Carver's first publication from Tuskegee, his 1898 pamphlet "Feeding Acorns to Livestock," was followed during the next three decades by forty-three others ranging from "How to Raise Pigs with Little Money" to "How to Meet New Economic Conditions in the South," all aimed at helping the small farmer help himself. They were followed in 1942 by a wartime favorite, "Nature's Garden for Victory and Peace." He was finding great satisfaction at that time in the fact that nutrition experts were earnestly emphasizing the value of peanut butter in a good diet, particularly for children. In an effort to reach a broad audience, George for a long time wrote a syndicated newspaper column, " Professor Carver 's Advice," in which he answered questions relating to scientific agriculture in simple language.
        To the Wizard of Tuskegee came honors, doctorates, citations, medals, and lavish praise from every level of society, but he remained indifferent to personal fortune -- he repeatedly refused to accept an increase in his $125 monthly Tuskegee salary -- or to stylish apparel. He usually wore an aged cap and a battered old gray tweed suit with pants quite bagged at the knees, a condition resulting from the hours Dr. Carver spent kneeling while examining -- and talking to -- his plants. But there was always one delightful aspect of his attire: he never failed to have a fresh flower in his lapel.
        In 1910, the Board of Trustees at Tuskegee established a Department of Agricultural Research with Dr. Carver in charge. He turned most of his classes over to others and thereafter devoted his time to creative science. He was much sought after for lectures in distant states, and he answered those calls when he could leave his work at Tuskegee . At the Institute he received delegations from all over the world and worked with them to solve agricultural problems, always refusing payments for these efforts to help those in need.
        For many years, George Carver kept up his music, and one year even toured as a pianist to raise money for the Institute, but it was his painting that came second in his heart to his agricultural research. His pictures are unique in that he made all the paints he used from Alabama soils. He created many beautiful colors, including one blue which was believed to be a rediscovery of an old Egyptian blue for which modern pigment makers had been searching for years.
        The 1936-37 school year at Tuskegee was dedicated to honoring Dr. Carver 's fortieth year at the school, and plans were made for the erection of the George Washington Carver Museum to recognize Carver's contributions to science and provide permanent exhibit rooms for his scientific collections and his paintings.
        Carver's entire savings-- which, thanks to his bizarre frugality, totaled about $60,000 -- went, during his last years and at his death, to the Carver Museum and to the George Washington Carver Foundation, which has as its purpose the support of young Negroes engaged in scientific research.
        George Washington Carver died quietly on January 5,1943 , and was buried -- with a bright, fresh flower in his lapel -- at Tuskegee beside his friend Booker T. Washington. Condolences poured in to the Institute from great men of all races, and lesser folk by the thousands mourned the friend and benefactor they had lost.