George Washington Carver: Inventor of the crop rotation method

British spelling

George Washington Carver was an African-American who discovered over 300 different uses for peanuts, including cooking oil, printer’s ink, and axle grease.

Undoubtedly, this was a man with an extraordinary sensitivity, peaceful, and a lover of nature above all. When he was asked why he was not married, he responded:

“It would be difficult to explain to a lady that I wake up every day at four in the morning to go talk to the flowers.” — George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was born a slave in Missouri in 1864 (?), at the time of the Civil War. The exact date of birth and year are unknown. According to various reports, it is estimated he was born between 1860 and 1865.

He grew up as a free child thanks to the end of the Civil War. His mother’s former master, Moses Carver and his wife Susan raised young George. The Carvers had owned George’s mother, Mary, since she was 13 years old. They gave her their last name, as it was the custom.

During the war, Mary and little George were kidnapped by riders who took them to Arkansas. Moises quickly sent a Union scout to find them. Only baby George was found; he was deadly ill. Susan Carver nursed the baby and cared for him as her own.

As a child, George had an interest in plants and flowers. He liked to collect all sorts of specimens.

George was a rather curious child with initiative and determination. At age 11, George left home to pursue an education. In the nearby town of Neosho, an African-American couple took him in to do some work.

Working odd jobs while attending school, young George soon got disappointed in the school. He was curious and smart, and perhaps the pace of the school was too slow for him. He left for Kansas.

For several years he supported himself while studying. He earned his high school diploma in his twenties. Then he found out that there were no opportunities to attend college for young black men in Kansas.

In the late 1880s, young Carver relocated to Iowa where he met the Mulhollands, a white couple who spent time with him and encouraged Carver to enrol in college.

“I went from here to the Western part of Kans where I saw the subject of my famous Yu Yucca & Cactus painting that went to the Worlds Fair. I drifted from here to Winterset Iowa, began as head cook in a large hotel. Many thanks here for the acquaintance of Mrs. & Mr. & Mrs. Dr. Milholland, who insisted upon me going to an Art school, and choose Simpson College for me.” (Excerpt from a transcription of an original letter written by George W. Carver, 1897 or thereabouts)

Carver started studying music and art; he wanted to become an artist. Soon his teacher noticed he was interested in botany. She encouraged him to transfer to Iowa State Agricultural College (Iowa State University today).

In 1894, Carver earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Science from Iowa State, and then his master’s in 1896. At that time, he demonstrated a rare talent for identifying and treating plant diseases. He was known as the “Plant Doctor.”

When Booker T. Washington was looking to establish an agricultural department and research facility at his Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama, a vocational school for African-Americans that he had founded in 1881, he asked Carver to join the faculty of Tuskegee.

Carver was the only African-American in the United States with an advanced degree in Scientific Agriculture.

Carver joined the faculty in 1896 where he remained for the rest of his life as both a teacher and researcher. He was the Head of the Institute’s Agricultural Experiment Station.

Carver used agricultural chemistry and scientific methodology to improve the lives of impoverished farmers in southeastern Alabama.

He conducted soil studies to determine the difference in crop growth in the region and which ones would grow best. While doing this, he found out that the local soil was perfect for growing peanuts and sweet potatoes.

He spent time teaching local farmers about fertilisation and crop rotation. Using these methods would increase soil productivity. Cotton was the primary crop in the south, which depleted soil nutrients severely.

However, by rotating crops, for example, by alternating cotton with soil-enriching crops such as legumes and sweet potatoes, farmers could see an increase in their cotton yield for a plot of land. Moreover, crop rotation was much cheaper than commercial fertilisation.

Carver had almost a perfect plan. But, what to do with all the extra sweet potatoes and peanuts? Not many people ate them.

They were not crops with many uses or applications. They were pretty much undesirable crops.

Resourceful and inventive as he was, Carver started to work on inventing new food, industrial and commercial products such as flour, sugar, vinegar, cosmetic products, ink, paint, and many others came out from these plants.

Seeing a potential economic advantage for adopting crop rotation, farmers were going to be happier about it.

Dr. Carver developed hundreds of new products from peanuts. He created a new market for these inexpensive, soil-enriching legumes.

He started to be known as the Peanut Man. In 1896, the peanut was not recognised as a U.S. crop.

However, by 1940, the humble peanut had become one of the six leading crops and the second cash crop in the south of the United States only after cotton.

Peanuts and sweet potatoes were incorporated into southern cooking, spreading quickly to the rest of the nation.

Dr. Carver found 105 different ways of preparing the peanut for the table.

In order to educate farmers, Dr. Carver developed travelling schools and other outreach programmes of easy access.

He wrote especially popular bulletins that he distributed to farmers for free. In the bulletins, he reported on his research at the Agricultural Experiment Station and its multiple applications.

Through his knowledge on chemistry and agriculture paired with his conviction, Dr. Carver revolutionised southern agriculture in the U.S..

He raised the standard of living of his fellow men. Dr. Carver was and still is one of the most recognised names in African-American history.

Dr. Carver received the 1923 Spingarn Medal and was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

The George Washington Carver National Monument was the first national monument dedicated to an African-American, and the first to a non-president.

George Washington Carver continued to invent, discover, and teach others along his entire life. He never married.

When asked about this, he once said it would be difficult to explain to a lady that he woke up every day at four in the morning to go talk to the flowers.

Carver never pursued fortune or fame. He repeatedly said that he was always happy working to make the world a better place to live. He believed his inventions could contribute to this purpose.

George Washington Carver died in Tuskegee, Alabama, on 5 January, 1943.

He is acknowledged and remembered as one of the most sensitive and creative scientists of all times and all races.

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About the Author: Susan Fourtané is a freelance Science and Technology Journalist, a professional writer with 18 years experience writing for global media and industry publications. She’s a member of the ABSW, WFSJ, Society of Authors, and London Press Club.

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