CHAPTER IV. 
THE MEN WHO MAKE COTTON: WHITES AND 
BLACKS; PLANTERS AND TENANTS 
Unique in many other features already men- 
tioned, cotton is also unique among American staples 
in that it is the favorite crop of the negro farmer 
and that in its production a larger number of ten- 
ants are employed than in any other crop. 
WHY THE NUMBER OF TENANTS INCREASED IN 1890- 
1900 
Of the farms in the ten Cotton States in 1900 
48.3 per cent. were operated by owners, 20.3 per 
cent. by cash tenants, and 31.4 by share tenants— 
showing a decrease for the decade of 15 per cent. in 
proportion operated by owners, a gain of 12 per 
cent. in the proportion worked by share tenants, and 
a gain of 33.1-3 per cent. in percentage operated by 
cash tenants. Of share tenants there are several 
classes. Some rent land only, paying therefor 
one-fourth of the farm product; others are fur- 
nished land, stock, tools, and one-half fertilizer, 
and receive one-half the crop, while still others are 
content to furnish labor only for one-third the yield. 
The relative decrease in number of farms op- 
erated by owners during the last census decade must 
be attributed to the emigration of farm owners to 
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