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(JENEKAJ. WASjlidMtrrO?,’ , 
 
LETTERS 
 
 FROM HIS EXCELLENCY 
 
 GEORGE WASHINGTON, 
 
 ARTHUR YOUNG, ESQ. F. R. S. 
 
 AND 
 
 SIR JOHN SINCLAIR, BART, M. P. 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 AN ACCOUNT OF ELS HUSBANDST, 
 
 HIS OPINIONS ON VARIOUS QUESTIONS IN AGRICULTURE 5 
 
 Many Particulars of tlie Rural Economy 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
 ^eynniirta: 
 
 PRINTED BY COTTOM AND STEWART, 
 
 AND SOLD AT THEIR BOOKSTORES IN ALEXANDRIA AND 
 IREDERICKSBURG. 
 
 1S03. 
 
TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
 THE circumstance which occasioned the Corres¬ 
 pondence now printed^ was an application made to me for 
 a bailiff to send to General Washington, and the infor¬ 
 mation I then recei’^ed, that the General was extremely ' 
 fond of Agriculture, and had been unfortunate in several 
 people, in the line of Husbandry, that had been sent to 
 him from England. I was hurt at hearing this, and wrote 
 to offer him any assistance in his farming pursuits, that 
 might be in my power. He readily accepted the offer; 
 which produced the following Letters. 
 
 That they will prove interesting to the Public, I have 
 little doubt; not’ merely from the great celebrity of the 
 tvriter, but by reason of many particulms they contain, 
 descriptive of the United States; of the authenticity and 
 accuracy of these, there cannot be the smallest doubt; 
 and few countries have been described in so satisfactory 
 a manner as the Central States, in this Correspondence. 
 
 With whatever view the Letters maybe read, it must 
 be a pleasing spectacle to a reflecting mind, to see so 
 close £m attention paid to the practice of Agriculture, by 
 men in the highest situations; who, from commanding 
 Armies, and presiding in Senates, can descend to the 
 humbler walk of Husbandry, and find it an employment 
 sufiicient to interest the most splendid talents; and an 
 amusement that can animate the best affections of the 
 heart. . 
 
ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 WHEN the Editors first contemplated publishing- 
 “ Gr,\T.RAL Washington’s LETxrRs to Sir John Sin¬ 
 clair, on Agrii ultui-al and other interesting snbjecti-y 
 it was their intention to have executed it on a fine wove 
 paper, and in a superior stile of printing to what is now of. 
 fered. But acopyofthe “GiNr.RAi.’.s i.r.TTi:Ks toSiR Ar- 
 
 their hands, accompanied with letters of experience from 
 gentlemen ot reputed tas c in farming, resident in differ- 
 entparts of the Union,induced them to preAr utihtvtoele- 
 gan:e, andhv deviating from their loriner proposal, have 
 been enabled to furnish, without .any additional cxpencc, 
 the General’s correspondence with both these gcndenien 
 where one only was promised. Should any of the Sub¬ 
 scribers, in consequence of tills deviation, think proper to 
 wlthdrav,- their subscription, they will be at liberty so 
 *0 do. 
 
XETTERS 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 i'louwt Vernon, 5th of August, 1786. 
 
 Sir,' 
 
 Arthur young. Esq. of Bury, in Suffolk, hav¬ 
 ing been so obliging as to offer to procure for me, imple¬ 
 ments of husbaridry7iee3si'&c.'I have accepted his kind¬ 
 ness with much pfeasure, because he is a competent judge 
 of the first, and will be carefid that the latter are; good of 
 their several kinds; a thing of much consequence, md 
 which-does not often happen witli seeds, imported into 
 this country from Europe. 
 
 I have requested him to forward these articles to your 
 care, and draw upon you for the amount. Let me entreaf 
 your particular attention to them, with a request that the 
 captain of the vessel on board of which they are shipped, 
 may be solicited to keep the seeds in the cabbing or out 
 of the ship’s hold, at any rate, as they never fad to heat 
 and spoil when put there. 
 
 I am, Sirj 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Wakelin Welch, Esq. 
 
 Mount Vernon, 6th of August, 1786. 
 
 I HAVE had the honor to receive 3 miir letter of 
 the seventh of January from Bradfield-Hall, in Suffolk, 
 As 
 
( 6 ) 
 
 and thank you for the fiivor of opening a correspondence, 
 the advantages of which vdtl be so much in my favor. 
 
 Agnculture has ever been amongst the most favourite 
 amusements of my life, though I never possessed much 
 skill in the art; and nine years total inattention to it, has 
 added nothing to a knowledge which is best xmderstood 
 from precdce; but with the means you have been so oblig- 
 iag as to fiirmsh me, I shall return to it (though ratlier 
 late in the day) with hope and confidence. 
 
 The system of agriculture (ifthe epithet of system caii 
 be applied to it,) which is in use in this part of the United 
 States, is as unproductive to the practitioners as it is ruin¬ 
 ous to the land-holders. Yet it is pertinaciously adhered 
 to. To forsake it; to pursue a course of husbandry 
 which is altogether different and new to the gazing mul¬ 
 titude, ever averse to novelty in matters of this sort, and 
 much attached to their old customs, requires resolution; 
 and without a good practical guide, may be dangerous; 
 because, ofthe many volumes which have been written oh 
 this subject, few of them are founded on experimental 
 knowledge—are verbose, contradictory, and bewildering. 
 Yourannals shall be this gmde. The plan, on which they 
 are published, gives them a reputation which inspires con¬ 
 fidence ; and for the favor of sending them to me, I pray 
 you to accept my very best acknowledgments. ,To con- 
 continue them, will add much to the obligation. 
 
 To evince with what avidity, and wth how little re¬ 
 serve, I embrace the polite and friendly offer you have 
 made me, of supplying me with “ Men, cattle, tools, 
 seeds, or any thing else that may add to my rural amuse- 
 men^” I will give you, Sir, the trouble of providing, and 
 sending to the care of Wakelin Welch, Esq. of Lon¬ 
 don, merchant, the following articles: 
 
 Two of the simplest and best-constructed ploughs for 
 land which is neither very heavy nor sandy. To be dratvn 
 by two horses—^to have spare shares and colters—and a 
 mould on which to form new irons when the old ones are 
 worn out, or will require repmring. 
 
 I shall take the liberty in this place to observe, that 
 some years ago, from a description, or recommendation 
 of what was then called the Rotherham, or patent plough, 
 I sent to England for one of them; and till it began to 
 wear, and was ruined by a bungling country smith, that 
 
C 7 . ) . 
 
 no plough could have done better work, or appeared to 
 have gone easier with ftvo horses j but for want of a mould 
 (which I had neglected to order with the plough,) it be¬ 
 came useless after the irons which came in with it were 
 much worn. 
 
 A little of the best kind of cabbage-seeds, for field cul¬ 
 ture. 
 
 Tv/enty pounds of the best turnip-seeds, for ditto. 
 
 Ten bushels of sainfoin-seeds. 
 
 Eight bushels of the winter vetches. 
 
 Two bushels of rye-grass seeds. 
 
 Fifty pounds of hop clover-seeds. 
 
 And, if it is decided (for much has been said for anda- 
 gainst it,) that bumet, as an early food, is valuable, I 
 should be glad of a bushel of this seed also. Red clo¬ 
 ver-seeds are to be had on easy terms in this country,.but 
 if there are any other kinds of grass-seeds (not included ia 
 the abovq,) that you may think valuable, especially for 
 early feeding or cutting, you would oblige me fay adding 
 a small quantity of the seeds, to put me in stock. Early 
 grasses, unless a species can be found that will stand a hot 
 sun, and oftentimes severe draughts in! the summer 
 months, without much expence of cdtivation, would suit 
 our climate best. 
 
 . You see. Sir, that without ceremony, I avail myself of 
 your kind offer; but if you should find in the course of 
 our correspondence, that I am likely to become trouble¬ 
 some, you can easily check me. Inclosed I give you an 
 order on Wakelin Welch, Esq. for the cost of such ' 
 things as you may have the goodness to send me. I do 
 not at this time ask for any other implements of husban¬ 
 dry than the ploughs; but when I have read your Annals 
 (for they are but just come to hand) I may request more. 
 In the meanwhile, permit me to ask what a good pltiugh- 
 mah might be had for: annual wages, to be found !(being, 
 a single man) in boai-d, washing, and lodging? The wri¬ 
 ters upon husbandry estimates the hire of labourers so 
 differently in England, that it is not easy to discover from 
 them, whether one of the class I am speaking of would 
 cost eight or eighteen pounds a j^ear. A good ploughman 
 at low wages, would come very opportunely with the 
 ploughs here requested. 
 
C * ) 
 
 By ipeans of the application I made to my friend Mr, 
 Fairfax, of Bath, and through the medium of Mr. Rack, 
 a bailifF is sent to me, who, if he is acquainted with the 
 best courses of cropping, will answer my purposes as a 
 director or superintendant of my farms. He has the ap¬ 
 pearance of a plain honest fanner ;—is industrious ;—and 
 from the character given of him by a Mr. Peacy (with 
 whom he has lived many years) has understanding in the 
 management of stock, and of most matters for Bhich he 
 is employed. How far his abilities may be equal to a 
 pretty extensive concern, is questionable. And what is 
 still worse, he has come over with improper ideas ; for 
 instead of preparing his mind to meet a ruinous course of 
 cropping, exhausted lands, and numberless inconvenien- 
 cies into whi h we had been throw by an eight years war, 
 he seems to have expected that he was coming to wxll or¬ 
 ganized fai-ms, and that he was to have met ploughs, har¬ 
 rows, and all the other implements of husbandly, in as 
 high taste as the best farming counties in England could 
 have exhibited them. How far his fortitude will enable 
 him to encounter tliese disappointments, or his patience 
 and perseverance wall carry him towards the work of re¬ 
 form, remains to be decided. 
 
 With great esteem, I have the honor to be, 
 
 Sir, your most obedient humble sen^ant, 
 
 G. Washingtosj. 
 
 Arllmr Young, Esq. 
 
 Mount Vernon, IStli of November, 1786, 
 
 Sir, - 
 
 THE inclosed is a duplicate of the letter I had the 
 honor of tvr ting to you the 6th of AuCTSt. 
 
 The evil genius of the vessel by which it was sent 
 (whiih had detainedber many weeks in this country, after 
 the letters intended to go by her were ready, agreeably to 
 the owner’s appoinlm' nt,) pursued her to sea, and oblig¬ 
 ed the captain (w'hen many days out,) by the leaky con¬ 
 dition in which she appeared, to refum to an American 
 port. The uncenainty of his conduct with respect to the- 
 
leUers, is the apology I olFer for giving you the trouble of 
 the inclosedi 
 
 Since: the date of itj I haVe had much satisfaction in 
 perusmg the Annals of Agriculture, which, you did me. 
 the honor to send me. If the testimony of my approba- - 
 tion, Sir, of your disinterested conduct and perseverance, 
 in publishing so useful and beneficial a work (than which 
 nothing, in my opinion, can be more conducive to the 
 welfare of your country,) will add aught to the satisfaction 
 .you must feel from the conscious discharge of this mter- 
 esting duty to it, 1 give it with equal willingness and sin¬ 
 cerity. 
 
 In addition to the articles which my last requested the 
 favor of you to procure me, I pray you to have the good¬ 
 ness offorwarding what follows: 
 
 Eight bushels of what you call velvet* wheat, of which 
 I perceive you are an admirer. 
 
 Four bushels of beans, of the kmd you most ajpprove. 
 for the pinposes of a farm. 
 
 Eight bushels of the best kind of spring barley. 
 
 Eight bushels of the best kind of oats. • 
 
 And eight bushels of sainfoin seed. All to be in good 
 sacks. 
 
 My soil will come under the description of loam; witli 
 a hard clay, or (if it had as much of the properties as the 
 appearance might be denominated) marl, from eighteen 
 inches to three feet below the surface. The heaviest soil 
 I have, would, hardly be called a stiff or binding clay in 
 England; and none of it is a blowing sand. The sort 
 which approaches nearest the former, is a light grey; and 
 that to the latter, of a yellow red. In a word, the staple 
 has. been good; but by use and abuse, it is brought into 
 bad condition. 
 
 I have added this information. Sir, that you may b©. 
 better able to decide on the kind of seed most proper fpr 
 my farm. 
 
 Permit me to ask one thing more. It is to favor me- 
 with your opinion, and a plan of the most cornplete and 
 useful farm-yard, for farms of about 500 acres. In this I 
 
 * The books being at a bookbinder^Sy I may .have misetdh 
 edthisxvheat. 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 mean to'comprehend the bam; and every appurtenance 
 which ought to be annexed, to the yard. The simplest 
 and most economical-plan would be preferred, provided 
 the requisites are all included. Mr. Welc h will answer 
 your draft for the cost of these articles, sis before. He is 
 
 advised of it.. 
 
 I have the honor to be. Sir, 
 
 ' Your most obedient and most humble servant, 
 
 - G. Washington. 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 Iloimt Vernon, November 1, 17ST. . 
 
 Sir, 
 
 YOUR favor of the first of February came to hand 
 about the middle of May last. An abscence of more than 
 four months from home, will be the best apology I can- 
 make for my silence till this time. 
 
 The gi-ain, grass-seeds, ploughs,&c. arrived at the same 
 time, agreeable to the list; but some of the former were 
 injured (as will always be the case) by being put into the 
 hold' of the vessel ; however, upon the whole, they were 
 in much better order than those things are generally found- 
 to be, when brought across the Atlantic. 
 
 l am at a loss) Sir, how to express the sense which I 
 have' of your particular attention to my commissions, and 
 the very obliging manner in which you offer me your ser-- 
 vices - in any matters relating to agriculture, that I may' 
 have'to iransact in England. If my warmest thanks will 
 in any measure compensate for these favors, I must beg 
 you to accept of them. I shall always be exceedingly hap¬ 
 py to heai' from yOu, and shall very readily and chearfully 
 give you any information relative to the state of agricul¬ 
 ture in this comitry, that lam able. 
 
 ■ I did myself the honor to hand die set of Annals to the 
 Agriculture Society in Philadelphia, which you sent to . 
 that body, through me. The president wrote a letter to 
 you, expressive of the sense they entertained of the favor 
 whioh-you.did them; and mentioned therein, the effects 
 of some experiments which had been made with plaster 
 of Pai-is, as a manure: I intended to have given you an 
 
( 11 ) 
 
 account of it myself,, as I find.the subject is touched up¬ 
 on in your Annals, but this letter has precluded the ne¬ 
 cessity of it. 
 
 The fifth volume of the Annals, which w^ committed 
 to the care of Mr. Athawes forme, did not come, to 
 hand till some time after I had received the sixth. ,. 
 
 The quantity of sainfoin which you sent me, was fully 
 sufficient to answer my purpose; I have sown part of it, 
 
 ■ but find that it comes up very thin; which is like\vise the • 
 case with the winter wheat, and some other seeds which 
 I have sotvn. . - , 
 
 I ha,ve a high opinion of beans, as a preparation for 
 tvheat and shall enter as largely upon the cultivation of 
 them next year, as the quantity of seed I can procure, 
 will admit. 
 
 . I am very glad that you did not engage a ploughman 
 for me at the high wages which you mention, for I agree 
 with: you, that that single circumstance, exclusive of the 
 others which you enumerate, is sufficiently objectionable. 
 
 I have u-ied the ploughs which you sent me, and find that 
 they answer the description which yoii gave me of them; 
 this is contrary to the opinion of almost every one who 
 saw them before they were used; for it was thought their 
 great weight would be an insuperable, objection to their 
 being dta;vn by two horses. 
 
