plan, lie lias noticed a distinct and
satisfying improvement.
Farming, the same as any other oc¬
cupation, becomes more interesting as
it becomes more intelligent through
study and experience. At Braswell,
ideas gained from tenants are often
put to use by Mr. Pearsall. In fact,
be appreciates suggestions from his
tenants; for he «-an recall the time
when the people on his plantation
looked awry at the approach of the
county agent. They know now that it
is to their advantage to follow good
leadership.
Comfortable homes and plenty of
home-grown food is the motto on
Braswell Plantation. At this time of
year, after the crops are gathered, Mr.
Pearsall asks the men to help con¬
serve farm woman power by providing
better home conveniences and equip¬
ments. He also asks that all leaves and
crop residue remain unburned; that
these he saved for the improvement of
i he soil.
Every farm family is required to
have a cow and at least one brood sow.
Every family is required to have a
garden. A sweet potato patch is also
required. The tenants also grow Irish
potatoes and can thousands of quarts
.if fruits and vegetables, in addition
to drying hundreds of pounds more.
They grow and cure their own meat
and have a supply of eggs and poul¬
try.
In addition to adequate school and
church facilities, a Community house
is maintained on Braswell Plantation.
Here monthly meetings arc hold, and
anyone from the plantation acres is
allowed to speak if he wishes. Motion
pictures and slides are used to teach
various aspects of scientific farming,
i lie handling of livestock, etc. Special¬
ists from State College and from agri¬
cultural centers are frequently on
hand to address the people. The va¬
rious county agents are usually pres¬
ent at these meetings and render much
valuable service.
It is most significant that only a
few families remove from Braswell
Plantation at the close of the year.
Because of the security they enjoy
here, the friendliness and sympathy
they receive, certain families have
lived at Braswell for more than thirty
years. Some have made service records
that are most commendable.
A recent survey shows that only
about eight now families are living on
the plantation, a meager 5 per cent
change. The tenants will tell you
that the average turnover is seldom
higher. They also acquaint you with
additional data:
“Whenever a man moves to a new
place, it costs him around $100. It
Braswell
Plantation
loin Pearsall in one of the big¬
gest farmers in North Carolina,
lie has put certain ideas into ef¬
fect which have proved highly
snceessful in farm operations.
Ri; HARRY
ISITORS to eastern North
Carolina, a land of productive
farms, observe with considerable
interest the performance at historic
Braswell Plantation. Activities here
comprise a unique organization, re¬
sulting in what is said to be' one of
the finest examples of farm-tenantry
existing in the South.
The plantation, under the guperin-
tendency of Mr. Thomas J. Pearsall,
combines the best agricultural system
of the past with the best of modern
farm practices. The plantation is run
for a profit; and long before there
was any tenant-sympathy program in
Washington, Braswell Plantation
management insisted upon progress,
and went about the improvement of
the estate and the state of the tenants
Z. TUCKER
as a means of improving the income
for all concerned.
Those who visit Braswell Planta¬
tion, lying in Halifax and Nash and
Edgecombe counties, agree with the
landlord, Mr. Pearsall, that his plan
is working. And they go away with
the conviction that he has begun a
movement which will profoundly af¬
fect the future of farming in North
Carolina.
In taking his tenants into his con¬
fidence, and making living conditions
as good as funds permit, Thomas J.
Pearsall would not have the public
think that his plantation makes up an
earthly Eden. As on all plantations,
some tenants are especially coopera¬
tive and others are not; but, since he
began his landlord-tenant relationship
House on Braswell Plantation, built in 1790. It is a fine example of
architecture of that period.
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