I 
SEA ISLAND COTTON INDUSTRY. 11 
not an easy matter, as they deal in a speciaUzod commodity which 
is taken chiefly by the export trade. Their j^rodiict goes largely to 
the spmners of Em-ope, who are thoroughly organized; and when 
cotton is offered spinners direct they have replied, ''Consult our 
agent in Charleston; he represents us." To ship Charleston cotton 
to other of the Sea Island markets would mean placing the ''island" 
quahty on a level \nth Georgias and Floridas and would result in 
a loss in price of 4 or 5 cents a pomid on the basis of Charleston 
sales. Possibly the only feasible relief would be direct consign- 
ments of cotton which is free from debt to brokers in Liverpool. 
Such action might bring reasonable returns for the extra trouble, 
and at any rate would prevent a farmer from feeling that he was 
being imposed upon by a combination of buyer, banker, and factor. 
CULTURAL METHODS EXPENSIVE. 
The task system which has been the custom so long seems to be, as 
administered now, an unsatisfactory way of getting a day's work for 
a day's pay. Planters have asserted on more than one occasion that 
a laborer could finish his allotted task by 9 or 10 o'clock in the morn- 
ing and was then idle for the rest of the day. Granting that work 
was commenced at 4 a. m., only six hours at the longest have elapsed 
before quitting time. Such a period is m.uch shorter than for farm 
labor in other sections of the cotton belt and is inadequate to main- 
tain the farm in a state of prosperity. 
Another economic question is the excessive use of the hoe in 
making crops on the islands. Hand labor is expensive at best, and 
it would seem doubl}" so under the task system, resulting in excessive 
cost in producing cotton. This result is clearly shown in both the 
statements as to the cost of growing cotton by the pound and by the 
acre. Bearing on the same point, it may be said that in Georgia and 
Florida, where all cultivation except two hoeings is done with the 
plow, the cost of ^ ^^wing cotton is about two-thirds as great as it is 
on the islands where d labor is so largely used. It is true that 
conditions on the islanc.. -> different from those in other parts of 
the Sea Island area, but it l s that it is certainly worth while to 
make a trial of substituting horsepower for human power in the 
growing of cotton. 
TOO MANY KINDS OF COTTON. 
The diversity of kinds of staples and differences in length seem 
detrimental to the best interests of the island farmers, yet such 
conditions have perhaps always existed on the islands, or at least 
since the special varieties of seed were propagated years ago by 
intelhgent selection. There can be no objection to a few planters 
growing the extra-stapled Sea Island cottons if they choose to do so, 