 I am now preparing materials to build a barn precisely 
 agreeable to your plan, which I think an excellent oneS-'. 
 Before I undertake to give the information you request, 
 respecting the an-angements of farms in this neighbour¬ 
 hood, 8{c. I must observe that there is, perhaps, scarcely j.- 
 ny part of America, where farming has been less attend¬ 
 ed to than in this State. The cultfoation of tobacco has 
 been almost the sole object with men of landed property, 
 and consequently a regular course of crops have never been 
 in view. 1 he general custom has been, first to raise a crop 
 of Indian corn (maize) which, according to the mode of 
 cultivation, is a good preparation for wheat; then a crop 
 of wheat; after which the ground is respited (except from 
 tveeds, and every trash that can contribute to its foulness) 
 B 12 
 
 * The plan of this bcirn is engraved. ■ See Annals, voh 
 xvi. p.T49. 
 
f 12 ) 
 
 for ^out eighteen months; and so d;(i, ahernate\y, withi 
 out any dressing, till the land is exhausted; when it is, 
 turned out, without being sown with grass-seeds, or- 
 reeds, or any method taken to restore it; and another- 
 piece is ruined in the same manner^' No inore catde is^ 
 raised than can be supported by lowland meadows, swamps, 
 &c. and the tops and blades of Indian corn; as very few 
 persons have attended to sowing grasses, and connecting 
 cattle with their crops. The Indian com is the chief sup¬ 
 port of the labourers and horses . Our lands, as I mention¬ 
 ed in my first letter to you, were originally very good; 
 but use, and abuse, have made them quite otherwise, 
 
 The above is the mode of cultivation which has been 
 generally pursued here,but the system of husbandry which 
 has been fouqd so beneficial in England, and which must 
 be greatly promoted by your valuable Annals, is now gain-, 
 ing ground. There are several (among which I niay class 
 myself), whq are endeavouring to get into your regular and 
 systematic course of cropping, as fast as the nature of the 
 busmess will admit; so that I hope in the course of a fetv^ 
 years, we shall make a more respectable figure as fanners, 
 than we have hitherto done, 
 
 i will, agreeable to your desire, give you the prices of 
 our products as, nearly as I am, ablebut you -wiU readily 
 conceive, from, the foregoing account, that they cannot be 
 given tvith any precision. Wheat, for the four last years, 
 will average about 4s, sterling per bushel, of eight gallons. 
 Rye about 2s,4d.—;Oats, Is, 6d.—Beans, pease, &c. have 
 not been sold in any quantities,—Barley is not made here, 
 from a prevailing opinion that the climate is not adapted 
 to it; I however, iii opposition to prejudice, sowed Shout 
 50 bushels last spring, and-found, that'it yielded a propor¬ 
 tionate qumtity with any other kind of grain which I sow¬ 
 ed;.,I might add, more. Co,ws may be bought at about 
 3l. sterling, per head! Cattle for the slaughter, vary 
 from 2d 1.4th, to 4d i-^, sterling, per lb. the former 
 being the current price in summer; the la.tter in the, 
 .winter or spring. Sheep at 12s. sterling, per head; 
 and wool at about Is. sterling, per lb. I am not able ta 
 give you the price of labour, as the land is cultivated here 
 wholly by slaves, and the price of labour in the to\ms is 
 :Huctuating, and governed altogether by circumstances. 
 
( 15 ) 
 
 Give me^leave to repeat my thanks for your attention 
 Jo me, and your polite offer to execute any business relat¬ 
 ing to husbandly, which I may have in England; and to 
 assure you that I shall not fail to apply to you for whatever 
 J may have occasion for in that line, 
 
 I am. Sir,' with veiy great esteem, 
 
 Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 G. Washisgtos. 
 
 P. S, I observ^e in the sixth volume of your Annals, 
 there is a plate and description of Mr. Wihlaw’s mill, 
 for separating the grain from die heads of com. Its uti¬ 
 lity or inutility has, undoubtedly, been reduced to a cer¬ 
 tainty before this time; if it possesses all die properties 
 and advantages mentioned in the description, and you can 
 from your own knowledge, or such information as you 
 entirely rely on, recommend it as a useful machine, where 
 labourers are scarce, I should he much obliged to you to 
 procure one for me, to be paid for and fonvarded by Mr. 
 Welch provided it is so simple in its cpnstructioc., as to 
 be worked by ignorant persons, without dtmger of being 
 spoiled (for such only will manage it here,) and the price 
 of it does not exceed 151, as mentioned in the Annals, or 
 thereabouts, 
 
 Mount Vernon, December 4,1788, 
 
 Sir, ' 
 
 I HAVE been favoured with die receipj of your letter 
 dated die first day of July; andhave to express my thanks 
 for the three additional volumes of the Annals, which 
 have also come safely to hand. 
 
 The more I am acquainted with agricultural affairs, the. 
 better I am pleased with them; insomuch, that I can no 
 where find so great satisfaction as in those innocent and 
 useful pursuits. In indulging these feelings, I am led to 
 reflect how much more delightful to an undebauched mind 
 is. the task of making improvements on the earth, than all 
 ^he vain glory which can be acquired from ravaging it, by 
 
( 14 ) 
 
 the most uninterrupted career of conquests*.; The design 
 of this observation, is only to shew how much, as a mem- 
 Irer of human society, I feel myself obliged, by your la¬ 
 bours to render respectable and advantageous, an employ¬ 
 ment which is more congenial to the natural dispositions 
 of mankind than any other. 
 
 I am also much indebted to you, for the inquiries you 
 were so kind as to make respecting the threshing machines. 
 Notwithstanding I am pretty well convinced from your 
 account, that the new-invented Scotch machine is of su¬ 
 perior merit to Winlaw’s ; yet I tiiink to wait a little 
 longer before I procure one. In the intermediate time, 
 I am not insensible to your obliging offers of executing 
 this, or any other commission for mej and shall take the 
 liberty to avail myself of them as occasions may require. 
 
 1 would willingly have sent you a lock of the wool of 
 my sheep, agreeably to your desire, but it is all wrought 
 into cloth, and I must therefore defer it until after the 
 next sl^earing. You,may expect it by some future 
 conveyance. A manufacturer from Leeds, who was late¬ 
 ly here, judges it to be of about the same quality with the 
 English wool in general—though there is always a great 
 difference in the fineness of different parts of the same 
 fleece. I cannot help thinking that increasing and im¬ 
 proving our breed of sheep, would be one of the most pro¬ 
 fitable speculations we could undertake j especially in this 
 jxirt of the continent, where we have so little winter, that 
 they require either no dry fodder, or next to none ; and 
 where we are sufficiantly distant from the frontiers, not to 
 be'troubled with wolves or other wild vermin, which pre¬ 
 vent the inhabitants there from keeping flocks. Though 
 we do not feed our shep upon leaves, as. you mention they 
 do in some parts of France, yet we cannot want for pastures 
 enough suitable for them. I am.at aloss, therefore, to ac¬ 
 count for the disproportion between their value and that 
 of black cattle ; as well as for our not augmenting the 
 number. So persuaded am I of the practicability and ad¬ 
 vantage of it, that I have raised near 200 lambs upon my 
 farm this year. I am glad to find that you are likely to 
 succeed in propagating the Spanish breed of Sheep in Eng- 
 
 *■ A noble sentiment, zvhich does honour to the heart of 
 this truly great man. —A. Y. 
 
( 15 )■ 
 
 land, and that the wool does not degenerate: for the rnnl'-- 
 tiplication of useful annimals is a common blessing to man¬ 
 kind. I have a prospect of introducing into this country 
 a very excellent race of annimals also, by means of the li¬ 
 berality of the King of Spain. One of the jacks which 
 he was pleased to present to me (the other perished at sea) 
 is about 15 hands high, his body and limbs verjdarge in 
 proportion to his height; and the mules which I have had 
 from him, appear to be extremely well fomedfor service. 
 I have likewise a jack and two jennetts from Malta, of a 
 very good size, which the Marquis de la Fatettk sent 
 to me. The Spanish jack seems calculated to breed for 
 heav)'^ slow draught; and the others forthe saddle, or light¬ 
 er carriages. From these, altogether, I hope to secure a 
 race of extraordinary goodness, which will stock the coun¬ 
 try. Their longevity and cheap keeping will be circum¬ 
 stances much in their favour. I am convinced from-the 
 little experiments I have made with the ordinary mules, 
 (which perform as much labour, with vastly less feeding 
 than horses,) that those of a superior quality will be the 
 best cattle we can employ for the harness; and indeed in 
 a few yeai's, I intend to drive no other in my carriage, 
 having appropriated for the sole purpose of breeding them, 
 upwards of twenty of my best mares. 
 
 Since I wrote to you formerly, respecting the objection 
 made by my labourers to the weight of my ploughs, I have 
 had sufficient experience to overcome the ill-fotmded pre¬ 
 judice, and find them answer the purpose exceedingly 
 well. I have been laying out my farm into fields of near¬ 
 ly the same dimensions, and assigning crops to each until 
 the year ir95. The building of a brick barn has occupi¬ 
 ed much of my attention this summer. It is constructed 
 according to the plan you had the goodness to send me; 
 but with some additions. It is now, I believe, the larg¬ 
 est and most convenient one in this country. Our seasons 
 in this country (or at least in this part of it) have been so 
 much in the two opposite exti-emes of dry and wet, for the 
 two summers past, that many of my experiments have 
 failed to give a satisfactory result, or I would have done 
 myself the pleasure of transmitting it to yOu. In the first 
 part of the last summer, the rains prevailed beyond what 
 has been known in the memory of man ; yet the crops in 
 most parts of the United States are good. They , were 
 
( , ie ) 
 
 ftiuch injured, however, in those places on my farm, whefi^ 
 ' the soil is mixed with clay, and so stilF as to be liable t6 
 retain the moisture. I planted a large quantity of pota¬ 
 toes, of which only those that were put in as late as the 
 end of June, have produced tolerable well. lamnot- 
 •• withstanding, "more and more convinced of the prodigious 
 usefulness of this root, and that it is very little, if any thing 
 of an exhauster. I have a high opinion also of carrots. 
 The same unfavourableness of the season, has rendered 
 it unimportant to give a detail of my experiments, this 
 year in tiax, though I had sowed 25 bushels of the seed; 
 In some spots it has yielded well j in others very indiffer¬ 
 ently, ihuch injured by weeds and lodgits. 
 
 As to what you suggest at the close of )'our letter, re¬ 
 specting the publication of extracts front my correspon¬ 
 dence, in your Annals, I hardly-know what to say. I cer¬ 
 tainly highly approve the judicious execution of jmur 
 well-conceived project of throwing light on a subject, 
 which may be more conducive than almost any other to 
 the happiness of mankind. On the One hand, it seems, 
 scarcely generous or proper, that any farmer, who re¬ 
 ceives benefit from the facts contained in such publica¬ 
 tions, should withhold his mite of information from the 
 general stock. On the other hand, I am afraid it might 
 be imputed to me as a piece of ostentation, if my name 
 should appear in the work. And surely it would hot be 
 discreet for me to run the hazard of incurring this impu¬ 
 tation, unless some good might probably result to society, 
 as some kind of compensation for it. Of this I am not a 
 judge—i can only say for my'self, that I have endeavour¬ 
 ed, in a state of tranquil retirement, to keep myself as 
 much from the eye of the world as I possibly could. I 
 h.ave studiously avoided, as much as was in my power, 
 to give any cause for ill-natured or impertinent comments 
 on my conduct: and I should be very unhappy to have 
 anything done on, my behalf (however distant in itself 
 from impropriety,) which should give occasion for one of¬ 
 ficious tongue to use my name with indelicacy. For I 
 wish most devoutly to glide silently and uhnoticed through 
 the remainder of life. This is my heart-felt wish; and 
 these are, my undisguised feelings. After having sub¬ 
 mitted them confidentially to you, I have such a reliance 
 Upon your prudence, as to leave, it with you to do what 
 
( ir ) 
 
 you thinV, upon a full consideration of the matter, shall be 
 wisest and best*. I am, with very great regard and es¬ 
 teem, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and obliged humble servant, 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 New-York, August 15, 1789. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 RECOLLECTING that in one of your letters to me, 
 you had requested me to send you a sample of the wool 
 produced by my sheep, I directed that a fleece of a mid¬ 
 dling size and quality should be sent to me at this place; 
 which has been done ; and! now transmit it to you by the 
 British packet, directed to the care of Messrs. Wakeiin 
 Welch and Son, in London. 
 
 I am. Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 G. Washington, 
 
 Arthur Young, Esq. 
 
 Philadelphia, August 15, 1791. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 TH AT I may not be thought inattentive to your favor 
 of the 25th of January, which came to my hands about 
 
 * Whatever doubts might have been entertained of the ex¬ 
 tent of this permission at that time, and of the propriety of 
 printing any part of Genera/ Washington’s letters then; 
 at present, I conceive the abovepassage is a very feurjustifi¬ 
 cation of rny presenting the public with these valuable let¬ 
 ters.—h., Y. 
 
 c 
 
C ) 
 
 ten days ago-only, l av:^ naysetf of the first packet 
 since the receipt bf it, to inform you that the Annals, and 
 Chicorium intibus, have got safe to my hands. A set of 
 the former I have presented, in your name, agreeably to 
 your requestj to the Agricultural Society in this city. For 
 the odier set; for the seedsand for the manufactured 
 wool from the fleece I sent you, I pray you to accept my 
 bestthanks. 
 
 With astonishment hardly to be conceived, I read in 
 No. 86 of your Annals, the account of the taxes with 
 which you are burthened. Had the account come from 
 dubitable authority, the reality of such a tax would not 
 only have been questioned, but absolutely disbelieved ; for 
 I can Msure you. Sir, that there is nothing in this country 
 Aat has the semblanceof it. I do not, however, mean to 
 dwell on this, or any other part of your letter at this time; 
 the purpose of my writing to you now, is to acknowledge 
 the receipt of the things you had the goodness to send 
 meand to assure you, that with great pleasure I will 
 forward, in a short time, such information with respect to 
 the prices of lands, stock, grain, amount of taxes, &c. &c. 
 05 will enable you to form a pretty accurate idea of the 
 present state, andfuture prospects, of this country. 
 
 In the mean while, I believe I may confidently add, 
 that although our agriculture, manufactures, and. com¬ 
 merce, are progressmg;—although our taxes are light; 
 —although our laws are in a fair way of being adminis¬ 
 tered well, and our liberties and properties secured on a 
 solid basis, by the general government having acquired 
 more and more consistency, strength, and respectability 
 as it moves on; yet that no materid change in the prices 
 of the above articles has taken place, except in a few in¬ 
 stances of Imd under peculiar advantages; nor is it pro¬ 
 bable there will be in the latter, whilst there is such an 
 immense territory back of us, for the pepple to resort to. 
 in a word. Sir, wfcn you. come to receive full answers to 
 your- several inquires, I am inclined to believe that you 
 will not be unfavourably impressed, or think an establish¬ 
 ment in the United States', ineligible to those whose views 
 are extended'beyond the limits of tjieir own country. 
 
 Having closed-my cerrespondfeace with WAEEtrw 
 Weigh, Esq. and Son, I have to request that your com¬ 
 munications to me, in future, may pass through the hands 
 
. { w ) 
 
 'of Mr. Johnson, Consul for the United jStates in Lon¬ 
 don. With best wishes, and sentimOnts of Hiuth esteem, 
 I am, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and vity hUmble Servant, 
 
 G. WASHiNGtOS, 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 Philadelphia^ December ir9L 
 Six, 
 
 IN aletter which I addressed to you on the ISthof 
 August, acknowledging the receipt of your favor dated 
 the 25th of January preceding, I promised to answer the 
 queries contained,in it, in detaS, Accordingly I took 
 measures for that purpose, by writing to some of the 
 most intelligent farmers in the Staje of New-York, New- 
 Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Vir^ia; as you 
 will perceive by the circular letter herevnth enclosed; 
 and have obtained the answers from the three last-men¬ 
 tioned States*, that are thereunto annexed. I did not 
 extend my inquiries to the northward of New-York, nor 
 to the southward of Virginia; because in neither extre¬ 
 mity of the Union, in my opinion, is the climate, soil, 
 or other circumstances, well adapted to the pursuits of a 
 mere farmer, or congenial to the growth of the smaller 
 grains. 
 
 .1 have delayed the information I am about tq give you, 
 in expectation of receiving answers which have been 
 promised me from the States of New-York and New- 
 Jersey; but as they are not yet arrived, and a vessel is 
 on the point of sailing for London, I shall put this packed, 
 under cover to Joshua Johnson, Esq. our Consul atth^ 
 port; with a request to him, that it may be forwiirdeli 
 to you by a safe conveyance. The others shall follow as 
 apportunities may present; it being my wish to give you 
 a comprehensive view of the different parts.of this coun- 
 
 * See the paper alluded to^ at the end of this letter. 
 
