12 
BULLETIN 1269, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Organization. — The simplest form of plantation organization is 
shown in Figure 4. The lay-out of the plantation is shown by the 
map in Figure 5. The larger plantations differ from the organization 
represented here only in that they are multiples or composites of these 
typical units. 
Usually, the plantation is characterized by specialization in pro- 
duction. Specialization in production was the rule in earlier days, 
with the exportation of cotton, rice, and tobacco. It is still usual 
where these staples thrive, because of the world's demand for the 
staple products, because of the South's comparative monopoly in 
their production, and because of the adaptability of the labor supply 
of the South to the one-crop system. In recent years the planta- 
tion has tended to become even more specialized than under the old 
Organization of Enterprises on the Closely Supervised Plantation 
PLANTATION 
(OWNER OR GENERAL MANAGER.) 
f 
nr 
II 
1 
PURCHASING 
(owner or mgr.) 
MARKETING 
(OWNER OR MGR.) 
PLANTATION 
ENTERPRISES 
CONNECTION WITH 
CREDIT INSTITUTIONS 
(OWNER) 
ACCOUNTING 
(BOOKKEEPER) 
1 
1 
STORE OR COMMISSARY 
(STORE MGR.OR FARM MGR.) 
FARM CROPS 
(FARM MGR.) 
GIN, REFINERY, OR 
PACKING PLANT 
(MECHANIC OR PLANT SUPT.) 
r~ 
1 
WAGE FARM 
(OVERSEER) 
TENANT FARMS 
(MGR.OR ASST. MGR) 
1 
1 
(Tus]\ 
SHOPS 
(BLACKSMITH) 
GRIST MILL 
(DAy HANDS) 
Fig. 4.— The managerial system, as indicated in parentheses in connection with plantation enterprises, 
follows the usual line. In practice two or more enterprises, for example, wage-operated land and tenant- 
operated land ; may be combined under one agent or manager. 
regime. This is made possible by similar specialization in other 
regions, which enables the plantation to obtain certain supplies 
elsewhere. The credit system employed at present, rather than the 
factorage system formerly in use, also produces similar effect. 
The production of a single money crop has usually been the chief 
objective of the entire system. All auxiliary enterprises common to 
the plantation, as shown in the chart, such as the gin, mill, and store, 
serve the purpose of furnishing plantation supplies and of preparing 
the cash crop for the market. Other phases of the plantation busi- 
ness, such as the planter's connection with local credit institutions — 
particularly banking houses and mercantile establishments, which 
arc maintained largely for credit, convenience — may be classified as 
auxiliary interests more or less essential to the plantation business. 
Grazing and Lumbering have been, and still are to a limited extent, 
important aspects of the plantation business. They pave the way 
in opening up new lands, and in some cases aid in a better utilization 
of the plantation's surplus resources. The sawmill, as a means of 
opening up new plantation land, is strongly in evidence at the present 
lime in northeastern Arkansas and southeastern Missouri. 
