol- 

 lowing are the weekly rations upon four places, which will 

 give a general idea : 



]st. One bushel potatoes a-week, from about October 1st to 

 February 1st. Then one peck of corn, ground or unground, 

 as preferred ; or one peck of broken rice. Meat occasionally. 



2d. One bushel potatoes, or ten qts. corn meal, or eight qts. 

 of rice, and four qts. of peas, with occasional fresh meat, and 

 twenty barrels of salt fish and two barrels of molasses during 

 the year. Number of people 170. 



3d. Half a bushel of potatoes, six qts. of meal, and about 

 2 Ibs. of fresh meat, or ten qis. of meal, or ten qts. of rice. 

 Carpenters, millers, drivers, and others who do not raise crops 

 and hogs for themselves, have a much larger allowance. 



4th. Half a bushel of potatoes, or ten qts. of meal, and at 

 times, when the labor is hard, a quart of soup a day, and in 

 light work twice a-week. This is made of 15 Ibs. of meat to 

 seventy-five qts. of soup, thickened with turnips, cabbage, peas, 

 meal, or rice. Upon this place, as well as many others, the 

 people can get as many oysters, crabs, and fish, as they like. 

 They also keep a great many more hogs than their masters, 

 but generally sell the pork instead of eating it. A half bushel 

 of sweet potatoes, as measured out for allowance, by repeated 

 weighing, averaged 43 Ibs. 