;( 20 ) 
 
 try: although I, have no' hesitation in giving it at the 
 same time as my opinion, that if I had a new establish¬ 
 ment to make in it, it would be, under the knowledge I 
 entertain of it at present (and I have visited all' parts, 
 from New-Hampshire to Georgia inclusively), in one of 
 the three States of which you are fiirnished with particu¬ 
 lar accounts. New-York and New-jersey do not differ 
 much in soil or climate, from the northern parts of Penn¬ 
 sylvania. Both are pleasant, and both are well improved, 
 particularly the first. But the country beyond these, to 
 ' the eastward ‘(and the farther you advance that way, it is 
 still more so), is unfriendly to wheat, which is subject to 
 a blight or mildew, and of late )rears, to a fly, which has 
 almost discouraged the grotvth -of it.- The lands,-how- 
 • ever, in the New-England States, are strong and produc¬ 
 tive of other crops j-r-^are well improved;—^populously 
 seated;—and as pleasant as it can be in a cpuntry 
 locked in snow several months in the year, 
 
 To the southward of Virgipia, the climate is not well 
 adapted to wheat; and less and less so as you penetrate 
 the warmer latitudes ;-^nor is the cpuntry so. thickly set¬ 
 tled, of well cultivated In a word, as I have already in¬ 
 timated, was I to commence my career of life anew, I 
 should not seek a residence north of Pennsylvania, or 
 south of Virginia: nor (but this I desire may be received 
 with great caution, for I may, without knowing I am so, 
 be biassed in favour of the river op which I live), should 
 I go more than S5 miles from the margin of the Potow- 
 mac. In less than half that distance, in some places, I 
 might seat myself either in Pennsylvania, Maryland, or 
 Virginia; as. local circumstances might prompt me. 
 
 Having said thus much, some of the reasons which 
 lead to this opinion, may be expected in support of it. 
 
 Potowmac riyer, then, is the centre of the Union. It 
 is between the extremes of heat and cold. It is pot so 
 far to the south, as to be unfriendly to grass; nor so far 
 north as to have the produce of die summer consumed 
 in the length, and severity of the winter. It waters the 
 soil, and runs in that climate, which is most congenial to 
 English grains, and most agreeable to the cultivation of 
 them. It is the river, more than any other, in my opi¬ 
 nion, which must, in the natural progress of things, con¬ 
 nect by its inland navigation (now nearly completed 190 
 
. ( 21 ) 
 
 measured miles up.to Fort Cumberland, atthe expence of 
 50,00Dl. sterling, raised by private subscription), the At" 
 lantic States with the vast region which is populating (be¬ 
 yond all conception) to the westward of it. It is desig¬ 
 nated by law for the seat of the empire; and must from 
 its extensive course through a rich and populous country, 
 become in time the grand emporium of North America., T o 
 these reasons may be added, that the lands within, and sur¬ 
 rounding the district of Columbia, are as, high, as diy, 
 and as healthy as any in the United States ; and that those 
 above them, in the counties of Berkeley, in Virginia; 
 Washington, in Maryland; and Franklin, in Pennsjdva- 
 liia(adjoiningeach other),atthe distance of from 60 to 
 100 miles from Columbia, are inferior in their natural 
 state, to none in America. The general map of 
 North- America, which is herewith inclosed, will 
 shew the situation of this district of the United 
 States; and on Evans’s, map of the middle colonies, 
 which is on a larger scale, I have marked the district of 
 Columbia with double red lines; and the counties adja- 
 cent-to, and above it, of which particular mention has 
 been made^ with single red lines. The last-mentioned ’ 
 map shews the proximity of the Potowmac (which is laid 
 down from actual survey) to the western waters ; and it 
 is worthy of observation, that the Shenandoah, in an ex- 
 teiit of 150’miles from its confluence, through the richest 
 tract of land in the State of Virginia, may (as is suppos¬ 
 ed) be made navigable for less than 2000l. The south 
 branch of Potowmac (100 miles higher up, and) for 100 
 miles of its extent, may be made navigable for a much 
 less sum. And the intermediate waters on the Virginia 
 side in that proportion, according to their magnitude. 
 On the Marjdand side (the river Potowmac, to the head 
 of the north briuich, being the boundary between the two 
 States), the Monocary and Conogecheap, are capable of 
 improvement to a degree which will be convenient and - 
 beneficial to the inhabitants of that State, and to parts of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
 The local, or State taxes, are enumerated in the an¬ 
 swers to the circular letter ; and these, from the nature 
 of the government, will probably decrease. The taxes 
 ofthe general government will be found in the revenue 
 laws, which are contained iii die volume that accompanies 
 
( S3 ) 
 
 this letter.' '« The Pennsylvania Mercuiy, and Phila¬ 
 delphia Price Current,” are sent, that you may see what 
 is,and has been, the prices of the several enumerated ar¬ 
 ticles which have been bought and sold in this market at 
 different periods^ within the last twelve months. 
 
 An [English farmer must entertmn a contemptible 
 opinion of our husbandry, or a horrid idea of our lands, 
 when he shall be informed that not more than'eight or 10 
 bushels of wheat is the yield of an acre; but this low 
 producei may be ascribed, and principally too, to a cause 
 which I do not find touched by eidier of the gentlemen 
 whose letters are sent to you, namely, that the aim of the 
 farmers in this country (if they can be called farmers) is, 
 not to make the most they can from the land, which is, 
 or has been cheap, but the most of the labour, which is 
 dear*; the consequence of which has been, much ground 
 has been ffcratcAedpver and none cultivated or improved 
 as it ought to have been : whereas a farmer in England, 
 where land is dear, and labour cheap, finds it his interest 
 to improve and cultivate highly, that he may reap large 
 crops from a small quantity of ground. Thatthe last is die 
 true, and the first an erroneous policy, I will readily 
 grant; but it requires time to conquer bad habits, and 
 hardly any thing short of necessity is ^le to accomplish it. 
 That necessity is approaching by pretty rapid strides. 
 
 If from these communications you shall derive infor¬ 
 mation or amusement, it will be but a small return for 
 the favors I have received from you; and I shall feel hap¬ 
 py in having had it in my power to render them. As 
 they result from your letter of the 25th of January, and 
 are intended for your private satisfaction, it is not my 
 wish that they should be promulgated as coming from 
 me. * 
 
 With very great esteem, I am. Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and very humble servant, 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Arthur Toungy Esq. 
 
 * Avery pointed observation, and clearly explanMory.-^ 
 
C ) 
 
 The following circular iett» was addressed to several 
 gentlemen, the best informed of the agriculture, value 
 ’' of lands, and the prices of produce, &c. in the States 
 ofNew-Yori, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
 and Virginia; and the answers which have been re¬ 
 ceived me thereunto subjoined. 
 
 Philadelphia, Agust 25, lf9U 
 Dear Sir, , 
 
 SOME imiuires having been made of me by in^Sf- 
 tant characters, on the state of agriculture in. America, 
 comprehending its several relations, and intended to as- 
 certain the value of our lands, with their yield in the se¬ 
 veral kinds of grain, grass, &c. the prices of farming 
 stock; the prices of produce, &c. together with a list of 
 the taxes in the different States; which mayin any way 
 affect the farmer: as an object highly interesting to our 
 country, I have determined to render the most just and 
 satisfactory answers that the best information I can ob¬ 
 tain from different parts of the United States will enable 
 me to give.. 
 
 • With this view, niy confidence in your disposition and 
 knowledge, leads me to offer to your inquiry, and to re¬ 
 quest from your intelligence, as early information as may 
 be convenient,, on the following heads ; 
 
 1. The fee-simple prices of farming lands in such part 
 
 of the State of as are neither so near 
 
 to large towns as to enhance their value, nor so distant 
 from market as greatly to' reduce it, or to make the situ¬ 
 ation inconvenient. In your answer to this inquiry, be 
 pleased to note, generally, the situations, the soil, and, if 
 It be practicable, the proportions of arable, pasture, and 
 wood-land. 
 
 2, The rents of the same lands, when leased, and, ge¬ 
 nerally, the terms of lease. 
 
 S. The average product of the same lani in wheat, 
 lye, barley, oats, buck-wheat, beans, pease, potatoes, tur¬ 
 nips, grasses, hemp, flax, ^c. in the common mode of 
 husbandry now practised. 
 
( 24 > 
 
 :4» -The average prices of these articles, when sold at 
 the fara, or carried to the nearest market; 
 
 5. The average prices of good working horses, work¬ 
 ing oxen, milch cows, sheep, hogs, poultry, &,c. 
 
 6. The average price of beef, veal,' mutton, pork, but¬ 
 ter, and cheese, in the,neighbourhood,or at thenearest 
 market towns. 
 
 7. The price of wrought iron, whence the price of farm¬ 
 ing utensils may be inferred. 
 
 8. A list of the taxes laid in the State of- 
 
 The tendency of this inquiry, will be my apology for 
 
 the trouble it may give to you. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, with great regard, . 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 (Signed) G. Washington. 
 
 ANSWERS* TO THE PRECEDING LETTER. 
 
 Tork-Town, Pennsylvania, Soft. 24i, 1791. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 1 CONSIDERED myself as highly honored by your 
 favor of the 25th ult. and have taken all the pmns in my 
 power to ^Ve you the satisfaction you wish for. Being 
 soon obliged to leave home for several weeks, 1 am some¬ 
 what pressed in time, but thought proper to write you 
 the result of my inquiries and observations at this period, 
 as I am sure you will be ready to make allowance for time, 
 and other circumstances. 
 
 . I cannot boast of elegance of style, but shall study to 
 give you my ideas, foimded as well upon the information 
 I have received from others, as my own experience; and 
 ifany ofmy communications prove acceptable, or usefrd 
 
 / * I may ohserye once for all, that these accounts, pro¬ 
 cured by the person of dll others whose requests would be 
 most carefully complied with, and coming from those who 
 would unquestionably be chosen with singular- propriety, 
 must necessarily carry a degree of authority with them, 
 imattainable by other means.—Ky Y, 
 
( 25 ) 
 
 to you, I shall esteem myself highly rewarded., You were 
 pleased to direct my inquiries chiefly towards York and 
 Franklin , counties, in this State j I have accordingly 
 done so, and beg leave, in order to be better understood 
 in my answers, to divide York county into three districts, 
 
 . and to call Franklin county the fourth district. ' 
 
 First District.—York Valleyj beginning at .the, Sus¬ 
 quehanna, at Wright’s Ferry, and running through York 
 country, including York Town, M‘Allister’s Town (abas 
 Hanover),, and Petersburg (alias LitdestQwn), to . the 
 Maryland line, near- the latter place. In length about 39 
 miles, in breadth from three to four mile?. 
 
 Second District.—^The lands lying on the right of that 
 valley, ddjoining the same, and bounded by the river 
 Susquehanna, the . South Mountain, and the Maryland 
 line. 
 
 Third District.—The barrens of, York, including the, 
 lands on the south of York Valley, to the Maryland line. 
 
 Fourth District.—Franklin county. 
 
 Answer to query the first.—The fee-simple price of 
 farming lands in the first district, may be averaged at. 
 61.15s. per acre*, (the dollar at 7s. 6d.) York Town lies 
 56 miles -from Baltimore, 45 from .Rock-run, 55 froni 
 Christiana-bridge, and 89 .miles from the Philadelphia 
 marketf. M‘Allister’s .Town is 18 miles from York, 
 and 45 from Baltimore. Petereburg is seven miles from. 
 M‘Allister’s, and 48 from Baltimore. 
 
 The soil of this valley is of the lime-stone ,. kind, 
 and is rather of a rich qu^ity when fresh; it is gener^y 
 covered with a black mould. Some spots, however, are 
 inclined to gravel or slate, from the intrusion of a few. 
 small hills. The proportion of meadow ground to arable 
 
 * Arable lands near the Susqtiehannaxvill sell from 12l, 
 toZOl. an acre, atidare very productive. Some fields havefur- 
 nishedtothegro-werd clear profit of ^i, ayearforthreeyears 
 following — cash-price for the arable lands of farms in the 
 neighbourhood of Tork 10/. an acre, and they ■will demand 
 ■the same price at M-AlUster'sTo-wn. 
 
 f And 103 miles from the new city on the river Pototv~- 
 mac, intended far the permaneni residence ofthi government 
 cf the United Statesi . ' 
 
c >, 
 
 land, ma| be as one to twelve ; more th^ pie half of the 
 arable liifdlsy ^iefally, in grass for pasture, sown evety_ 
 third fear wkhiedoloVeif, or Tiinothy seed. The settle- 
 iniiSS haVi heeh so rapiid in this district siice the year 
 f 5^40, ^d the pMtationsVe sO close, as not to leave more 
 than a fourth of wdod. The farms appear nemly all ac^ 
 tbmmpdated with running springs. The inhabitEiits 
 ^e mosdyinduStribuS and careful. They are advancing 
 hy a steady paiey arid do not seem inclined to make many 
 kmivations uf dn the ariclerit pitctice of apiculture. In- 
 -deed they are ali'eady sttongin property; their buildings, 
 stock, and cattle, all shetV it.’ The timber, locust, wabu^ 
 ’jvild-cherry, hickory, black' oak. White oak, &c. 
 
 Inthe Second District, the fee-simple price of farming 
 liid may be averaged at 3l. and 10s. the acre. The soS 
 is generdly of a reddish colour, sometimes mixed: with 
 sand. We call it s^dstone land through the peater- 
 part of the dikric#. The state of agriculture there, is 
 not so. flourishing as ih the first district, though the country 
 is'tlnckly settled, and you find plmitations amongst the 
 highest hiDs. The proportion of meadow to arable land 
 tiiay be greater than in the first disttict The 
 
 iiin&ilh many places naturally inclined to grass; the&- 
 nfets hpe‘are nplsb'cafefiil.of sowing paSsiSeed in their 
 fields as those in the'first district. The timber, walnut, 
 black dak, white oak, poplar chesnut, &c. 
 
 - Third District.—This district is in general badly tiiii- 
 bered,ahd'ihe soil poor,ofthe pavellyor slate kmd, and 
 of a reddish cast. Often miked with sand ; notwithstanding 
 these disadvantagesi more than half the barrens ijS tmder 
 cdltivation-^the wobd composed of dwarf white oak, 
 dhesniit, &c. The price per acre may be estimated 
 
 IlfC^e saidthe land is in general of the . sand-stone 
 Mjid, but there are two large bodies at the foot of the South 
 Mouritainiheid by the Messrs. Carrolls, called Carrolls^ 
 lmrg.,dndCarr6lls-delight, under Marylandgrards^lmlimit 
 viithin the limits of Pennsylvania. They are of the Um'er 
 ttone'^ality, am so execellent, that the arable Mds-would 
 sell ao high as those in the neighbourhood if M'-AllistePs “ 
 Town. Several ‘otherfarms in this district tdould sell front 
 <%l..lolOl.anacre, 
 
( ) 
 
 (35) thirty.five shillings*. What Is a little remarkable, 
 the inhabitants of this district have paid their taxes with 
 more punctuality than most other parts of the State. 
 Meadow ^d as to arable, may be as one to fifteen ; 
 pasture grounds little ettended to. Before I proceed to 
 Franklin, I would observe that the great South Moun¬ 
 tain (or blue ridge, as it is called in Virginia) divides Y ork 
 from Franklin county, and is from 7 to 10 miles ip. 
 breadth ; a very small proportion of it can be cultivated. 
 
 Fourth District_Franklin is a compact county, in¬ 
 
 cluding Cumberland Valley, between the south and noith 
 mountains for upwards of 25 miles, and part of the rich 
 settlement of Connochegeague and Antitem—few situa¬ 
 tions in America can claim a superior soil—it is nearly 
 all lime-stone land. The quantity of meadow as to arable 
 land, may be counted in the same proportion as in the 
 first district of York county—about one half of the im¬ 
 provable land is cleared. The residue abounds in the largest 
 locust, walnut, hickory, and oaks. The county town is Cham- 
 bersburg, distant 80 miles of Baltimore, 90 from George 
 Townf, and 24 miles from Potowmac river at Williams¬ 
 port. Green Castle is a handsome village, situate 11 
 miles from Chambersburg, nearer the Potowmac, on the 
 road to Williamsport, and 75 miles from Baltimore, and 
 79from George Totvn. In several of the settlements, 
 lands bear a high price, but when I came to average for 
 the county, I estimated the acre at 4l. 
 
 Answer to query the second.—When you rent for mo- 
 
 * The lands have been averaged at thirty-five shillings ta 
 the acre; but I mention that there is a tract offine landin this 
 district^ on the Susquehanna., called Connyochota; formerly 
 the fields where the Marylanders and Pennsylvanians used 
 to meet in battle array, contending for boundary; say up¬ 
 wards of^OOOacres, at from 10/. to ISL an acre. A con¬ 
 siderable share of this tract has been worked for upwards of 
 40 or 50 years, and, is still capable of producing the best of 
 grain without any manure. 
 
