The Denver star., 1917-06-23
MEETING NEEDS
OF THE PEOPLE
Hampton Leaders Point Way
to Economic Development.
AID TO GOOD CITIZENSHIP

ana Ss D. P1OTco ~ ouPOTNSooVo VI
Rural Public Schools In Virginia.
Conservation Of Food and Other Prae-
tieai Necessities Taught.
Two of the leading addresses at the
recent Hampton institute community
meeting on preparedness were deliv-
cred by Hampton graduates who are
supervising important field work
among the colored people Of Virginia.
Miss Lizzie A. jenkins, district agent
in charge of home demonstration work
In Virginia, spoke on 1.-THE Negro
Farmers Family" She said in part:
Fifteen years ago Hampton insti-
tute sent one of her graduates to
Gloucester county, Virginia, to super
wise the industrial work in the public
schools. A few years later, in 1907, the
Jeanes fund began to furnish some aid,
and four Of the supervising industrial
teachers were sent out to work in as
many counties. This work has spread
until now, instead of four teachers
and four counties in the state, there
are forty-nine workers in forty-eight
counties. These workers began with
giving sewing lessons. which was soon
followed by cooking lessons.
"Once upon time it was thought
that all colored girls and women knew
how to cook instinctively, but 1t has
been found that they have to be taught
in the same painstaking way as do
girls and women Of other races. We
lol 10 oh M m
fancy cooking, but how to make the
most of what they have right around
them. We also teach table setting.
waiting and table manners.
I'm the sewing classes we teach the
girls to cut and make good, practical
underwear, aprons, print or gingham
dresses; to make over old garments, and
after they have done their plain sewing
well we let them have some fancy work.
such as crocheting and embroidery.
"Our workers, in cooperation with
the Negro Organization society, have
sought suitable homes, placed more
than 800 INDECENT and delinquent color
ed children and watched over them to
see that they have been treated fairly.
given q chance to 60 to school and to
church and thus started on tho way to
becoming good citizens instead Of be-
coming paupers or criminals. Some Of
these children have become our best
club workers. I went into a Sunday
school a few Sundays ago and found
two of the boys ushers in the Sunday
school,"
John B. Pierce, a Taskeeee-Hampton
graduate, who is district agent in
charge Of Negro farm demonstration
work in Virginia, gave a summary Of
the progress which is being made By
Negro farmers in Virginia. He In part
said:
I'm 1907 farm demonstration work
began in Virginia under the supervision
of DR.. Seaman A. Knapp, with one
agent working in one county with about
300 farmers. Today there are eighteen
agents working in twenty-five counties.
According to the 1910 census, these
twenty-five counties have 1892 farm
ers, and estimate that 10000 Of these
farmers are now being Influenced d.
rectly and indirectly to practice better
farming and higher standard of liv-
ing. In 1915 S84 meetings were held,
with an attendance of about $4,000.
'The average yield Of corn when the
work began was about fifteen bushels
per acre. Last year it was thirty-three
bushels in the territory worked. Some
Of the yields were as high as seventy
five and ninety bushels per acre.
"One farmer IN Isle of Wight county
during 1915, following poor prepara-
ton Of soil, cultivation Of crop and
using sos worth of commercial fer
tilizer. produced only $40 bushels Of
corn on thirty acres. Last year he fol-
lowed under the agents direction good
preparation of soil, cultivation Of crop
and used no commercial fertilizer and
produced 7s0 bushels on thirty acres, q
difference of 24O bushels plus sos not
spent for fertilizer. The land both
years was Of the same grade and fer
tility.
"In 1907 most of the farmers relied
upon their money crops, such as to-
bacco, peanuts and cotton, for supply
ing their food and feed. Today about
5000 Of these farmers are raising
practically all Of their home supplies.
and a large number are giving more
attention to truck crops, such as sweet
and white potatoes, navy beans, corn
field beans. cowpeas, cabbages, turnips,
watermelons cantalOupes, pumpkins
and even assisting their wives in hav-
ing home gardens. There was good co
operative work between the county
agents and supervising industrial
teachers in helping the farmers to grow
and save food supplies.
"In the beginning no work was un-
dertaken for the boys. In 1916 2S4
boys grew corn, peanuts, potatoes.
pigs, cowpeas and vegetables. In one
county eight boys in corn averaged
forty-three bushels. the highest yield
hefnu E2 q hrshe1s Three bOys in Dea-