The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-23
TALKED FIELDS AND CROPS.
Farmers Conference at the COIored
College.

largely atIGlueQ nN the GHiuIGd tAlAu IL
of Chatham and adio.n ng counties.
The exercises began with field sports by
the students, under the direction of In
structor j. S Hines. These included
the catching Of greasy pig. hoop aces,
bundle races, jumping. splintirg, veg
throwing, time racing and Skinny, al OF
which were heartily enjoyed by the
crowd. During the intermission lively
and popular ais were discoursed by the
college band. This band consists OF
twenty-six pieces, under the directi-n of
Instructor II \. Haigler.
AT / o clock the horses and wagons
dotting the campus showed the wide
spread interest in the conference. At
this h-ur the people gathered at the
chapel, which was we'll fiji cd, showing
the presence Of about 800 people.
The exercises opened with an interest
inG address by Presi ent r. r. Wri yht.
in which he spoke of the condition of the
race, the advancement which it had
made. the bright pr spects before It ma
the work yet to be accomplish. d. He
welcomed them in well chosen words to
the conference and impressed upon them
the Importance of such gatherings. and
recited some Ct the benefits to be deriv-
cd from such meetings.
Letters frcm hon. +. J. Cline, Comm s
sloner O. b. Stevens, EX-Gov. w. j.
Northen, Mr.. j. Pope Brown and MI.
Jas. Barrett were received, giving their
ideas on the subjects 10 he d.s used in
the conference and expressing Their APP
prevail of such ccu:se Of prose lure
On the stand were displayed some
very fine specin ems Of p. Oduce raised on
the farm, including ca b gas, pot toes,
turnips. mustard and rutabagas, under
direction of Instructor p. II. Travis
There was also displayed eight Specimens
of soil found in this secti n, twelve
specimen of fert lzcrs adapted to the va
rious kinds of oduce raj ed in this sc r.
ton. and other h me-made specimens
prepared by Prof. d. {. Suggs director
of he sciertiGc department.
The programme exc uted was as fellows:
Paper on Farms and Farming" by b.
Z. Lawton, OF Albany; Egg Farming
and Onicn FARMING" by @. r. Serene,
of Macon; Vital Statistics Of the Col
ored People Of Savannah" by
I. ". Jackson, of savannah. Food In
Its Relation to the System" was ably
treated and Illustrated from chart by
Miss Julia 0. Wright.
Efficiency and Reliability In Work
was treated by Instructor l.. b. Thomp-
son The Outlook was treated by \.
J. Snootes of Americas.
"Negetation AS Related to the SOL
and Fertilizers" was treated and Illus
trated by Vice President SUggs. taking
potatoes and Indian corn as d basis. He
showed that the homemade fertilizers
were superior to many of the commercial
Instructor p. II. Travis read a paper on
Potato Culture"
Resolutions emoodying the sentiments
4 In . ha Nrar
read by Prof. Suggs
First That we strive 80 own some of
the land. Ownership makes "A man indie
pendent, increases his interest IN the
progress and wel-being of the community,
and makes him better ueighbor and a
more useful and Contented citizen. We
confidently believe that much of the I'M
rest and dissa isfaction among some OF
our people is due to the fact that they dc
not own any of the land, and hence feel
no abiding interest in the community ~
which they live. The Bible utters NJ
uncertain truth when it states tina
Where mans treasure is. there his
heart viii be a.so." Let us buy some
of the land and plant ourselves as wei
os our crops here in these fertile lands.
AS aids to this end I'VE would advise that
we strive TO make good crops rather
than big crops. one of our mistakes Is
we strive 10 tenn TOO AnuCu idilus am
hence do not cultivate it well. This
method kills our stock and gives US
poor returns for our labor Land. like
people wants change of diet P'autins
the same kind of crop on the same land
all the while soon makes it poor. Chang
ing the crop will be found helpful. We
further urge that we use more Of the
homemade mapures, and less of the
stone-bought fertilizers. Often there is
l.. . H. q
and barn lot than in tons Of the so-caued
fertilizers.
Let US take better care of our stock
Their only expense is what they eat
Properly fed and cared for. there is nc
part of our possess ions that will give Is
such handsome returns for the money in
vested.
I'VE should further urge that we make
at home the urgent necessaries of life
such as meat. corn, rice, molasses, etc
IT IS not a very hopeful sign to see I
farmers wagon going from home empty
and return loaded with watermelons veg
etables, etc. Let us reverse this ordel
of things. Let us go to town with full
wagons and empty pockets and return
with empty wagons and full pockets.
Avoid the credit system. Let us no
spend the money before we get it. w,
would urge that we strive 10 becom
greater regard FOR our business contracts
and obligations. With regret. we arr
forced TO admit that many of the line
of industry once filled by. US have gradu
ally slipped from us. The washerwomat
has been forced to give way to the ski
and polish of the laundry, the barber {,
the tonsorial artist and the cock to III
culinary art of domestic science. TIL
numerous co,ored brickmasons and car
penters that could once be seei
on every building are becom
ing entirely too rare because of 'acl
of skill and due regard for business Obi
cations and promptness
We should further urge that the condi
ton of our homes demands our serou
thought and attention. The one-room cot
tage should be added to and the surround
ing made clean and pretty by the use o
flowers in the yard and whitewash on IN
walls. The home is abe center of mora
influence, and sweet attractive homes wi,
add much 10 the strength of character
purity of hfe and happiness of the fam
lily.
''The tendency 20 leave the country an,
flock to the cities must be discourag ed
The unhealthy localities, impure food
and disease TO which our people are sub
ject because of crowding into the cite
accounts in large measure for the hig
death rate among our people.
I'VE further urge that our people tax
lively interest in the education of thei
children. The demands OF the age and tn
strong competition in labor demand tina
the youths of our race should no xvel