 .f Adjoining to which, the new, or Federal City, for the 
 permanent residence of the government of the United States 
 is laid out—ai the head of the tide navigation of the river 
 Potowmac, 
 
 D2 
 
( 23 ) 
 
 ney, yoii will seldom obtain more than four per cent, in¬ 
 terest upon your purchase money. 
 
 • The safest and most common mode is, I believe, to 
 lease on the shares—^where the lands are good, the lessor 
 furnishes the one hidf of the seed grain, and obtains from 
 the tenmt one half of the produce of the grain, and imple¬ 
 ments. The grain delivered in the bushel-^hay, on 
 the farm. By this way of leasing, we may have full six 
 per cent, for the purchase money, or value of the lands. 
 Plantations of inferior quality are leased on the thirds, 
 that is, the lessor finds a third of the seed (or sometimes 
 none) and obtains one-third of the produce of grain, hay, 
 &c. 
 
 Lands formerly were purchased, and payment was to 
 be made by installments, without interest, and the sums 
 so moderate, that ah industrious man could discharge 
 them in the course of 10 years—few would lease, when 
 they might purchase, so cheaply. The vast quantity of 
 back lands, induce a number to prefer actual purchase in 
 a precarious situation^ to leasing in the old settlements. 
 However the descendants of the Germans are not as ad- 
 • yeriturous as some of their neighbours. They seem at¬ 
 tached to peaceable habitations, and make the best ten¬ 
 ants—^real property with us seems to obtain a more fixed 
 value, and cannot be had without an adequate price. 
 
 Answer to query third. 
 
 Tkld to the Acre., calculated by the Bushel. 
 
( 29 ) 
 
 Beans and pease are' not raised in any great quantity 5 
 but the soil is, in general, not unfavourable to their cul¬ 
 ture. Jn the first district, they chiefly propagate the blue 
 grass and clover, and the same may be said of part of F rank- 
 lin county. In the i-esidue of the district they-depend on 
 Timothy meadows—^the former will yield one ton and a 
 half to the acre, the latter two tons. The blue grass and 
 clover have a second crop, which goes to about two-thir(k 
 of the first. The lucern grass, I should incline to think, 
 would do well here, choosing favourable situations ; but 
 I imagine it has not been sufficiently regarded. Some 
 English grasses, brought over by the first settlers, also 
 suit the soil. 
 
 Much hemp might be raised in these countries, were 
 , there proper encouragement—^the foreign hemp gluts the 
 markets, and there is not a sufficient protecting duty to 
 spur the farmer to raise this useful article. 
 
 Our hemp lands would average a seven hundred 
 weight to the acre (that is, what is called broker, henq)) ; 
 hackled flax may be calculated lOOlbs. to the acre. I 
 have endeavoured to average the productions, and believe 
 I am rather under than over the quantity. In the fresh 
 lands, or where they are moderately manured, we may 
 safely add one-fourth more than I have set down. With 
 European husbandry, much would, doubtless, be effect¬ 
 ed ; yet there are a few instances at York and Lancaster, 
 where between 40 and 50 bushels of wheat have been 
 raised to the acre. Barley yields greatly in the fresh or 
 manured lands ; but sufficient encouragement has not 
 been given to raise it. The market for this grain has 
 been very fluctuating, and wheat has been sown in its 
 place. I estimated potatoes, perhaps, too low, for when 
 there is only a reasonable care used, we may speak of up¬ 
 wards of an hundred bushels to the acre;, but they are 
 frequently carelessly planted, and not sufficiently attended 
 to. I have known less than one acre produce upw^ds of 
 four hundred bushels. 
 
 Answer to query fourth.—The towns I have mention¬ 
 ed in York and Franklin counties, carry on considerable 
 trade, and purchase the produce of the country ; but much, 
 the greater part of the wheat and flour is transported to 
 the Baltimore market by the farmer. 
 
 Upon a review of six years past (exclusive of the year' 
 
( 30 3 
 
 iTdO), I estimate the prices at the towns in the counties 
 as follows: 
 
 Tori County^FranlHnCounttj ■ 
 
 per Bshl. | per lb. | Ton.j 
 
 per Bsh). 
 
 per lb. 1 Ton. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 s. d. 
 
 
 s. d. 
 
 d. 
 
 £.s. 
 
 Wheat ... 6 0 
 
 — 
 
 
 3 0 
 
 =- 
 
 
 Rye .... 3 6 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 3 6 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Parley ... 4 0 
 
 — 
 
 ■ — 
 
 2 0 
 
 
 
 Oats .... 2 0 
 
 
 — 
 
 2 3 
 
 '_ 
 
 _ 
 
 Buck-wheat. 2 6 
 
 ■ _ 
 
 _ 
 
 2 9 
 
 ■_ 
 
 _ 
 
 Indian-com . 3 0 
 
 ■- 
 
 _ 
 
 2 0 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 Speltz ... 2 6 
 
 —, 
 
 — 
 
 1 101-2 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Potatoes . . 2 0 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 0 9 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 Turnips . . 1 0 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — 
 
 — ■ 
 
 — 
 
 Hay -- 
 
 
 3 
 
 — 
 
 
 2 5 
 
 Hackled-flax — 
 
 1 0 
 
 _ 
 
 __ 
 
 1 0 
 
 -T 
 
 Hemp ... '— 
 
 1 0 s 
 
 
 — 
 
 0 5 
 
 — 
 
 I have estimated the prices at the county market; you 
 may allow a deduction of 4d. the bushel between tiie farrh 
 and the market; the difference as to flax ;mdhemp will 
 be very small. The expence of hauling hay depends on 
 the distance. You may have a "waggon and four horses 
 for a day, in the winter, at 15s. 
 
 Answer to queries the fifth and sixth. 
 
 
 York County. 
 
 Frznklin County. 
 
 
 £. d. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 A working horse 
 
 . . 20 0 0 
 
 17 10 0 
 
 Pair of working oxen 17 0 0 
 
 15 0 0 
 
 A milch cow . . 
 
 . 4 10 0 
 
 4 5 0 
 
 Sheep.. 
 
 . 0 12 6 
 
 0 10 0 
 
 Hog ...... 
 
 . 1 10 0 
 
 1 10 0 
 
 Turkey .... . 
 
 .026 
 
 0 2 6 
 
 Goose . 
 
 . 0 ,2 6 
 
 0 2 0 
 
 Duck. 
 
 .010 
 
 0 0 9 
 
 Dung-hill fowl . 
 
 . 0 0 6 
 
 0 0 6 
 
 Pork, per lb . . . 
 
 . 0 .0 3 1-2 
 
 0 0 3 
 
 Beef . 
 
 .003 
 
 0 0.2 
 
 Mutton ...... 
 
 . 0 .0 4 
 
 003 1-2 
 
C 31 ) 
 
 York County^ Franklin Caiintyi 
 £.s,d. :£.s.d. 
 
 Veai. . .. 0 0 3 0 0 21*2 
 
 Butter. 0 08 008 
 
 New cheese. 0 0 6 0 0 6 
 
 Answer to query the seventh.—There is a very great 
 iron market at York: you may estimate the ton of 
 wrought iron there 28l. —and iron of a similar quali^. 
 will command the same sum at Chambersburg. 
 
 Answer to query the eight.—I herewith give you a list 
 of taxes laid upon the county of York since the beginning 
 of the revolution, but they are all nearly discharged, and 
 no new land-tax has been assessed by the State since the 
 establishment of the general government. Pennsylvania 
 has a consideradle demand agamst the general govern¬ 
 ment, and has a surplus revenue after paying all the debts, 
 which is mtended to be applied to the improvement of 
 roads and navigation—no land-tax is expected to be levi¬ 
 ed by the State. 
 
 N. B. The demand of Pennsylvania agmnst the gene¬ 
 ral government, is not yet ascertained. 
 
 Ust of Taxes laid upon Tork County hj the Commonwealth 
 of Pennsylvania. 
 
 
 In continental cur¬ 
 rency, which in 1781 
 depreciated to 150 
 for one in this State, 
 and finally wouldnot 
 circulate. 
 
 In State-paper 
 money. 
 
 In gold or silver. 
 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 £. s. d. 
 
 £. d. d. 
 
 Foriyr? 
 
 fs 
 
 12,721 4 9 
 20,860 3 1 
 
 
 
 79 
 
 80 
 «1 
 
 324,863 1 3 
 1174,447 18 10 
 
 14,751 13 0 
 
 6,152 15 61-2, 
 
 82 
 
 83 
 
 •84 
 
 
 19,140 IT 
 8,268 15 7 
 
 35,569 i 8 
 
 85 
 
 86 
 
 
 6,902 10 11 
 14,032 0 2 
 
 
 '' 8 ? 
 
 
 6,786 4 11 
 
 
 8 S 
 
 89 
 
 
 6,906 1 9 
 6,826 3 8 , 
 
 
( 32 ) 
 
 During the war, there were a few instances where some 
 additioad. taxes were laid upon non-jurors or non-asso- 
 ciators in the militia. A rate of sixpence in the pound up¬ 
 on personal property, v/ill , in general, be more than suffi¬ 
 cient to pay the county-taxi The road and poor-tax will 
 not come so high. 
 
 - By the laws of the Union we pay a duty upon foreign 
 importations, and an excise on wine and spirits of dl 
 kinds., He that drinks mast pay. 
 
 Franklin county may be nearly in the same condition 
 as to taxes. From the foregoing statements, it,must ap¬ 
 pear that this county, from climate, soil, and situation, is 
 favorable to agriculture. The hand of industry, with a 
 good system, is only wanting to bring it to,perfection, 
 I imagine that if our farmers were to cultivate fewer 
 acres, and attend them well, they would succeed better ; 
 a greater regard should be had to collecting proper ma¬ 
 nure. 
 
 I have , given you my sentiments reispecting the two 
 counties, and shall be ready, during the winter, to grant 
 any further assistance in my power. 
 
 I am, with the greatest respect. 
 
 Your most obedient and most humble' seiwant, 
 
 The President of the United States. ■ . • ■ 
 
 Frederick, Maryland, November \ 0 , 1^91. 
 Sir, 
 
 AFTER many endeavours for assistance, in answer¬ 
 ing your inquiry into the agriculture, &c. of Montgome¬ 
 ry, Frederic, mid Washington counties, I was obliged to 
 rely principally upon my own observations and conjec¬ 
 tures; for, as very few measure their fields or produce, 
 it is mere gueSs work, and they commonly think and 
 •peak the best of their own affairs. I wish my conjec- 
 ;tures had more certain foundation than.they have, yet I 
 flatter myself they will mislead no body to his injury; 
 , tiiey certainly are not calculated for that purpose. 
 
 I have Ae honor to be, with the greatest respectj. 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 
 The President, 
 
( 8S ) 
 
 Montgomery Coimty, Maryland.—The land in general, 
 is what may be called with us of middling or radier in* 
 ferior quality—^it produces well when fresh cleared, but 
 soon declines. It will sell according to quality, improve* 
 ments, and the proportion left in wood, from 22s. 6d. to 
 51. an acre—it has been very generally tended the first 
 two years in tobacco, the third in Indian corn, and sown 
 dow in .wheat. As common throughout the State, the 
 tobacco is planted three feet distance each way, and the 
 com about six ; so that it has become a genersd estimate, 
 that 4800 tobacco plants, or 1200 com hills, take up an 
 acre. The produce of tobacco is so various, as from 
 four to ten plants to the pound, nor is that of Indian com 
 more certain. Such land as I have described, may be 
 expected to yield for the first four crops, ^cording to the 
 seasons, a pound of tobacco for every six or seven plants 
 planted, for seme will fail. From 15 to 20 bushels of In¬ 
 dian com, and from nine to 12 bushels of wheat, to the 
 acre. After this destmctive course, the land is often 
 again planted the next year with Indian com, and sown 
 down again with wheat or rye, tvithout any assistance. 
 The crops accordingly lessen, till the land becomes so 
 exhausted that its produce scarcely pays for the plough¬ 
 ing. If the land was well cleared, and a crop of wheat 
 welt put in, in the first instance, I have no doubt but the: 
 yield might be from 12 to 20 bushels an acre, and some¬ 
 times more. I judge, that from half to two-thirds of 
 Montgomery county is cleared—a good deal of it is 
 much impoverished, or, as we call it, worn out, though a 
 great proportion of it lies well, and very little of it sandy— 
 so that it is capable of improvement. This county is, in 
 general, plentifully watered with good springs and small 
 Streams. Very little hay is made in it, though there 
 might be a good deal of watered meadow. George Town, 
 a good port for shipping, in this county, has, for some 
 years past, been the best maket for tobacco in the State, 
 perhaps in America ; and the Montgomery tobacco is in 
 high reputation. The labour of the people has therefore 
 been, I may say, wholly applied in the cultivation of to¬ 
 bacco—fresh land produces the most certain crop, the 
 easiest tended, and the best in quality. Baltimore lies 
 •onvenienttOBome, and not veiy distant from any part of 
 
■(.34) 
 
 the county. There and at George To\vii,the surplus wheat 
 is disposed of—it may in a course of years average about 
 ^s. a bushel. 
 
 The stocks of catde of all kinds are neither numerous 
 or good, so that there is little flesh provision raised in this 
 County for sale, nor is there any surplus of Indian corn, 
 which is generally from 2s. 3d. to 3s. 6d. a bushel. To 
 say with us, that great quantities of tobacco are raised in 
 any tract of country, implies without more, that the land 
 is wasted, and no surplus of any'thing made in it but to¬ 
 bacco. Some few plantations are not to be included with¬ 
 in my general description; they are very good, are betr 
 ter managed, and would sell considerably higher. It may 
 not be amiss to remark, that a part of the federal district 
 lies within this county, aiid the federal city adjoins it. A 
 great change may be expected to take place soon in the 
 price of land, and the kind of cultivation.. 
 
 Frederic county, Maryland, may be considered un- 
 'der a division of it into three parts. The Catoctin, 
 and that part of the South Mountain which lie with¬ 
 in it—^the immediate space between those mountains, 
 and the land lying to the eastward of Monocosy Valley,— ' 
 and'Mohocosy Valley itself. The moimtzun land is ve¬ 
 ry thin and stony, though generally covered with wood 
 and timber j there are spots, however, settled all through; 
 such, and the parts near the better land, sell from 15s. to 
 its. 6d. an acre. Amongst tire second class, there are 
 We and there plantations equal in quality, produce, and, 
 price, to the Monocosy Valley: the rest may be compar¬ 
 ed with the Montgomery land. Monocosy Valley is a- 
 bout 35 or 40 miles in length, and eight or ten in 
 breadth, with the river Monocosy running toough it, and 
 emptying into Potowmac, The land is generally in small 
 farms of 100 to 250 acres. There is a plenty of lime¬ 
 stone, and not so much as to be prejudicial; there ai-e 
 many pretty good streams, and most of the proper situa¬ 
 tions are improved by good burr mills. Indeed there 
 has been a rage for mills, so that the milling is well done, 
 and on cheap terms. In this part of the county, as every 
 where else, there is great choice; very little land sells for 
 less than Si. or more than 8l. an acre ; the average may 
 be said to be 6l. We are from 40 to 50 miles from Bal¬ 
 timore and George Town, where wheat may average 7s. 
 
{ 35 ) 
 
 a bushel; carriage to those markets costs usually 3l. a ton. 
 With us, milch cows sell from 41. to 6l.draught horses 
 fit for waggon or plough, 18l. to 25l.; smaller horses less, 
 and exceeding good ones more. Prices at liome-^f 
 wheat, 5s. 6d.; Indian corn, 2s, to 3s. 6d,'; rye, 3s. 6d.'; 
 oats, 2s. 3d.; barley, or, _ more properly, bigg, 3s. 6d.; 
 buck-wheat, 2s. Prices in the Frederick Toivn market 
 —ofgrain, as at home; beef, 2d 1-2 to 4d ; veal, 2d to 
 3d 1-2; mutton, 3d 1-2 to 5d per lb.; pork 2rs. 6d. to 
 35s. per hundred; butter. Is. The market is not consi¬ 
 derable, and the same prices govern one amongst anodier 
 in the county. Hay, 50s. to 3l. a ton, 
 
 Wheat is reckoned a pash article, and thereforf the 
 chief that we cultivate for market; we also raise Indian 
 cpm, for consumption on die farms, seldom with a view 
 for sale, and have lately increased in the consumption of- 
 it. We raise lye also, for the'chief feed of our horses. 
 Our management of bur land is, in general, far from de¬ 
 serving praise, though not so reprehensible as Montgo-, 
 mery. I judge the produce of land of 6l. an acre, may be, 
 nearly (fresh cleared) in wheat, 20 bushels. 
 
