Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-16

NEGRO FARMERS MEET WAR
TIME DEMANDS.

Hampton, Va, Fcbruary-John B.
Pierce, a TuskcgecHampton graduate
who is the District Negro Agent or
p the farm demonstration work in Vir
ginia and is responsible FOR the work
of 90 county agents, is a leader who
has won his position Of respect and
authority through untiring, unselfish
and intelligent service.
The recent Hampton Institute War
Time Conference he summarizes as
follows: This has been the best Farm
cr's Conference we have had ut Hamp
ton. l have noticed how the farmers
have developed in the past ten years
since demonstration work has been
among them. The Negro farmers are
better acquainted than ever before
with their soils, crops, and live stock
all of which they are handling sue
ccssfully.
'"rhe material growth Of country
bred colorcd people was we'll illustrat
ed in the interesting stories which
the colorod farmers told Of their sue
cosses The Improvement of their HON
es and home life, schools and church
es was most remarkable, especially
to one who saw the beginning.
"rhe great possibilities for Negro
Improvement in rural Ito Was one Of
tho Visions of the late DR.. Hollis b.
Frisscll, principal of Hampton from
1898 to 1917.
TRAINING THE LEADERS.
The Hampton Conference brought
together several hundred representa-
tive Negro farmers. as we'll as the
industrial supervising teachers and
farm demonstration agents who are
helping the colored people through
out Virginia to secure grcGtcr returns
from their land; to- improve their
schools, homes and churches and to
become better citizens.
The Conference considered in de-
tail what colored people have been
doing and what they can do TO help
win the World War for Democracy.
From the discussions it was made
clear that the colored people Of Vir
ginia are for the most part using
wisely the extra money return which
they have received during the past
season from their abundant crops.
virginia Negroes are paying off
their old debts and are improvirr
thor homes, schools, and churches
selves and Their : ., auvplics
which. IN otHer gears, thcy bought
Oh time prices.
WAR SAVINGS CAMPAIGN. /
Major Allen ". Washington, com
mandant of cadets at Hampton In
stitute. who has been appointed by
COL Thomas b. McAdams as director
Of the War Savings Campaign among
V1rglnla's cOlored people. described
In detail the use OF tho Thrift and
War Stamps. He urged the colored
leaders to induce their neighbors to
save their money and help Virginia
meet its quota of $45,O0O,OO0 in saw
ings during 1918, by having every col
ored man. woman and child in the
,Stato save $40.
PROGRESS THROUGH
COOPERATION. ..
Rev. A. S. George q preachcr-farm
err OF Surry County, Va, described
tho way in which his church had be
como the important rallying point
for the good work which has been
done by the industrial supervising
teacher of Surry County and the farm
demonstration agent, both of whom
arc active factors in bringing new
life to people living on the land.
). IT, Hutchinson, Blacksburg, Va,
Assistant Director Of Extension Work
in Virginia spoke on "The Value OF
Thrift IN War Times" w. II. B. Will
liams Field Agent. Hampton Insti--
tute. showed the colored farmers how
futile 1t Is for them to secure largo
farms unless they are willing to do
all that they possibly can for the i'm
proyement OF the public schools
which must train the citizens of to
morrow.
Fred S. Gammack, Instructor in
Poultry, Hampton Inst. gave practi ,
cal talk on Raising Poultry for pro- :
fit,' On which showed the country peo
pie how they could distinguish be-
tween layess and nonlayers. |
Babel &c. Williams a member of the
Hampton Senior class, gave demon
stration in "Handling Rust in Cloth !
es.' j. Thomas Braye, a member Of
tho Hampton Fourth Year class in
Agricu lure. gave q demonstration In
the use Of the "Babcock Tester" /
Negro farmers who had won unus-
ual success in spite OF heavy handi- |
caps. related their experience to the
profit Of one another and especially ,
to tho profit OF the entire
Hampton school, which is commit ;
ed to the policy of helping in every pos
sible way the men, women and chill
dren who gain for themselves and for
their white ncighbors a living from :
the soil. i