Negroes Receive Farm
Training. . . More Than 142 Are Taking Vocational Agriculture Course in Eight
Counties
Over 142 negro pupils in eight counties of the State are
receiving vocational agricultural training under the supervision of the State
Board for Vocational Education. According to Mr. Roy Thomas, who has charge of
this agricultural training, the schools now being conducted are located in
Pitt, Orange, Pamlico, Sampson, Bertie, Martin, Johnston and Wake counties.
In addition to the course of instruction given, the pupils
are cultivating 105 acres in crops and raising 35 animals as home project work.
Mr. Thomas finds that though the work has just barely been begun in these
counties, encouraging results have so far been secured. Both old and young are
being reached, as shown in Johnston County, where two old pupils, one 40 and
another 36, have been enrolled.
At Grimesland in Pitt County a very successful night school
is being conducted. Here there is a class of about 50 men, women and children
which meets three times a week to receive instruction in agriculture. This
class is composed of people in the community.
At the Orange County Training School at Chapel Hill,
Principal R.E. Maloe has reached practically every negro county in the
community through his agricultural department. Thirty boys and girls have
inaugurated garden projects and 60 families are doing intelligent gardening
under the supervision of the agricultural teacher.
This work, which is going hand in hand with the
demonstration work of the Extension Service, is proving to be of great value
wherever it has been tried. The Extension Service has already employed 15 local
agents and one District Agent, who are aiding negro farmers in certain
districts of the State.
The record made by these men last year was
exceptionally good. In addition to this, under the leadership of John D. Wray,
approximately 10,000 negro boys and girls were enrolled in the club work to
receive instruction in improved methods of raising corn, poultry, pigs and
cotton. Agent Wray also did considerable work among the negroes last year in
promoting a “live-at-home” campaign, especially in the production of garden
crops.
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