 In com the same; in r>-e rather more. 
 
 Fresh cleared land, growing in com., «Jwed in wheat, 
 18 bushels. 
 
 Fresh land, a crop, taken in wheat, and then planted in 
 com, 20 bushels. 
 
 Land not run hard, fallowed, and cropped in wheat once 
 in three years, ,20 bushels, 
 
 Fallowed, and cropped in wheat once in two years, 
 15 bushels. 
 
 If manured moderately it will rise to 20 bushels. 
 
 If pushed every other year, without manuring, it will 
 sink to lO bushels, and even lower. Land in general, 
 with the same management, yields more rye than wheat, 
 with this advantage, that lye leaves it lighter than wheat, 
 and seems not to exhaust it so much. Strong land, of a 
 proper soil, and well cultivated, will yield from 30 to 40 
 bushels of barley, or rather bigg, to tire acre. Rich fresh 
 bottom, yields 5 or 600, and highly manured land 6, 8, or 
 900lbs. of hemp to the acre; the cultivation of it has al¬ 
 most ceased. Flax is an uncertain crop. We break up 
 our land in May or June, for fallow; begin to cross-plough 
 it about the middle of July; harrow it across, plough in 
 
( .36 ) 
 
 the seed, from three pecks to a bushel to the acre, and 
 sometimes lightly harrow with the ploughing. We sel¬ 
 dom plough tvith more than two horses, and esteem from 
 the 10th to the 20th of September, the very best time for 
 seeding; the quantity of seed near a bushel, 1 think I 
 have found, and is generally agreed, is the best. We are 
 not so well agreed, whether another ploughing is helpful 
 or otherwise. 
 
 Speltz are sometimes sowed,on land too wet for wheat, 
 of which we have a little: the yield shelled is much about 
 the same as wheat. We cultivate but few potatoes, or 
 turnips, the latter is always sowed on fresh land, and ne¬ 
 ver hoed; the potatoes too, are commonly neglected; 
 in particular instances, they have been well managed, the 
 yieldhas been very encouraging, some say as far as 500 
 bushels to the acre ; but one gentleman, on whom I can 
 depend, told me he had not made less than 200 any one 
 year, for several years together. Cabbages, parsnips, 
 carrots, peas, and beans, have only been raised for family 
 consumption: they succeed very well, as do almost all 
 garden plants and fruits. 
 
 I have myself raised hops and madder ; I believe they 
 are with us of superior quality. A brewer told me he 
 had bought the crop of five-eights of an acre of hops, which 
 turned out 1200lbs.; and several Germans, as well as 
 one Englishman, acquainted with madder, have told me, 
 it is as good here in two years as in Europe in three. 
 
 A small meadow is a common object with every farm¬ 
 er ; it is of Timothy, or.natural grass; the Timothy is 
 mowed but once a year, the natural grass twice: either, 
 that is esteemed good, produces, in the year, from a ton 
 and an half to two tons an acre; but many, from unfavou¬ 
 rable situation or neglect, turn out much less. We also 
 often have clover patches ; they are commonly cut and 
 fed green, and seldom made into haj’’. Some few farm¬ 
 ers, in the spring, sprinkle clover-seed on wheat, for pas¬ 
 turage, but it is rare, though every body approves it. Ap¬ 
 ples; pears, quinces, the morrello and common cherries, 
 are in high perfection, and with little trouble. Peaches, 
 apricots, nectarines, and cherries; of the more delicious 
 kinds, do not thrive so well here as near to the bay ; yet 
 these and plums, in all situations sometimes, and in some 
 situations almost every year, are veiy good. We have 
 
( sr ) 
 
 too, the black mulberry in plenty ; exotic grapes thrive 
 very well, and the native grape, of which there is great 
 variety, have, in some instances, been much improved by 
 culture., 
 
 The price of bar-iron is from 28l. to SOl. a ton, coarse 
 iron-work from the smith double the price of the bar. 
 Labourers, by the year, about 20l.; by the months 40s. 
 and found every thing but clothes. Reapers and mowers, 
 by the day, 3s. to 3s. 9d. and found ; about a pint of 
 whiskey, or common mm, is indispensable ; a good reaper 
 cuts, binds, and stacks, about three-quarters of an acre of 
 wheat, of 20 bushels to the acre, a day ; a mower mows 
 about his acre. 
 
 Washington county, Maryland, may also be divided in 
 •the same manner as Frederick.—Connogochege Valley 
 is about 20 miles in length and breadth, and has Conno- 
 ^ochege and Antitem creeks running throught it, and' 
 emptying in the Potowmac. This valley has more lime¬ 
 stone than Monocosy, is rather stionger, and, its inhabi¬ 
 tants say, exceeds it in produce ; I believ'e it does. The 
 prices of land, labom-, lure, cattle of all kinds, as well as 
 the kinds of produce, and maimer of cultivation, is so 
 much alike, that a particular enumeration would be but a 
 repetition. Itlie^ 30 or 40 miles farther from the ports, 
 and the grain is generally 6d. or 8d. lower. They too 
 have a plenty of very fine mills, and their wheat is chiefly 
 carried to market in flour. The other parts of Washing- 
 ton are much the same astlie inferior parts of Frederick. 
 The improvement of the inland navigation on Potowmac, 
 is likely to lessen greatly the expence of the carriage of 
 the produce of these counties, and of course render the 
 lands much more valuable. 
 
 It may be remarked, and seem strange, that I have 
 estimated the produce of the richer and poorer fresh lands 
 in their first crops not very different. I believe the fact 
 will justify me, for land of middling and inferior quality, 
 for the first two years, makes a very vigorous exertion. ' 
 
 I have confined myself chiefly to what I believe is the 
 present actual general state of things ; and when the price 
 ofland and of labour is considered, it will not seem won*- 
 derfid that men will generally, as they are able, go into 
 new purchases, rather than highly improve their own 
 lands j but general as the practice is, it is not universal. 
 
(38 ) 
 
 There are instances among us, of SO bushels of wheat, 
 bn an average of years, being raised to the acre, on par¬ 
 ticular, manured, and highly cultivated spots; and, from 
 essays, it is a common opinion, that good land, highly 
 cultivated, and manured, will produce from 40 to 50 bush¬ 
 els of Indian corn to the acre, and even more. 
 
 Mr. Edward Tilghman, now dead, had three 
 squares of 20 acres each ; he tilled one in tobacco—to¬ 
 bacco w'as not the first object with him, it gave place to 
 ' his wheat; on a particular day in September he cleared 
 _ his ground of the tobacco, whether so ripe as he wished 
 or not; he seeded it in wheat ; he let nothing in till the 
 May after harvest, unless his calves in the fall, and before 
 hard frost. He, the next year, pastured 20 cows on the 
 same field; they were turned in with discretion, twice or 
 thrice a day for an hour or two at a time'; he stabled his 
 cows, and manured for tobacco—he thus went round ma¬ 
 ny years. I was at his house upwards of thirty years 
 ago, and saw those fields; it was about the 5th of May- 
 one was then in very strong wheat—in the second, the 
 white clover was considerably more than ancle high, with 
 20 cows, one or two more or less, feeding on it; and the 
 third was ploughed up for tobacco, from which, he then 
 told me, he had the preceding year made t400lbs. of 
 butter. He has told me, that his tobacco has generally 
 turned out lOOOlbs, to the acre; and his nephew told-me, 
 some years, about twelve years after, that his wheat, for 
 15 years, had averaged 32 bushels and a fraction to the 
 acre. We have land in this neighbourhood, full as good, 
 naturally, as Mr. Tilghman’s, which is in .i^ieen Anne’s 
 county; and the crops are rather more certain in this 
 than in that part of the country. Indeed we are very sel¬ 
 dom injured by mildews, scab, or blight; the last we 
 scarcely know. Mr. Tilghman also has told me, that 
 he had upwards of 500 bushels of head turnips to the 
 
 As soon as the wood is taken off our strong land, it is 
 covered with white clover, which seems as natural to the 
 soil as wood; if the land is not so light as tO push the 
 wheat into straw too much, 20 bushels an acre may be 
 expected the first crop. Those who are acquainted with 
 cultivation, know that manured land will produce more 
 grain,or seed, than the richest freshland, and may calcu- 
 
( 39 ) 
 
 late for themselves what may be expected from fresh 
 Ismd, imder good management. 
 
 The truth warrants it, and it may not be amiss to re¬ 
 mark, that the territory of Columbia*’ is the point where 
 the general productions meet in greater perfection than 
 any other, and that from thence some improve or decline 
 towards the east, and others towards the west, in at least 
 as small distances as towards the north and south. Grass, 
 grain, and fruits of all kinds are very good. To the south¬ 
 ward and eastward, grass, wheat, rye, oats, and apples, 
 are less perfect, or produced in less quantities. Cherries, 
 of the more delicious kinds, peaches, apricots, nectarines, 
 figs, aijd melons, improve. To the northward and west¬ 
 ward the latter are not so perfect—the former improve, 
 till the neighbourhood of this, and especially in the moun¬ 
 tains. Apples are equal to those of the Jersies. 
 
 Our wheat is commonly 60lb.—^this year 63, and some, 
 of it 67". Our grass, rye, and oats, better. Pursuing the" 
 west to the Allegany, you come into a country equal, per¬ 
 haps, to any in the world, for grass, ry’e, oats, potatoes, 
 and flax, as well as excellent for wheat—it is generally 
 said, that the oats weigh 46; wheat from 64 to 67'. That 
 the potatoes are abundant, of imcomraon size, and excel¬ 
 lent. in quality—and that the hackled flax is generally a 
 yard long—some of it is certainly so. 
 
 ; Note.—To convert currency into sterling, take off two- 
 fifths. 
 
 Hyde-Park, Fairfax County^ Virginia^ Nov. 18,1791. 
 
 Dxar Sir, 
 
 A DESIRE of conversing with the most intelligent 
 persons in my neighbourhood, and instituting a corres¬ 
 pondence with others, on the subject of your inquiry, trill, 
 I hope, plead my excuse, in being so late in ^swering 
 your letter of August. I never entertained very high opi- 
 
 * Columbia is the name of a district 10 miles,square (in 
 ■which is the new, or Federal City) over which the general 
 government, by constitution, has exclusive jurisdiction. 
 
( 40 ) 
 
 nioM .ofour system of farming, but what I had is certaia- 
 ly lower than it was. Our farms are, in general, too large 
 to admit of much nicety, and, I believe, it would be unhap¬ 
 py for us to have any great desire to be so, with our black 
 labourers, and the more worthless wretches we employ to 
 overlook them. The manner' too, in which our attention 
 has been engrossed by the cultivation of tobacco, and large 
 quantities of Indian corn, has, no doubt, had some share 
 -in rendering us slovenly farmers. Having had, hitherto, 
 plenty of fresh land for these articles, w'e have disregard¬ 
 ed every means of Improving our opened grounds, either 
 by manure, or laying them down in grasses—but as we 
 begin nov/ to set some, store by our woods, and tobacco 
 ,has declined so much in value, that people are generally 
 exchanging tobacco for wheat, I flatter myself, the face 
 ,pf our couhtiy will soon assume an appearance, that will 
 ^npt only do honor to our climate, but ourselves—indeed 
 it has long been evident to me, that our sagacious northern 
 brethem, not only considered our climate as superior to 
 their own, but our lands too as capable of being made so, 
 from their constant annual emigrations among us. As we 
 may be said to be entirely indebted to these for the best 
 farms among us, it is very desirable that they should hap¬ 
 pen in atenfold ratio. 
 
 Although, from a. comparative view of the exports of 
 .wheat from the several States in the Union, it appears 
 that considerably more of that article is annually exported 
 from.Virpnia than from any of the professedly farming 
 States, still it has scarcely, hitherto, been considered as a 
 secondary object on our farms. Till very lately, the 
 
 E Ctice of Mowing grounds for wheat, was seldom fol- 
 ed, and even now, it is by no . means so general as 
 could be wished. The usual mode of sowing it has been, 
 and is now, too generally, in our own corn-fields, when 
 the Indian com is laidb)^, and which are cultivated every 
 second or third year, without receiving any manure, or 
 being laid down in clover after the crop is taken off.. 
 Those who are considered as the best farmers, and fal¬ 
 low inost, tnist entirely to their ploughing. Their fields 
 are too extensive for the manure raised from their stock, 
 and'we have as y et no other in use. I thought it necessary 
 to premise thus much, generally, respecting our mode of 
 agriculture, to pref^tour chjnate and soil being unjustly 
 
( « ) 
 
 ' Mamed for what we alone are chargeable. It is applicabtd 
 to the whole State, I believe. I shall now t^e yo^ 
 queries in their order, and consider first the lands in Fair^ 
 fax county, which is situated on the river Potowmacj 
 and bounded by it for near 40 miles. The lands herej 
 are generally thin, and the soil a stiff clay. At a little 
 distance from the river, they are rather hilly and broken* 
 The pasturage in summer, is better than might be ex¬ 
 pected from the appearance of the land,forj notwithstand¬ 
 ing all our bad management, our fields yield the white 
 clover plentifullyj and jf am satified no grounds can turn 
 out the red clover to better advantage, where they are 
 weU manured. Though the county cannot be considered 
 as abounding so much in meadow lands as some othersj 
 yet there are few people but have them. On the river, 
 the most valuable grounds for meadows, the Pocasons, 
 are still unreclaimed, and, indeed, in every part of the 
 county, some of the most valuable grounds for meadows^ 
 are still in their natural state. I cannot infonn you 
 of the proportion of meadow-land to the arable, for acura- 
 cy in these matters is out of the question in Virginia s 
 nor of wood-land to either t but I think I am not wrong 
 with respect to the latter, in saying, that better than half 
 the county is still in woods. In die upper parts of the 
 county, from ten to 20 miles from the river, the soil is 
 much intermixed with stones. The average yield of 
 wheat, in the mode of agriculture which I have already 
 mentioned, was practised with us, is about six for one—- 
 in fallowed grounds, about eight and ten for one.—The 
 old tobacco grounds which have been well manured, will 
 yield from 20 to 30. The average yield of oats and rye, 
 which have also but .a poor chance (being generally sowed 
 in old worn out corn fields) is from 10 to 15, for one ; 
 buck-wheat from 15 to 20.—Barley is not cultivated here. 
 —Indian corn, from 10 to 15 bushels an acre. As to 
 pease, beans, potatoes, and turnips, our lands yield them 
 -very well; but as they are not raised for market in gene¬ 
 ral, I can’t say what may be their average product per 
 acre. It h§s ever appeared to me, that if the farmers in 
 Europe, who lay so much stress upon these articles in 
 their writings, had our excellent substitute for them, In¬ 
 dian com, they woidd onlyregard them as we do, for cu- 
 
( 42 ) 
 
 linaiy purposes. The chief grass cultivated here is the 
 Timothy—the average product of it, per acre, is about a 
 ton. It is certainly the best adapted to our hot suns, and 
 particularly our slovenly management of any grass; and 
 this, perhaps, is the best reason which can be given for 
 our attending so little to any other.—Of hemp, we raise 
 scarce any in this county; and of flax, as we raise it only 
 for our o^vn domestic purposes, all I can say of it is^ that 
 it grows very kindly and plentifully. T he fee-simple pri¬ 
 ces of lands at the distance of 10 miles from the river and 
 town of Alexandria, is from 20 to 40 shillings per acre, 
 according-to quality. It is remarkable, that lands in no 
 respect superior, on the opposite side of the river, in Ma¬ 
 ryland, and equally distant from the river, sell currently 
 at 41. and 5l. per acre. I know not how such a difference 
 is to be accounted for, but from the greater degree of po¬ 
 pulation in proportion to their country. The same cir¬ 
 cumstance must, I suppose, account for the lands in Vir- 
 ginia.being generally so much cheaper, though equal in 
 quality, and possessing a milder climate than the lands in 
 the northern States. The rents of our lands have increas¬ 
 ed much within these few years. From the first state- 
 tnent of the country, till lately, it was the practice to rent 
 them on leases for two and three lives, at so much tobacco 
 a hundred acres; very often not more than two hundred 
 pounds of tobacco an hundred—at present, however, from 
 the uncertain price of tobacco, the rents in that article are 
 becomeTuhusual; so that the common mode of renting is 
 now, either by the year, or for a term of 10 or 20 years, 
 and at the rate of 8l. to lOl. qn hundred. This mode is 
 •preferred by the tenants, from an idea which, I believe, 
 to be natural to the human mind, that of becoming one 
 day lords of their own little territoiy. I think it is often 
 cherished by our people, to an excess which frequently 
 ■injures theih. 
 
