LAND TENURE AND PLANTATION ORGANIZATION 63 
during the war, the amount of tenant accounts frequently ranging 
from $500 to $1,000. Because of the enforced liberality in this re- 
spect, and falling prices of farm products in 1920, the tenants, and 
consequently the landlords, became greatly involved. The result was 
a reaction in 1921, when rations were reduced in some cases to $15 or 
less per month and nothing else was allowed. Under such conditions, 
however, the croppers and tenants were allowed to work for wages 
outside the plantation. 
On the plantations studied, about 98 per cent of the colored croppers 
and tenants required advances and about 90 per cent of all the whites 
were supplied directly or indirectly during at least a part of the year. 
It is said that colored tenants obtain advances from the landlord, fre- 
quently paying a high rate of interest, even though they have sufficient 
funds for supplying themselves. 
The old time "merchant" system of plantation operation still 
survives with apparent vigor in a few localities, especially in the 
vicinity of Waynesboro in northeastern Georgia. Here the plantation 
system, in most cases, is primarily based upon the credit system 
which attaches to it. Certain merchants either own or lease large 
tracts of land — the lessee usually paying cash or standing rent in 
case of leasing — and operate such land by the use of " share 
croppers." 48 
One of the chief purposes of the merchant system is the advance 
of supplies to croppers and tenants, such advances being secured by 
the growing crops. Plantation " riders" are used, not only to give 
general supervision in crop production, but to keep the merchant 
advised as to extent of credit which may be safely advanced in each 
case. One firm alone, in 1920, operated in essentially this manner, 
over 50,000 acres. At least one advantage results from this system 
of operation, namely, the methods of farming under present con- 
ditions are more efficient than would probably be the case without it. 
Another section where the merchant system prevails to a considerable 
extent is northeastern Arkansas. Here cash rent is usually paid by 
the merchant and the land sublet at a higher rate. 
The rate of profit on goods charged to plantation labor varies 
widely with plantations. At the plantation store, or commissary, 
goods are sold at current cash prices, generally from 20 to 35 per 
cent above cost according to kinds of supplies and estimated degree 
of risk, and in some cases 10 per cent of the amount is added to the 
account, as interest, at the end of the year. Or the goods may be 
sold at ''credit" prices, usually about 10 per cent above cash price, 
in which case no interest charge on the account is considered. The 
latter is the rule when coupons or commissary tickets are used. 
When cash is advanced in lieu of supplies, either in whole or in part, 
the rate of interest is usually 10 per cent of the amount. Most of 
the planters interviewed charged the tenant 15 per cent above cost 
for fertilizers advanced. The prices charged for supplies on the 
plantation correspond closely to those of credit mercnants in the 
respective areas. 
At first glance, the impression is likely to obtain that the profits 
derived from the supply business on the plantation are unreasonable. 
48 The term "share cropper" in Georgia, it will be recalled, is intended to include both cropper and 
share tenant. 
