Cotton Picking Time: Field Scales

Field Scales

Figure 130. Field scales

Throughout the day, the workers emptied their sacks of cotton onto their assigned sheets at the end of the field. Finally, the evening came and with it came the long anticipated hour—weighing-up time. This was the hour when this scale played its role. Everyone's sheet was tied shut by bringing its opposite corners together. While they waited for their sheets to be weighed, everyone stood around laughing and joking about who had picked how much cotton. (Photo 1994)