 - The lands in Prince William county and Fauquier, from 
 20.to 30 miles from Dumfries (a totvn on the Potowmac, 
 about 30 miles' below Alexandria) are, I think, much su¬ 
 perior to the lands in Fairfax, being both more level and 
 richer, with a greater quantity of meadow land, though 
 they make still less of it than we do—^their system of 
 farming is, certainly, worse than in Fairfax. Hence, their 
 yield of the several kinds of crops, though on better land, 
 
( 43 ) 
 
 does not average moi'e than with us. They have been, 
 are still, more unfortunately attached to'tobacco than 
 we have been. The soil of both these counties is much 
 dike, being of a reddish clay ; at the distance of tsvo or 
 three feet from the surfaqp, a thin stratum of a stone re¬ 
 sembling slate is found ; hence, their springs are not so 
 abundant, nor is the water as good as could be wJshed ; 
 but when wells have been dug, the water has been found 
 as good as any where. The average fee-simple prices of 
 their lands, are from 20s. to 30s. an acre—the terms of 
 rents are much as they are in Fairfax. 
 
 The county of Loudoun lies on the Pptowmac, above 
 Fairfax, and is, perhaps, the best farming county in the 
 ,State, being thickly settled with .fakers and Germans, 
 from Pennsylvania. The lowest comer of the county 
 is about 10 miles from tide-water, and it extends up the 
 river with the meanders thereof, upwards of 50 miles. It 
 is well supplied with springs, water-courses, aiid meadows; 
 what are called the bottom lands on the river, are very- 
 rich, but the soil throughout the county is generally still, 
 and of a reddish cast. The upper parts of the coanty are 
 mountainous; better than half the county is in woods, as 
 is also the case with the two last mentioned counties. 
 Much more attention is paid to meadows here, than in 
 either of the counties yet mentioned, it being the first ob¬ 
 ject, in general, in every settlement, and their chief con¬ 
 cern afterwaj-ds. The bottom lands on the river sell from 
 Sl.to 5l. an acre ; in the interior part of the county from 
 IL 10s. to 3l. anacre. There are many leases, for lives 
 in this county, given some years ago, by gentlemen hold¬ 
 ing quimtities of lands, at 2l. andSl. an hundred acres; 
 but the common mode of renting, on the expiration of 
 leases, is fora term of years not exceeding, in general, 21, 
 and form lOl. to 201. an hundred acres. It is also common, 
 in many instances, to. rent, for one-third of the produce,. 
 The average produce of wheat per acre, is from 8 to 10 
 bushels on their common lands, which, like those in Fair- 
 . fax, have been much exhausted. Their fresh, or river 
 .lands,produce from 10 to 15 bushels ; the average pro¬ 
 duce of Indian, corn is about 15 bushels; of lye, 20; 
 . speltz, 30 ; oats, 25; and barley 30, though the last is 
 chiefly rmsed for the purposes of home-brewing, and by 
 
( 44 . ) 
 
 the Oemans. They manufacture most of their own 
 linen and woolleiis in this county, and distil most of the 
 ppirits used, from rye, peaches, and apples, and make a 
 considerable quantity of cyder for market; they also 
 make many waggons for sale, and almost all iron utensils 
 for their own use, sTheir meadows yield them better 
 than a ton an acre. I forgot to mention above, the pro¬ 
 duce of buck-wheat; I am told that the Germans and 
 fakers frequently raise it from 30 to 60 bushels an acre. 
 What I have already observed with respect to the smaller 
 produce of the farm, peas, potatoes, &c. must suffice for, 
 all the counties I have to mention. I have no doubt but 
 the Germans and Pennsylvaniansof Loudoun would reap 
 more profit from them than we do; but their distance from 
 market has hitherto prevented them from raising them 
 for sale, and we seldom attend to what is consumed pa 
 the farm. 
 
 I shall aow proceed tp Berkeley, which, in point of fer¬ 
 tility, Is, without doubt, the richest county in the State. 
 ‘This county lies also on the Potowmac, and is penetrated 
 by the Shenandoah, which empties into that river. The 
 lands here, which are csdled the Valley, running parallel 
 with the Shenandoah, and between that and the north 
 Mountains,may be divided into four classes;—the first 
 quality sells at 41. an acre, second at 3l. tltird at 21. and 
 fourth at 11,10s. in fee-simple. The m^ie of renting lands 
 is here too, either by the year, or a short term of years, 
 as there are no lands which rise faster in value. The 
 first quality rents from 20 to 30l. an hundred acres ; the 
 ether qualities inproportion; and none for less than lOl. 
 The lands of the first quality are considered as too rich 
 for wheat, and, in the generi method of seeding, do not 
 succeed so well as those of the second; being more liable 
 to fall, and the rust. It is probable this may proceed from 
 their not giving it seed in proportion to its strength, or 
 from their sowing it as early as their other grounds. That 
 very rich grounds do not succeed so well on early sowing, 
 
 I am convinced, from several trials which I have been 
 witness to, by a neighbour of mine on a rich island. This 
 spot, which, when sowed in August, would yield scarcely 
 any thing but straw, when sowed in the latter end of Oc¬ 
 tober, or first of November, yielded abundantly. The 
 geppnd quality produces from 15 to 20 bushels, when fal- 
 
( 45 ) 
 
 lowed; the third from 10 to 12; and the fourth from^ 
 to 10. The first-rate lands produce from 40 to 50 bush¬ 
 els of oats per acre, and rye in proportion; the other qua¬ 
 lities from 20 to 40. Indian com from 20 to 40 bushels, 
 according to the quality of the land, and buck-wheat from 
 30 to 60. ■ Barley would, no doubt, succeed will on such 
 lands; but I am informed that they raise none. The natu¬ 
 ral meadows are certainly superior to any to be met with 
 any where ; what is called the English blue grass, flou¬ 
 rishes in the greatest luxuriancy, and is common through¬ 
 out the county. The average crop of Timothy is nearly 
 two tons an acre. The soil of the best lands is dark and 
 fine; of the second lighter, and intermixed with soft 
 Stones; that of the third and fourth rates still lighter. The 
 whole surface of the ground, when cleared, is covered 
 with blue grass. I must now observe, with respect to the 
 counties of Loudoun and Berkeley, that the completion 
 of the navigation of the Potowniac (which we expect will 
 happen, at the farthest, in two years) will be attended 
 with immense benefits to them. Their produce, of every 
 sort, will be brought to market on as cheap terms as those 
 who live at the distance of eight or ten miles. This cir¬ 
 cumstance, added to the superiority of tlieir lands, cer¬ 
 tainly renders them the most desirable of any counties in 
 the State; and when it is considered that they already 
 ,have the two flourishing totvns of Alexandria and George 
 Town for their markets, and an act of Congress for esta¬ 
 blishing their permanent residence between these places, 
 I think it cannot be doubted that they are the most eligi¬ 
 ble situations in the Union. In the subjoined table, you 
 have the prices current, as accurately as I could ascertain 
 them. 
 
 Prices current, in Virginia money, 6s. the dollar—Best 
 horses, from 20l. to 25l.; second rate, from 121. to20l.; 
 small horses may be bought much lower. Oxen from 8l. 
 to 15l. a pair; steers unbroke, at 2l. 10s. to 31.; best 
 milch cows at 41.; second-rate at about 2l. 10s. to 3l.; 
 veal, at 2d. to 2d. 1-2 and 3d. per lb.; mutton, at 3d. per 
 lb.; pork, from 20s. to 30s. per lOOlbs.; butter from 6d. 
 to 8d. per lb.; cheese, from4d. to 6d. per lb.; tallow, at 
 8d. per Ib.^ Sheep, from. 6s. to 15s.; hogs, 12 months 
 
 Mutten 3d. and tallow 8d.! Fat sheep not too common. 
 
( 46 ) 
 
 old, frqm 12s. to 15s. according to size; beef, at 2d. to 
 3d.; geese, from Is. to 2s.; turkeys, 2s,; ducks, from 
 6d. to 9d.hens, from 6d. to 8d.; chickens, from 3s. to 
 4s. per, dozen. 
 
 Wheat, about 4s. 6d. per bushel; buck-wheat, 2s.; 
 com, 2s.; beans and peas, 3s. to 4s.; turnips, and pota¬ 
 toes, from 9d. to Is, 
 
 Hackled flax, from Is. to Is, 3d. per lb, s hemp from 
 the break, from 28s. to 30s. per lOOlbs,; iron, from 25l. 
 to 2}'l. per ton. 
 
 In the county of Fairfax, from its vicinity to maidjet, 
 several of the above articles will average higher. 
 
 Rates of the Taxes on Property. 
 
 On land, for every lOOl, valuation ..... 7 6 
 On Negroes, each above 12 ........ 2 6 
 
 Onhorses,each ... • *.0 6 
 
 Om chariots, per wheel .......... 9 6 
 
 On riding chairs, per wheel.3 0 
 
 Parish levies from 10 to 30lbs, of tobacco per titfre- 
 
 County taxes much the same, The two last vary each, 
 year, according to the number of poor to be supported, 
 and the number of criminals ; but for the latter we are 
 reimbm’sed by the public. 
 
 Our taxes have been also been diminishing every year 
 since peace, so that no country has less reason to complain 
 of public burthens at present. 
 
 The above is a list of our .State taxes. The only tax 
 imposed by the general governmentj and which the farmer 
 feels, is the tax on stills ; this is about 6d. a gallon 
 Though, from its novelty, it has excited some murmurs, 
 I cannot think it can be considered as unreasonable, or 
 improper, by those who reflect either on the great injuries 
 
 * White males, and negro males and females, above 16 
 years of age, are subject to this tax. The tobacco tvith 
 •which it is paid may, on an average, be estimated at three- 
 halfpence per lb. Note in General WashingtorCs hand¬ 
 writing. 
 
( 47 ) 
 
 producedby the cheapness of distilled liquors among us, 
 or the excessive profits made by the county distillers. 
 
 I cannot conclude, without regretting that I have not 
 been able to find you a more accurate account, in many 
 particulars. I flatter myself it is at least a faithful one; 
 I have used my best endeavours to make it so. It has 
 certmnly not been in my power to pay any compliments 
 to our farmers for their management. 
 
 I am, dear Sir, 
 
 With the greatest respect, 
 
 Your most obedi ent sen^ant. 
 
 The President of the United States, 
 
 The following detached information is communicated 
 by persons: on whose knowledge and accuracy reliance 
 may be placed. 
 
 The Writer hereof is best acquainted with that tract 
 of land which crosses Virginia, from. northeast to south¬ 
 west, by the names of the Bull-run Mountains, South 
 Mountains, and Green Mountains, and is generally six 
 or eight miles wide, one half of which is the mountain 
 itself, and therefore steep ; the residue lies at the foot, on ' 
 each side, in large waving hills, perfectly accessible to the 
 plough. It is of a dark red colour—the richest of it is a 
 pure mould, or loam, without the least mixture of sand 
 or grit, though often a good deal of broken stone ; when 
 first clearedof its timber, it lies loose for about a footdepth, 
 that is to sa3% as far down as the frosts have penetrated, 
 but below that, for many feet, the earth is still the same, 
 but hard, as having never yet been opened by the ft-ost 
 when it has been turned up by the plough, and has been 
 exposed to the fi-ost a winter or two, it is nearly as rich as 
 the original first soil. This land is excellent for wheat 
 and rye, but yields poorly in oats ; for Indian com it is 
 middling. The fruits which abound are apples, peaches, 
 and cherries. The country perfectly healthy, and the 
 climate more moderate in summer than that below, and 
 in winter than that above. Most of the parcels of land 
 held by individuals, have been so laid out, as to contain 
 about one-third of the first quality, as above described; 
 
( .46 ) 
 
 dherthird of a middling quality; and one-third-of baii’etia 
 well timbered. The husbandly is, ifi general, very slo-> 
 venly—under such as it is, the lands of the first quality 
 will produce 30 bushels of wheat to the acre, when fresh, 
 and being tended alternately in wheat and Indian corn 
 (thelatter ofwhich is agreat exhauster) without ever be¬ 
 ing rested or manured, they fall at length down to eight or 
 ten bushels the acre. The soil of middling quality- will 
 yield 12 or 15 bushels ofwheat the acre, when fresh, and 
 fall down to about eight. The grasses which have been 
 found to succeed best, are red clover and orchard grass ; 
 green sward does well also; only one good cutting of 
 these can be counted on, unless the ground can be watered. 
 A tract consisting of the three qualities before mention¬ 
 ed, in equal quantities, in that part which lies near the 
 Rivanna river, say about Charlotteville, will sell for about 
 22s. 6d. to 27's. 6d. sterling the acre, on an average ; it 
 will be more or less, in proportion as there is more or less 
 of the best or worst qualities—^produce is water-borne 
 from hence tothe tide-waters fO miles distant. Advanc¬ 
 ing north-eastwardly along the same mountainsj these 
 lands are dearer, though their produce cannot be water¬ 
 borne till they reach the Poto wmac. Going south-westward- 
 lyalpngthesamemountains, lands become cheaper. Where 
 they cross the Fluvanna, or James river, they are about 
 two-thirds of the price before mentioned ; and from that 
 part.their produce may also be water-borne to tide-waters 
 130 miles distant. 
 
 Ordinary prices about Charlotteville are as follows t 
 
 A labouring negro man is hired by the year, for 9l. 
 rtefling, his clothes, and food. 
 
 A good plough-horse costs loh to 121. sterling. 
 
 A cow, 30s.; a sheep, 6s.; a sow, 10s.; a goose, or 
 turkey, 2s.; a dung-hill fowl, 6d. 
 
 A bushel of wheat, 3s.; of rye, 22d. 1-2 ; of Indiad 
 com ls. 6d. 
 
 Beef in autumn, and pork in winter, 16s. the lOOlbs.; 
 bacoh^ 6d. to 8d. tbe lb. 
 
 Hay, 45s. tbe ton. 
 
 August 3,1T91. 
 
Dear Sir, 
 
 ; AG&EE ABLY to your request, I have now the pleai- 
 sure to send you an extract of my letter to ARTHua 
 YouNGjEsq. relative to the prices of the following afd- 
 cles in Pennsylvania, viz.* 
 
 Wheat, per bushel, 6s. to 6s. 4d.; rye, 3s. 9d. to 4s.; 
 Indian com, 2s. 6d.; oats. Is. 8d.; barley, 4s.; clover 
 hay, per ton, 41. 10s. ; beef, per lOOlbs. 25s.; pork. 27's. 
 6d.; a good working horse, 20l; a pair of good working 
 oxen, 900lbs. each, 201. to 241.; a milch cow and calf, 5l. 
 to 61 • store sheep, by the flock, 10s. to 15s.; wool,—; 
 
 dressed flax,-; bricks, per thousand, 22s. 6d.; stone- 
 
 lime, per bushel, lid. to Is.; cultivated farms of good 
 land, in the old counties, not within ttventy miles of Phi¬ 
 ladelphia, extremely various j the average, at random, 
 perhaps, 5l. per acre. 
 
 The par of exchange wfth Great Britain, 166 two- 
 thirds. ' 
 
 An English guinea passes cufl'ent at 35s. 
 
 With respect to taxes, the second object of inquiry, my 
 information is as follows; and I believe it may be relied 
 en: 
 
 Franklin county, .... 
 
 York county, ...... 
 
 Northumberland county, 
 
 ; Fayette county, .... 
 
 • Cumberland county, . . 
 
 Chester county, \ . . . . 
 
 . Delaware county, . . . 
 
 'Washingtoncounty, . . 
 
 Philadelphia county, . . 
 
 , . * This is a letter from Mr, PowELy President of th^ 
 ' Agricultural Society of Philadelphia. 
 
 ■'* last j/rar.-t ^ghest in the county.-% Higher than usual. 
 
 > 
 
 1 
 
 i 
 
 H 
 
 S 
 
 o 
 
 § ■ 
 
 i 
 
 1 
 
 t 
 
 360 
 
 none 
 
 none 
 
 35s.* : 
 
 500 
 
 none 
 
 40s. 
 
 30s. 
 
 30C 
 
 none 
 
 10s. 
 
 30s.t 
 
 364 
 
 I5s. 
 
 10s. 
 
 none 
 
 650 
 
 2s. 6d. 
 
 60s. 
 
 2rs. ■ 
 
 500 
 
 35s. 
 
 yOs. 
 
 35s. 
 
 450 
 
 30s. 
 
 I 60s. 
 
