The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1920-01-10
PROSPEROUS NEGRO FARMER.
BY S. c. HOyIe.

Very few people think of the Ne
gro as a prosperous farmer. The
general idea seems to be that he is
only useful when properly managed
as laborer on the farm, and few
are willing to concede that he may
may become a manager of farm
and secure prosperity from the soil.
Yet such is the case, for prosperous
Negro farmers are springing into
existence in many sections of the
South, and l.. A. Nash has upset the
general dope" in Brazos County by
not only managing q farm so as to-
make money, but he has proven that
he can be a successful demonstra-
ton agent and lead other Colored
farmers to adopt improved methods
of farming. while his wife has made
a record in canning farm products
which should fill the heart of any
housekeeper with pride.
L. A. Nash is Colored Agent in
Brazos and Burleson Counties for
the Extension Service A. and NJ. Col
lege of Texas. He was reared in
Brazos County, and has been so suc-v
cessful that he has purchased
beautiful two-story farm home ana
fifty acres in the suburbs of Bryan
at a cost of approximately $4,000,
while he has 391 acres of river bot
tom land at Clay, Texas, in Burle-
son County. He keeps purored
livestock, having registered Jersey
COWS, registered Duroc-Jersey hogs,
standard bred Rhode Island chickens,
and registered Poland China and
Tamworth hogs. He and Mrs. Nash
are both graduates of Prairie View
State Normal, and are practicing i'm
proved methods of farming and home
economics. When others were fail
ing he has been able to produce
from forty to fifty bushels of corn
per acre, and his success attracted
the attention of T. o. Walton, Di-
rector of Extension Service A. and
NJ. College of Texas, with the result
that he was employed as Negro as
demonstration agent.
Lou Nash did not believe that he
could make a success renting, so he
borrowed sixty-five dollars from a
friend and made payment on few
acres Of land, and attributes his sue
cess to following correct cultural
principles taught him at Prairie View
Normal. He is greatly interested in
the welfare of the Negro race and a
few years ago influenced twelve Ne
gro farmers to purchase farms vary
ing in size from 100 to 200 acres in
the Brazos Bottom near Henly Hill.
twenty miles from Bryan, and en-
couraged them to follow correct Gull
tural methods. Those farms have
been paid for and the owners are
prosperous Colored farmers.
This year Nash succeeded in max
ing seventy-five bushels of corn to
the acre on some of his land, while
several of the demonstrators under
his direction have made excellent
yields.
Jim Ferguson, a Negro demonstra-
tor in Burleson County, made seven
ty-five bushels of corn to the acre
on his demonstration plat.
Will Walton and Vance Walton,
two demonstr ators, made sixty-five
bushels of corn to the acre on their
demonstrations.
Joe Gonzales, Jr., a Colored agri-
cultural club boy raised sixty-five
bushels on his demonstration acre.
He lives near College Station, and
the corn was raised on hill land,
which is quite a good showing for
man, much less a Negro boy.
Home Demonstration Work.
1t would not be fair for the read
er to form the impression that Lou
Nash is altogether responsible Tor his
success. In fact it is doubtful If
he is entitled to even half the credit,
since Mrs Nash played an important
part. She has not only encouraged
improved methods on the fam, but
she has put into practice improved
methods in the home, and under the
direction of the Home Demonstra-
ton Service, during the summer and
fall of this year, has canned seven
OIL eight varieties of fruits and veg
etables and now has over 300 cans
for winter consumption. She con-
serves peaches, plums, peas, dewber-
ries, beans, and makes pickles, jel-
lies, ETC., for home use.
The home has all the modern con-
veniences, while an automobile en-
ables them to enjoy the pleasures Of
city life as well as the advantages
Of a country home.
Others may accomplish all that
the Nash family have accomplished
by following the same methods, and
many are being influenced to do so
under their instruction is demonstra-
ton work.
Agricultural News.