Philip  Alexander  Bruce  has  drawn  a  faithful  picture  of
the  old  plantation  system  of  the  south.  He  says  truly
that  **  the  most  distinctive  feature  of  the  old  industrial
order",  next  to  slavery,  "  was  the  large  plantation."
He  describes  the  plantation  as  having  been  frequently
a  small  principality  in  extent,  the  planter  the  absolute
master  of  his  own  domain,  "  his  word  the  supreme  law,
his  wishes  the  governing  influence."  Mr.  Bruce  then
sets  against  this  a  picture  of  agricultural  conditions  in
the  south  of  to-day,  telling  us  that  '*  the  ruin  of  the  old
plantation  system  is  complete."  His  portrayal  of  the
essential  features  of  the  old  system  fairly  describes
existing  conditions  in  the  delta.  Here  the  era  of  small
farms  has  not  set  in,  the  process  of  land  division  has
not  begun.  On  the  contrary,  most  of  the  large  planta-
tions are  growing  larger,   and  such  small   farms  as  do


Fourteenth  Annual  Meeting.  243

exist  have  not  been  erected  upon  the  ruins  of  larger
tracts.  Change  of  ownership  has  not  meant  disinte-
gration, but  has  been  effected  by  sales  of  property
entire.
