CARVER, A MAN OF MANY TALENTS

George Washington Carver was an American Negro. He was a research chemist. He had many
remarkable achievements in chemistry researches, economics and industry.
George was born in 1864 of slave parents. The civil war in America had set him free but he
preferred to stay in the plantation of his former owner, Moses Carver. George learned how to
take care of plants instinctively. He collected different plant species and planted them in his own
botanical garden.
At the age of eight, George wanted to learn how to read but the nearby schools were only for
white children. A blue-blacked speller was given and he learned all the words it contained in a
short time. Then, young George read the Bible. Perhaps his Bible readings help him acquire the
ability to make friends.
At the age of 10, George left the Carvers to continue his studies. He found a house with the
Watkins who treated him like one of the family as the Carvers had done. He was a very fast
learner, and he got through the entire primary school course in a single year. George worked his
way through the upper grade school, high school and college and later acquired the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
George was appointed head of the Department of Agricultural Research in a Negro University.
At the university, he conducted an astonishing series of experiments.
From peanuts he developed nearly 300 products such as milk, butter, cheese, shaving lotion,
breakfast food, flour, soap, ink and cosmetics.
From sweet potatoes, he developed 118 substances including starch, vinegars, shoe-blacking,
library paste and candies.
He developed dyes from clay, onions, beans and tomatoes. He made oil paints from clay,
peanuts, and cattle manure. From wood shavings, he made synthetic marble.
But peanut was his main interest. Dr. Carver said: “From peanut, one can find food and shelter;
he can also produce medicine, washing powders, face bleach, candy, wallboards for homes, and
hundreds of other things.
Vocabulary: remarkable plantation astonishing synthetic shelter
CARVER, A MAN OF MANY TALENTS
George Washington Carver was an American Negro. He was a research chemist. He had many
remarkable achievements in chemistry researches, economics and industry.
George was born in 1864 of slave parents. The civil war in America had set him free but he
preferred to stay in the plantation of his former owner, Moses Carver. George learned how to
take care of plants instinctively. He collected different plant species and planted them in his own
botanical garden.
At the age of eight, George wanted to learn how to read but the nearby schools were only for
white children. A blue-blacked speller was given and he learned all the words it contained in a
short time. Then, young George read the Bible. Perhaps his Bible readings help him acquire the
ability to make friends.
At the age of 10, George left the Carvers to continue his studies. He found a house with the
Watkins who treated him like one of the family as the Carvers had done. He was a very fast
learner, and he got through the entire primary school course in a single year. George worked his
way through the upper grade school, high school and college and later acquired the degree of
Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.
George was appointed head of the Department of Agricultural Research in a Negro University.
At the university, he conducted an astonishing series of experiments.
From peanuts he developed nearly 300 products such as milk, butter, cheese, shaving lotion,
breakfast food, flour, soap, ink and cosmetics.
From sweet potatoes, he developed 118 substances including starch, vinegars, shoe-blacking,
library paste and candies.
He developed dyes from clay, onions, beans and tomatoes. He made oil paints from clay,
peanuts, and cattle manure. From wood shavings, he made synthetic marble.
But peanut was his main interest. Dr. Carver said: “From peanut, one can find food and shelter;
he can also produce medicine, washing powders, face bleach, candy, wallboards for homes, and
hundreds of other things.
Vocabulary: remarkable plantation astonishing synthetic shelter