Once upon a time, there was a professor who loved agriculture. He lived during the Civil War and saw how important it was to grow good crops to feed the soldiers. But he noticed that the soil was not as rich as it used to be and plants were not growing as well.

So, he became an inventor and started experimenting with different ways to add nutrients to the soil. He discovered fertilizer and started using it on his farm. The crops grew better than ever before!

The professor wanted to share his discovery with other farmers, so he went to Congress to ask for help. They listened to him and agreed to give him money to spread the word about fertilizer.

The professor traveled around the country, teaching sharecroppers and other farmers about the benefits of using fertilizer. He even set up a school to teach others about agriculture and how to use fertilizer.

However, in those times, everything was segregated, and the professor's school was only for white farmers. But one day, a group of black sharecroppers came to him and asked for his help. The professor was not sure what to do, but he knew that he could not turn them away.

So, he opened up the school to all farmers, regardless of skin color. And with the help of fertilizer, everyone's crops grew better, and everyone was able to share in the bounty. From then on, all the farmers worked together to make agriculture better for everyone.

Reflections

1. Why did the professor become interested in agriculture?
2. What was the problem with the crops during the Civil War?
3. How did the professor discover fertilizer?
4. Why did the professor go to Congress?
5. Who did the professor teach about agriculture and fertilizer?
6. Why did the professor open his school to all farmers?
7. How did the use of fertilizer make a difference for the farmers?