The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-25
C0LORED FARMERS CONFERENCE
Instructive Addresses Made at Bowl
ing Decentralization of ColOred
Teachers Also Meet.


Bowling Green. Va. Feb. u.
The colOred farmers OF Caroline
county met ut Bowling Green Acad
envy in their fifth annual session
Feb. Is and 1G to consider the best
ways and means Of farming and
the Improvement OF country life in
general.
The following subjects were dis
cussed: First. the corn crop, by
Prof. w. G. Young. graduate Of
the Agricultural Department of
Hampton. Va, who is doing demon
stration farming in Halifax county
among the colored farmers. He
took the testing OF corn, then the
selection. breeding, cultivation. fer
tilization and harvesting. showing
to the satisfaction Of all that our
old methods OF farming will not
produce the best results.
The subject Renovation OF Worn
out Soils" was thoroughly discuss
ed by Mr.. w. w. Green. director OF
the experiment station for farmers
at Bowling Green, Caroline. At
Louisa. Va. and also at Fork Union,
Va. Mr.. Green proved himself mas
ter of the situation After giving
a beautiful outline of soil creation
and how IL was formed in the be
ginning by the action of heat and
cold water. etc. he showed that
years ago when this country was
discovered the soil was virgin, pure,
rich: then by poor cultivation good
crops were produced; this was kept
up until the soil began to degen-
crate In productiveness Now. said
he. We must bring it back to It's
original fertility. All of our lands
need nitrogen, potash and phosphor-
lie acid. Humus can be supplied by
green crops. peas, clover. soy beans,
etc. All farmers Of the county
would profit by accepting Mr..
Green's invitation TO visit the eX-
pertinent statidn near Bowling
Green at any time and get his ad-
vice free on all subjects OF farming.
The subject. Sanitation in the
Home" was discussed by DR.. c. 5.
Webb. of Bowling Green. This
plain talk on care OF the body pres
ervation Of the health and the pre-
ventives Of diseases was conceded
by all present to be more beneficial,
more valuable than all the informa-
ton Oh any OF the subjects which
the conference has ever considered
i'm these five MEETINGS. since II had
to do with that most precious OF all,
health-life. The doctor showed
plainly. giving good reasons why
a person should live a hundred
years instead Of three score and
ten. The conference voted DR.. {.
S. Webb resolution OF thanks in
token OF its appreciation OF his
invaluable discussion. Many who
heard him expect to live to be a
hundred years old. especially under
the care of so skilled a physician.
Our efficient division school SUI
perintendent. Prof. John Washing
ton. was present with his usual
words of cheer and wholesome in
struction.
The judges awarded the follow
ing prizes: First on corn, Allen
Turner. Of Brandywine; second on
corn. II. p. Latane, Shoots; first on
peas w. NJ. Page, Milford; first on
tobacco. J. w. Carter. Shoots; sec
ond on tobacco, f. Fortune, Shoots;
first on wheat, r. b. Fortune
Shoots: best loaf of bread. Mrs.
Lucy Jones. Upper Zion; second
best bread, Mrs. r. b. Fortune
Smoots.
The Colored Teachers Associa-
ton of the county convened on FIJI
day following the conference. This
was largely attended by both teach
ers and patrons. Prof. Jackson
Davis supervisor OF colOred rural
schools. who had been previously IN
vited by the division school superln-
tendent. was present, and AFTER
giving the teachers, patrons ana
farmers one of the best talks the
association ever listened TO he and
Prof. Washington proceeded with
the other judges to pass on the
exhibits brought up by the different
teachers. which showed great prog
ress made by the pupils of the va
rious schools along industrial lines
especially needle work. The stu
dents of the academy had on exhibit
ton many Industrial articles, which
were of much higher grade thar
those from the public schools, IN
GLIDING loaf bread, cakes, pies, etc
The conference and Teachers AS
ISOLATION will meet next on the first
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
of 1912, in January.
Prof. l.. l.. Davis is president OF
the conference, and Miss A. NJ. ROD
inson, secretary.
Farmer