 60s. 
 
 300 
 
 none 
 
 20s. 
 
 12s.t 
 
 80 
 
 16s. lOd. 
 
 22s. 5d. 
 
 15s. 2d. 
 
( ^0 ) 
 
 . tile foregoing arc the taxes on the fams, containing 
 Bie number of acres tneiltioned in the Ust in the different 
 counties, ^e respective smais make the aggregate of 
 the taxes iipbneach farm ift the respective counties. 
 
 ' It is here to he observed, that there are farms in the 
 bldest, as well as in the neweS cbuhties, set down in the 
 list. If the information appears to you in any respect de* 
 icient, I will endeavour to procure such as may be taore 
 Batisfactory; though I think what is herein contained, 
 inust convince Mr. Y. that our present taxes are very mo« 
 derate. 
 
 If on this, dr any other subject, 1 cSh be of any use to 
 j^u, i beg that you will freely lay your commands on, 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 Your affectionate. 
 
 And obliged bumble servant; 
 
 iJcioier 24, if90. 
 
 "Ifis Excellency, the President of the United Stalest 
 
 
 Philadelphia, yme.i9, 1792j 
 
 YOURlettekoftbe I8th of January wm received abbul 
 a fortnight ago. For the Annals, which you have had 
 the goodness to send me, 1 'pray you to accept my 
 ;tfaank8.—No directions having accoinpamed the second 
 set, and presuming they were intended for the Agricidtu^ 
 d Society in this city) I haVe, ih yoinr name, ptesehtsd 
 ■Hiem to that body. i 
 
 As far as it is in my power, I will endeavour to solve 
 the doubts which are expressed in your queries, conned 
 in the above letter; and first “Labour is so shghtly 
 touched bn, that I know not how to estimate it.’ _ 
 
 The information bn this, as well as on other points of 
 inylast cbmmltoication, was ^ven in transcripts of the 
 letters I Kad received in answer to certain qflbnes, has¬ 
 tily submitted to some intelliget gentlemen of my ac- 
 <iumntance,in the State of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and 
 
 Vir^la. If> therefore, the article bf labour wasmot 
 
( « ) 
 
 9 ufi|ciendy < 5 iJarged upon; or, if there appeared toq 
 §reat a divershy in t^e price of this article; m that of 
 }and; and of other things, to be easily reconciled and un¬ 
 derstood ; you must ascribe the inconsistency, or oniis- 
 son, to that cause, and to the habits and value which i» 
 set on these thmgs in the liferent States, and in Afferent 
 parts of the same State—-South of Pennsylvania, hired 
 labour is not very common, except it he at harvest, and 
 sometimes for cutting grass. The wealthier farmers per¬ 
 form it with there own black servants, whilst the poorer 
 sort are obliged to do it themselves. That labour in thi^ 
 country is higher than it is in England, I can readily con¬ 
 ceive. The ease with which a man can obtain land in 
 fee, beyond the mountains, to which most of that class of 
 people repair, may be assigned as the primary cause of it, 
 But high wages is not the worst evil attending the hire of 
 white men in this country; for being accustomed to better 
 fare than, I believe, the labourers of almost any other 
 country, adds considerably to the expence of employmg 
 them ; whilst blacks, on the contrary, are cheaper, the 
 common food of them (even when We^ treated) being 
 bread made of Indian com, butter-milk, fish (piclded 
 herrings) frecmently, and meat now and th a; with a 
 blanket for bedding, fn addition to these, ground is often 
 allowed them for gardening, and privilege given them to 
 raise dung-hill fowls for their own use. \Yitlv the farmer 
 who has not more dian two or three negroes, litde dif¬ 
 ference is made in the manner of living between the 
 master and the man ; but far otherwise is the case with 
 those who are pvfned in great numbers by the wealthy 
 who are not always as kindj and as attentive to their wants 
 and usage, as they ought to be ; for by these they are fed 
 upon bread alone, which does pot, qn an average, cost 
 more than seven dollars a head per annum (about 32s. 
 sterling). 
 
 From these data, in aid of i^y last communications, 
 you will be able to form an idea of the cost of labour in 
 this country. It varies, however, in the different States, 
 as I have already observed, and sometimes inthesama 
 State; but may be said to vibrate with white men, be¬ 
 tween ten and fifteen pounds 5 and for black men, be¬ 
 tween eight and twelve pounds sterling, per annum., be*- 
 
e Si ) 
 
 sides their board. No difficulty, I should conceive, would' 
 be formed in obtmning those of either description, 
 on the terms here mentioned; but I do not advance this 
 with certainty, not havmg been in the habit of hiring any 
 
 S elf, for several years past. Blacks are capable of much 
 ur, but having (I am speaking generally) no ambition 
 to establish a name, they are too regardless of a bad 
 one, and ofcourse require more of the master’s eye than 
 the former. Formerly, I have given to skilful and cereftil 
 cradlers, a dollar a day, during harvest, which was a sixth 
 more than the usual price ; but then, I knew the nien, and 
 that they would oblige themselves to cut clean and lay xuell, 
 fpur acres of wheat a day (if it did not stand very heavy 
 on the ground) ; or, if I preferred it, they would cut by 
 the acre, paying them at the rate of a dollar for every four 
 acres. There are men, who will rake and bind as fast 
 as the cradlers will cut the grain, but to do this is deemed 
 hard work, and when done, entitles them to cradlers’ wa¬ 
 ges. These people eat three times a day (once, perhaps, 
 ofmilk), and are allowed a pint of spirits each man. A 
 bam-floor, with straw and a blanket, serves, them, at har¬ 
 vest, for lodging. 
 
 • When I observed in a former letter, that “ all our la¬ 
 bour was performed by negroes,” I must have alluded to 
 the custom in Virginia, the State in which I then lived, 
 and froiii which I wrote; but my last communication to 
 yoii wason a more extensive scale, comprehending the 
 practices and prices of Pennsylvania and Maryland, as 
 well as different parts of Virginia} which (latter) is a 
 State of great extent, differing much in its products and 
 culture. 
 
 ■ The English statute acre is the measure by which we 
 have hitherto bought and sold land} and the price of land, 
 as handed to. you in my last, includes buildings, fences, 
 arable, meadow, in short, the improvements of every sort 
 appertaining to the tract oh which they are placed. To 
 a stranger at a distance, this aggregate mode of estimating 
 the value of a farm is, it must bf confessed, dark and im- 
 satisfactory; but to the parties present, who see and exa¬ 
 mine every thing,' and judge for themselves, it is quite im¬ 
 material. The seller warrants the title and quantity 
 which he sells, and both form an opinion of the total w-orth 
 of the premises. It rarely happens, however, that build- 
 
( y 
 
 irigs and other improvements are estimated by the pur¬ 
 chaser at near what they cost die seller, especially bn old 
 farms, which have been, a good deal worked; the receiv-- 
 "ed opinion being, that fresh land, without improvements, 
 is more to be desired, than worn and much abused land 
 is, with such as are usually found thereon; but this is to 
 be considered as a general, not an invariable rule; for the 
 better and more attentive farmers keep their.farms in high 
 order, and value the improvements accordingly. Never 
 having been in England, I ought not to hazard an opinion, 
 or attempt a comparison between the soil of that country 
 and this, in their virgin and unimproved state; but from 
 what I know of the one, and have heard of the' other, I 
 should decide in favour of the latter, at a distance from 
 the Seaboard; which,, from the highlands of the Never- 
 sink (in East Jersey) to Florida inclusively, is flat, and, 
 with but few exceptions, sandy, and generally of mean 
 quality. From the falls of the rivers to the mountains, 
 which is generally from 60 to 100 miles, and above the. 
 latter—ejccept the craggy hills and mountains which lye 
 between the eastern and western waters—the best land* 
 are to be found. They are strong, and, after having been 
 used, and abused in a shameful manner, will, with a little 
 repose, get covered with white clover. The upper coun¬ 
 try is healthiest also. 
 
 You seem surprized, and no wonder, to hear that many 
 of our farmers, if they can be so called, cultivate much 
 ^ound for little profit, because land is cheap, and labour 
 is high; but you will remember, that when I informed 
 you of this fact, I reprobated, at the same time, both 
 the practice and principle. The history, however, of it 
 is this—a piece of land is cut down, and kept imder 
 .constant cultivation, first in tobacco, and then in Indian 
 com(two veryexhaustingplants),untilitwillyieldscarcely 
 any thing;—a second piece is cleared, and treated in the 
 same manner; then a third, and soon,untilprobably,there 
 is but little more to clear. When this happens, the owner 
 ■finds himself reduced t* the choice of one of three things 
 ^—either to recover the land which he has ruined, to ao 
 compUsh which, he has perhaps neither the skill, the in¬ 
 dustry', nor the means—or to retire beyond the fountains 
 to substitute quantity for quality, in order to raise 
 something. The latter has been generally adopted, and. 
 
( M ) 
 
 with the 9 ssi^tance of horses, he scratches over muctt 
 ^ound, and seeds it, to very little purpose, as you may 
 suppose, and have been informed; for I presume an Erii 
 glwh farmer would bestow more l^our on one acre, by 
 deep and frequent plouehings, besides die dressings, he 
 gives to the land, than the other does on five acres. It is 
 but justice, however, toPeirnsylvapia,to declare, that her 
 husb^dry (though not perfect) is much better, and her. 
 crops prppdrtionably greater. The practice.tdiovie-njien- 
 tioned applies more particularly to the tobacco. States, 
 which, happily, are yielding more and more every year 
 to the growth td wheat; and as this prevails the husban¬ 
 dry improves, Instances could be enumerated, and where 
 no extraordinary dressings or management has been used, 
 of land yielding from 30 to 40 bushels of wheat per acre, 
 that to very much exhausted. . 
 
 Your mode of calculating the taxes in this country, be¬ 
 ing unusual wfrA as, I may not accurately understand;, 
 and as the Virginia method was, if I recollect rightly, de¬ 
 tailed in my former accounts, I know not how to give yoir 
 a more distinct idea of them, than by exhibiting the items 
 of the specific chargeson every species of taxable property, 
 viz. on land, negroes, stock, &c. This, as it respects an, 
 estate in Virginia, with which I am very well acquired, 
 I am enabled to do, and will do. We have a road-tax 
 besides, but it is light, and, in most of the States, paid by 
 a contribution of labour, which rarely exceeds two days 
 in the year, for each male labourer. Dutiable articles is 
 a distinct tax, the quanum of which depends upon the 
 consumption, upon the disposition of the consumer; 
 with the aid, therefore, of the laws (which I sen,t you), 
 every man can calculate, better than I am able tq do for’ 
 him, the amount of his own expenditures in this way. 
 An additional duty, or excise, was imposed last session, 
 and this being now sent, will, if am not mistaken (with 
 whatwas mentioned in may former communications) bring 
 every tax, direct and indirect, to your view, to which pro¬ 
 perty in this country, is subjected, either by the general 
 government, or the lawsof the States of Pennsylvania, 
 Maryland, and Vir^ia, to which the observations have 
 been confined. 
 
 Beef, and other meats, gttun of all sortsi and flour, 
 ■butter, cheese, and other tilings, in quantities to make 
 
(55) 
 
 them an object, are always, I conceive, in demand; and 
 are sought after by the pifrchasers. The sal of lesser 
 articles, at a distance from market towns, may sometimes 
 stick on hand, but rarely, I believe forego a sale^ if they 
 are worth the transportation. 
 
 Sheep thrive very well in the middle States, though 
 they are not exempt from diseases, and are often injured 
 by dogs ; and more so as you approach the mountains, by 
 iSrolves. Were we to use horses less, and oxen more,' oh 
 our farms (as they do in the New England States), we 
 should, unquestionably, find our account in it; yet, 
 strange as it may seem, few are in the practice of the lat¬ 
 ter ; and none push the raising of sheep to the extent 
 they might, and ought to do.—The fact is, rve have, in a 
 mmner, every thing to learn that respects neat and pro¬ 
 fitable husbandry. 
 
 BakeWell’s breed of sheep are much celebrated, and 
 deservedly, I presume; but if entrused to a common 
 bailiif (or with us is called an overseer) they would, I 
 should apprehend, soon degenerate, for want of that care 
 and attention which is necessary to preserve the breed in 
 its purity. But the great impediment is the British sta¬ 
 tutes ; these discourage men of delicacy, in this country, 
 from attempting what might invob-e the master of a vessel 
 in serious consequences, if detected inthe breach of them. 
 Others, however, less scrupulous, have attempted to im¬ 
 port English rams with success, and, by this means, our 
 flocks, in many places, are much improved-^mine, for 
 instance, though I neVer Was concerned, directly nOr in- 
 direcdy, in the importation of one, further than by buying 
 lambs which have descended from them.* 
 
 Out modes—^system we have none—are so different 
 from yours, generally speaking, and our business being 
 carried on so much within ourselves, so little by hiring, 
 and still less by calculation, that I frankly confess to you, 
 I am unable to solve your query respecting sheep-walks, 
 or how many sheep an acre of woodland pasture would 
 support. I shall have pleasure, at all times, as far as I 
 possess the means. Or can corntiiarid them, to give you 
 every information that can contribute to your own satisfac- 
 
 ■* The average weight ofihefleeces being Slbs, 
 
'( 36 ) 
 
 tion, or that of a friend; but I am so thoroughly persuaded 
 of my inability to throw new lights upon any branch of 
 husbandry, in a country where it is so well understood as 
 in England, and that any thing I could rvrite to you on 
 that subject, would only serve to expose the defective 
 practice of my countrymen, and be considered as the 
 beacon of our ignorance, that I am rather disinclined to 
 see any jfroduction of mine in a work where so much use¬ 
 ful infprmrtion is conveyed to the public, as is to be found 
 in your Annals of Agriculture. 
 
 With very great esteem, 
 
 I am Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant. 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 P. S. June Zisi. —I have not 3 ^et received the account 
 of taxes i promised you, and for which I had written to 
 Virginia; but I will send it by the first conveyance after 
 its arrival. 
 
 This letter goes by Mr. Pinckney, Minister from the 
 .United States to the Court of London,^' who, being de¬ 
 tained a day or two longer than was expected, by the ves¬ 
 sel in which he is to embark has given me an opportunity 
 ofasking Mrs. Jefferson (who is well acquaintecl with 
 the south-western parts of Virginia, near Charlotteville), 
 and.Mr. Peters (one of the best farmers in the State of 
 Pennsylvania, about six jniles from this city), to give me 
 their sentiments on the several queries contained in your 
 letter. These you will find inclosed herewith,j- in 
 their own words.f Mine, and each of theirs, are writ- 
 
 *■ Through which channel I recommend any letters you 
 may favor tne with, to pass. 
 
 f -At the end of this Letter. 
 
 I j On applying to Colonel Hamilton, for the statement 
 mentioned in Mr. Peters’s letter,he put into my hands, to¬ 
 gether with the statement, several communications which 
 were made to him last year, by stime of the most respectable 
 farmers in this part of the country, in consequence of an 
 application from him, information on certain points respect- 
 ingfarms; and, as they appeared to. contain some matters 
 worth attention, lhad them copied, and they are also, in- 
 tlosed. 
 
(sr) 
 
 ten without any previous consultation; and.tnay be 
 considered (my estate in the neighbourhood of which 
 I am best acquainted, l)dng about midway between theirs) 
 as the opinions of men living north, south, and in'- the 
 centre of the district, of which an account was given to 
 3TU in my communications of the 4th of December 
 
 MOTES ON MR. young’s LETTER. 
 
 Paragraph 3. “ Is the labour (of negroes, at 9l. ster; 
 ling) to be commanded in any amountIf taken by 
 the year, it may be commanded in any amount, but not if 
 wanted on particular occasions only—as for harvest, for 
 particular dressings of the land. &c. 
 
 Par. 4., The labour of a negro Mr. Young reckons 
 cent, per cent, dearer than the labour of England.—To 
 the hirer of a negro man his hire will cost 9l. and his sub¬ 
 sistence, clothing, and tools, 61. making l5l. sterling, or, 
 atthe most, it may sometimes be 181. To the owner of a 
 negro his labour costs as follows; suppose a negro man, 
 of25 years, of age,, costs Wl. sterling; he has an equ^ 
 chance to live 30 years, according to Bur fon’s tables; 
 so that you lose your principal in 30 years—then say, 
 
 Interest of ^Sl, annually .. 
 
 One thirtiethannually of the principal . . . 
 Subsistence, clothes, &c. annually . 
 
