The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-05
What The Negro Is Doing
 For Himself Ln The South

To The Advertiser:
 At the recent annual meeting of the National Negro Business League, of president, there were related many re- markable illustrations of what the ne- gro Is doing for himself is the South. This week cite one of them which Is perfectly reliable.
 J. D.. McDuffy, of Ocala, Fla. start ed farm eleven years ago on three acres of groun dwhich he rented. He had nothing to start with but a de- termination to make farming pay. He raised several crops year on three acres and sold his products in local markets. Finding that he could not sell to advantage all his produce, he increased his farm to seven acres and began shipping to Northern markets. His principal crop was watermelons and cantaloupes. His shipments be- came so large he was called--"McDuf- fy, the melon man." He was after ward called 'The Watermelon King"
 McDuffy increased his farm to one hundred acres which he owns and af- forwards secured six x-hundred and for ty acres which he now cultivates Last year McDuffy shipped ninety car loads Of melons to one merchant In Balti- more. besides car loads to New York. Philadelphia and Boston and Chicago. He also cultivated last year thirty acres of cantaloupes from which he made the first shipment to Northern markets. and received the premium of $f,200 for the first carload. He has been getting this premium five conse- cutive years for the first shipment from the South.
 McDuffy has also started A stock farm in connection with his melon venture asd he raises and sells hogs, cattle. horses and mules. He has a cold storage plant on his place in which he keeps meat and other perish ables. His business with the railroad has become so great the Atlantic Coas st Line has run a spur track to his farm which Is about three miles from the main track.
 McDuffy employs about forty work men the year around increased to more than one hundred during the busy sea son. During that. short season his pay roll runs to $500 per week. He finds a ready home market for all his meal and stock and places his hams in com petition with the Western meats. Iaia MoDuffy says iheb finds IfsrI prejudice ngRfnst any of his products in The markets. He simply makes the best melons. the best cantaloupes and thf hest hams and he gets the best prices Ea This Is what a negro Is doing for Himself 1F'te -
 At the recent negro fair held iu Raleigh N. C.. there were many ax. hibits by farmers which attracted much attention. Among them was the ex- hibit of Fletcher Lockhart prosper ous truck farmer of Wake county Lockhart was born slave in 1854 ra n htua ha ~a,-trs. F on cotton farm until 1873. With a capital of seventy-five cents which he borrowed he struck out to make iiv- ing for himself and his young wife He and his helpmate cleared s65 the first year. He worked for wages. 1. The second year Lockhart leased one hundred acres for. i've years. When his lease expired he bought the land for s22 per acre. He paid off the mortgage and now owns the place. valued at s15.o00. He has educated farm, and was awarded the first prize of s1O0 for the best exhibit in his line.
 Two years ago a young woman. Nell lia l.. Butler. graduated from Phelps Hall Bible Training school of which the writer is Dean. This young wo- man was sent out by pr. Washington to do mission work at Luna Landing, Arkansas. A few days ago I receiv- ed a letter from her stating the fol- lowing results of her work. She said: Tn Jannary 1908. was sent here by the Tuskegee Institute to take charge of this work in response to an offer of a lady in Berlin. Germany. to help our people. I was sent to teach in the class room. give instructions in sewing and cooking. hold mothers meetings.