LAND TENURE AND PLANTATION ORGANIZATION 
37 
selected plantation counties was operated in 1920 by negro tenants, 
not including croppers. (See Table 5, Appendix C.) 32 From the 
standpoint of progress of the negro, this is a hopeful sign. While it 
is true that a large proportion of negroes is found at present in the 
cropper class, this is a step in the direction of tenancy, for, as a cropper, 
the negro gains experience and the confidence of the landlord and 
accumulates capital, factors essential to a rise in status. 
Table 13. — Tenants on 207 -plantations, classified by color, and tenure 
Race, or color 
Numbers 
of 
tenants 
Tenure classes 
Share 
Standing 
Cash 
Total 
White 
706 
2,782 
Per cent 
10.8 
42.6 
Per cent 
2.5 
29.3 
Per cent 
3.8 
11.0 
Per cent 
17. 1 
82.9 
Total 
3,488 
54.0 
31.0 
15.0 
100.0 
Allowing for the renting of small farms in plantation localities, 
which are more often let to white farmers, a still higher proportion of 
negro tenants as compared with whites is evident on plantations. 
On 207 plantations, 82.9 per cent of the tenants are negroes. These 
are fairly distributed throughout the tenant classes. (Table 13.) 
On cotton plantations only, the predominance of negro tenants is 
still more in evidence. 33 A comparison of the tendency of whites and 
negroes to seek the various tenant groups is shown graphically in 
Figure 10. 
Choice of tenure classes. — Of 79 cotton planters, 57 per cent expressed 
a preference for the cropper system, 35 per cent for share renting, and 
8 per cent for cash renting. Some of the reasons for the choice of 
croppers over tenants have already been mentioned. 34 There were 
equally good reasons advanced for preferring share renters. Share 
renting more equally divides the risks between landlord and tenant, 
as compared with the cropper, provided the tenant does not owe the 
landlord for his operating equipment. The renter is usually more 
stable in occupancy and more reliable than the cropper for the reason 
that he has more at stake, at least by way of investment in the farm 
business, and, as a class, the tenant has more resources to guarantee 
accounts for advances made by the landlord. The preference of 
share renting over cash or standing renting on the plantation is usually 
because the landlord wants a greater degree of supervision. It is 
also generally thought to be more profitable. 35 
A combination of different kinds of tenanc} 7 has its advantages. 
On plantations not compactly organized, it is possible to adjust the 
several classes of labor advantageously to the general plan of organ- 
ization. The mixed system also allows for shifting a certain amount 
of responsibility in matters of management and supervision to accom- 
82 For tenancy in terms of the number of farms, see Table 6, Appendix C. 
33 All except negroes, including Mexicans, Indians, etc., are classified here as whites. 
34 See in addition the reasons advanced in Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 492, pp. 10-12. 
35 Share renting on the plantation may be more profitable for the landlord because, if the standing or 
cash renter produces an abundant crop, the landlord realizes less than the usual share provides; whereas, 
in case of partial or total crop failure, with the usual heavy advances made to plantation labor, the landlord 
is helpless to collect the full amount.of rent due. 
