12 BULLETIN 492, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In this study the croppers' share of crops, less the expense paid by 

 them, has been used as a labor expense. The operator stands so much 

 risk under this system that he is frequently subject to heavy loss 

 unless he exercises close supervision. This share-cropper system is 

 much more satisfactory to the negro than the wage system, not only 

 because it gives him self-interest but because it also gives oppor- 

 tunity for the employment of his entire family. The more energtic 

 and determined of these share croppers are soon able, by saving their 

 money, to purchase a mule and machinery and become tenants. 



In case of the tenant system the tenant furnishes all the working 

 capital, and the landlord exercises very little supervision. His only 

 concern is that the tenant raise enough cotton to pay the rent. This 

 system of renting out a part of the farm and giving the tenant full 

 control of its operation often does not work to the best welfare of the 

 tenant. Many of these men will work regularly and efficiently only 

 when directly under the supervision and control of the farm operator. 

 Unless the tenant is proficient and uses good methods of manage- 

 ment both in raising crops and in supervising labor, he is soon forced 

 out of business and then necessarily has to start again as a wage 

 hand and work up to the tenant stage. Where they realize and grasp 

 the vast opportunities awaiting them these farmers are soon able 

 to get enough money together to be fairly independent, but only a 

 small percentage of them have the ability to operate farms upon 

 their own responsibility and make a real success at the business. 



Included in this study were 17 farms or plantations which were 

 operated by managers hired to assume entire management and direc- 

 tion of the farm operations, just as the owner would. Eleven of 

 these farms were in the white-owner, three in the white-owner-addi- 

 tional, and three in the white-owner- with-part-rented-out class. One 

 of these manager farms had 135| acres of crops, four had from 251 

 to 450 acres of crops, and the rest had over 450 acres in crops. When 

 the salary of the manager is carried as operator's labor these farms 

 are entirely comparable with other farms of the same tenure and size 

 and have been included with them in all tables and discussions which 

 follow. 



In this area both white and colored operators are found under each 

 form of tenure, but they have been shown separately in the tables 

 and so treated in the discussion throughout this bulletin. 



TENURE AND SIZE OF FARM. 



Of the total number of farms included in this study 317 were 

 operated by white and 217 by colored farmers. Out of the 317 white 

 farmers 50 per cent were straight owners, 12 per cent owners renting 

 additional land, 22 per cent owners renting out a part of their land, 