 
 3 15 
 2 10 
 6 0 
 
 £■ IK s 
 
 There must be some addition to this, to make the la¬ 
 bour equal to that of a white man, as I believe the ne¬ 
 gro does hot perform quite so much work, nor with as 
 much intelligence. But Mr. Young reckons a labouring 
 man in England 8l. and his board 161. making 241. 
 
 Par. 5. “ In the instances of mountain land, the ex¬ 
 pressions seem to indicate waste land, imbuilt and unin¬ 
 closed,”—If Mr. Young, has reference here to the notes 
 which Th. J. gave to the President, on tl^^ subject-of; 
 
( 5S ) 
 
 Mountain lands, the following explanation is necessary. 
 The lands therein contemplated, are generally about one 
 half cleared of the timber which grew on them—say all 
 the land of the first quality, and half that of the middling 
 quality ; this half is, for the most part. Inclosed with rail- 
 fences, tvhich do not last long (except where they are of 
 chesnut), but are easily repaired or renewed. The hous¬ 
 es on them, for the use of the farm, are so slight, and of 
 so little worth, that they are thrown into the bargain, 
 without a separate estimate. The same may be said of 
 the farmer’s house, unless it be better than common. 
 When it is of considctable value, it adds to the price of 
 the land, but bv no means its whole value. With respect 
 to the soil, I saw no upland in Englandtcomparable to it. 
 My travels there, were from Dover to London, and on to 
 Birmingham, making e.xcursions of 20 or 30 miles each 
 way. At Edgehiil, in Warwickshire, my road led me 
 over a red soil, something like this, as well as 1 recollect; 
 but it is too long ago to speak with certainty. 
 
 Par. 7. “ That, in America, farmers look to labour 
 much more than to land, is new to me—^but it is a 
 most important circumstance. Where land is cheap and 
 rich, and labour dear, the same labour spread in a slight¬ 
 er culture over 100 acres, will produce more profit than if 
 concentrated by the highest degree of cultivation on a 
 small portion of the lands. When the virgin fertility of 
 the soil becomes exhausted, it becomes better to cultivate 
 less, and wellthe only diiTiculty is, to know at what 
 point of deterioration in the land, the culture should be 
 increased, and in what degree. 
 
 Par. 10. “ Can you sell your beef and mutton readi¬ 
 ly ?”—The market for them, fresh and in quantity, is not 
 certain in Virginia. Beef, well salted, will generally find 
 a market; o'lt salted mutton is, perhaps, unknown. 
 
 Par. 11. “ Mutton dearer than beef.”—Sheep are 
 subject to many diseases, which carry them off in great 
 numbers. In the middle and upper parts of Virginia, 
 they are subjest to the wolf, and in all parts of it to dogs; 
 these are great obstacles to their multiplication. In the 
 middle and upper parts of the country, the carcass of the 
 beef is raised on the spontaneous food of the forests, and 
 is delivered to the farmer in good plight in the fall, often 
 fat enough for slaughter; hence its cheapness. Proba- 
 
( 59 ) 
 
 bJy, however, sheep properly attended, to, would be more 
 profitable than catfle, as Mr. YounS says—^they have apt 
 been attended to as they merited. 
 
 Par. 13. Mr. Youkg calculates the'employment pf 
 50401. worth of land, and 1-2001.. farmers capit^, m^mg 
 an aggyegate capital of 62401. in England^ which he makep 
 yield five per cent..extra or fen. per cent; upon the whole. 
 I will calculate, in the Virginia; way, the emproymeat of 
 the same capital, oh a supposition of good management, 
 in the manner of the country. 
 
 1. Supposingnegro labourers tpbe hired< 
 
 2. Supposing them to be bought. 
 
 1. Suppose labourers tube hired;, one hpif Pteh, at 
 18h; the other half women, at l4l.:.for labour, subsistencej., 
 clothing (i dways mean sterling money). 
 
 Interest of 41601. for 3310 acres of land, at . 
 
 25s..peracre, . . 208 0 ft 
 
 -of |,”5* for farmer’s capital of stock, 
 
 tools, Stc. . . . 104- 0 ,0 
 
 Taxes, at 7d. the acre (I do not know what . 
 
 , they are), ........ ..?? io 0 
 
 Hire of 33 labourers^ at 161. .... 528 6 0 
 
 £. 936 10 O 
 
 Prodicceto Be sold anmmlly. 
 
 Wheat, 6600 bushels; at 3s., . 990 
 
 Meat; and other articles, at 5l.fpr . . ; ; 
 
 each labourer .... 165—£. 1155 0 O 
 
 Net profit over and above the five , ; . ; . 
 
 per cent, above charged, . . . 219 10 6 
 
 Add annud rise in the vdue of - , 
 
 lands, ........ 165 10 0 
 
 Real profit, over and above the five per cent. - 
 
 above charged,.. ,£.,385 
 
 which is 6 1-2 per cent, extra, dr 11 1-3 per cent, on the 
 whole capital. 
 
 H2 . - 
 
( 60 ) 
 
 2; Suppose labourers to be bought, one half men, and 
 one half women, at 60l. stefhng, on an average. 
 
 ‘ d,. 
 
 Interest of 312SI. for 2500 acres of land at 
 
 25s. 
 
 156 5 0. 
 
 ...... of 15621. lOs. fanner’s capital of 
 
 I' ' stocky utensils, &c. ... va » 
 
 — of „ for purchase of 25 labour- 
 ■ ■ ers. . £. 7S 
 
 Subsistence, clothes, &c. . . . 150—^225 0 
 [I allow nothing for losses by death, but, 
 
 ■ on the contrary, shall presently take cre¬ 
 dit (oar per cent, per annum, for iheir'm- 
 . crease over and aboye keeping up their 
 own numbers.] . 
 
 Tmtes, at Id. the acre, 12 18 
 
 532 5 10 
 
 Traduce to le sold annually. 
 
 Wheat, 5000 bushels, at 3s. . jf. 750 
 
 Meat «id other articles, at 5l. for 
 each labourer, ..... 125—875 0 0 
 
 Net profit, over and above the five per 
 cent, above charged (13l. 15s. ahead 
 
 on negroes,) . 342 15 10* 
 
 Add five per cent, annual rise in the va¬ 
 lue of lands, . ... . . . 156 5 0 
 
 —— four per cent, increase of negroes, 
 more than keeping up original 
 number, ........ 60 0 0 
 
 Real profit, over and above the five per 
 cent, above charged, . . . 559 0 10 
 
 which is nine per cent, extra, or 14 per cent, on the whole 
 capital. 
 
 In the preceding estimate I have supposed that 200 
 bushels of wheat mayhe sold for every labourer employ¬ 
 ed, which may be thought too high. I know it is too 
 high for common land, and common management; but 
 
 * 5 1-2 per cent on capital. 
 
( 61 .) 
 
 I know also, that on good land, and with good manage¬ 
 ment, it has.been done, through a considerable neighbour¬ 
 hood, and for many years. On the other hand, I have 
 over-rated the cost of labouring negroes, and I presume 
 the taxes also are over-rated. 1 have observed, that our 
 families of negroes double in about twenty-five years, 
 which is an increase of the capital invested in them, of 
 four per cent, over and above keeping up the original 
 stock.' 
 
 I am unable to answer the queries, as to the expence 
 necessary to make an acre of forest land maintain one, 
 ■'two, or three sheep. I began an experiment of that kind 
 in the year 1783, clearing out the under growth, cutting 
 up the fallen wood, but leaving all the good trees. I got 
 through about twenty or thirty acres, and sowed it with 
 white clover, and green sward; and intended to have gone 
 on through a forest of four or five hundred acres. The 
 land" was excessively rich, but too steep to be cultivated. 
 In spite of total neglect, during my absence from that 
 time to this, mostof it has done well. I did not note how 
 much labour it took to prepare it; but I am sure it was 
 repaid by the fuel it yielded for the family. The rich¬ 
 ness of the pasture to be thus obtained, will always be 
 proportioned to that of the land. Most of our forests is 
 cither middling or poor. Its inclosure with a wood fence 
 costs little, as the wood is on the spot. 
 
 mh June, 1792. 
 
 (Signed) Th. Jefferson. 
 
 Bucks County, Pennsylvania, 
 
 Z9th August, 1791. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 YOUR letter of the 13th inst. I received this day 
 week. I have endeavoured to comply with your request 
 in the best manner I was capable, yet not altogether in 
 the way you mentioned. The novelty of the subject, and 
 never having kept any regular account of the annual pro¬ 
 duce of my lands, nor knowing any person to whom I’ 
 could apply for such minute information, made it neces¬ 
 sary for me to consider the different objects; and taking 
 
{ 62 ) 
 
 to my assistance an intelligent neighbouring farmer, with¬ 
 out letting him into the object of tny pursuit, we’together 
 have formed ah estimate, of what hlay be supposed the 
 steerage annuht product of thh different articles raised on 
 she lands here, as you will perceive by the paper herewith 
 tihnsmittcd'; have added shine articles not mentioned by 
 you, and omitted what may be consumed by the family 
 ydio occupy the farm, not doubting but in that particular, 
 you must be much more competent to judge than I am; 
 have therefore only mentioned what I suppose the ave¬ 
 rage number of persons' on, a two hundred acres farm. 
 
 ’ Although I have not filled the columns in the fotih you. 
 Kntme,yetam in hopes you will be able to extract the 
 hecessaiy information, and reduce it info such fom as 
 will be most convenient for jwr purpose. 
 
 Happy in an opportunityafforded me, at least to endea¬ 
 vour to serve you, aiid anxious for the success of eveiy 
 ineasufe which inay tend to promote the general in¬ 
 terests of our country, 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 To Akx. Hamilton, Esq^ 
 
 , Bucks Couniij, Pcnnsykanla, 
 ^wnhfy, 200 acres; Value, 3200 doll.ars—Two hun¬ 
 dred acres being nearly the average quantity of the farms 
 m this quarter, have taken tliat as the most covenient 
 portion irom which to form the required estimates. 
 
 , Araile Lcmd, 12S acixs. —The arable land, divided iu- 
 so five fields, of twenty-five acres each, makes in the 
 whole 125 acres. 
 
 Pasture, SO acres.—The course of cropping pursued 
 here requiring three fields to be under tillage, two of 
 course will be left for pasture, which make 50 acres. 
 
 Orchard, he. 10 acres—Orchard, garden, house, and 
 barn, yards, lanes, &c.; supposed to occupy 10 acres 
 Meadoiv, 15 acres.—The natural meadows in this part 
 .ofthe country being few, yet as every farmer finds means 
 for allotting some portion of his land forthat use, suppose 
 the nearest avarage 15 acres. 
 
 Woodland, SO acres.—Timber being an article indis. 
 
- ( 63 ) 
 
 pensably necessary for fuel, fencing, building, &c. have, 
 allowed 50 acres for that use. 
 
 Wheat, 200 bushels, at 90 cents* per bushel, is I30 
 dollars.—One of the aforesaid fields is allotted, in rota¬ 
 tion, for wheat and rye ; suppose twenty thereof to be 
 sown with wheat, will yield, communibus amis, ten bushels 
 per acre; for although in seasons, on well improved 
 grounds, ttventy, thirty, and even thirty-five bushels raaj 
 be produced from the acre; yet from the many casualties 
 to which land tillage is exposed, so that in some seasons 
 the best improved ground may not produce even five 
 bushels; have, from my own observation, and that of a;i 
 intelligent neighbouring farmer, taken the above astlie 
 nearestsupposed medium, making two hundred bushels; 
 which, at 90 cents per bushel, is 180 dollars. 
 
 Rye, 50 bushels, at 60 cents per bushel, 30 dollars.— 
 Rye likewise, ten bushels to the acre; the remainder of 
 the field, being five acres, will yield fifty bushels, which, 
 at sixty cents per bushel, make 30 dollars—N. B. The- 
 field on which the wheat and rye is sowed, is; generally, 
 also put in with grass, and lays for pasture two years. 
 
 Corn, 300 bushels, at 40 cents, 120 dollars.—One field 
 isgenerally allotted to Indian com and buck-wheat, in the 
 same proportion -with wheat and r3^e; the 20 acres of 
 cornw'ill average 15 bushels per acre, making in the tvhole 
 300 bushels, at 40 cents per bushel, is 120 dollars. 
 
 Buck-vjheat, T5 bushels, at 30 cents, is 22 dollars, and 
 50 cents.—This grain is so precarious in its growth, that 
 it is extremely difficult to form an estimate of its general 
 produce; butsuppbk 15 bushels per acre, which, from 
 five acres, being the remainder of that field occupied by 
 the com, will be 75 bushels, valued at 30 cents per bushel, 
 is 22 dollars, 50 cents. 
 
 Barley .—So little of this grain is raise-d here, that I clid 
 not think it worth notica. 
 
 100 bushels, at 20 cents pef bushel, 20 dollars.—' 
 -By the course of cropping commonly usedhere, this grain is 
 sowed, for the sake of ease and convenience to the farmer, 
 upon some part of the fallow intended for wheat, to which 
 it generally proves injurious, therefore is not largdyprp- 
 
 ^ One hundred cents i^kea ^ollar. ’ . 
 
( 6 ^ ) 
 
 i)agated: have oiilyallotted five acres, which will average 
 twenty bushels per aicre, making in the whole 100 bushels, 
 at 20 cents per bushel, is 20 dollars. 
 
 Flux and Seed^ 30 dollars_^This is also generally- 
 
 raised on part of the fallow; suppose two, which, on an 
 average, may yield 250 pounds of swingled flax, and 12 
 bushels of seed, which, both together, may be worth 30 
 dollars. 
 
 Apples and Cyder, 30 dollars.—'Every farm has more 
 or less of orcharding; eight acres allowed for that use, 
 the product whereof, in apples and cyder cannot be worth 
 less than 30 dollars. 
 
 Hay, 20 tons : Value, 120 dollars.—Although 15 acres 
 only are allotted for meadow, which, probably, on an 
 average, will not yield more than that number of tons, yet 
 as the farmers, by sowing grass-seeds on their lands, im¬ 
 proved Avith dung, plaster of Paris, &c. annually mow 
 more or less of those, I have aljowed 20 tons, worth six 
 dollars each, makes 120 dollars.' 
 
 annual pi oduct, 70 dollars.-—I suppose a farm 
 of 200 acres Avill, on an average, support 12 head of cattle; 
 of those, I suppose five m'.kh cow s, v/hich will each yield 
 per annum, one calf, tv;o of them io be raised and three 
 fatted j the latter worth six dollars.' Five milch cows 
 will produce fifteen pounds of butter per month, each, for 
 seven months, which makes in the whole 525lbs. at nine 
 cents per lb. makes 47 dollars, 25 cents; five months 
 allowed for their being farrow, or fatting the calves. Two 
 calves annually raised^ afibrds opportunity for disposing 
 ofthat number of cattle annually either in beef or milch 
 cows, which, being worth IG dollars each, makes 32 dol¬ 
 lars ; making in the whole 79 dollars, 25 cents. Deduct, 
 for accidents, &c. nine dollars, 25 cents leaves an annual 
 product of 70 dollars. 
 
 Horses. —Whatever these may produce, must be con- 
 ■ sidered as included in the general product of the farm, 
 for the cultivation of which they are made by the propaga¬ 
 tion of the animal, unless it be in the most interior part* 
 of the country, where no market can be procured for 
 grain, &c. 
 
 Sheep, annual product,28 dollars.—Twenty store sheep 
 maybe conveniently kept on a 200 acres farm j their wool 
 
i 65 ) 
 
 will average '40 pounds per year, worth .23 cehte. per 
 pound, which mahes 10 dollars ; their increase in lambs^' 
 twelve ; this number being to be disposed of mnually,'- 
 'either in lambs or fatted mutton, they may be worth 11-3 
 dollars each; makes 18 dollars. Thus the whole annual 
 product on sheep will be 28 dollars. . . . - 
 
 Hogs, annual product, 80 dollars.—Ten hogs may be 
 tonsidered as the average number raised annually on a 
 200 acre farm ; weighing 200 net pounds each,'making 
 2000lbs. at four cents per lb.; the value of the annu^ 
 product will be 80 dollars; 
 
 Poultry^ annual product, 10 dollars—Suppose^ bh an 
 average, ten dozen may be raised, worth one dollar per 
 dozen ; their product will be 10 dollars; 
 
 Wood consumed infuel, 25 cords.—Allowing one kitch¬ 
 en fire, which burns jnore or less the whole year, and one 
 other fire during the winter, for the convenience of the 
 family ; I suppose the two fires will consume 25 cprdsi 
 
 Consumed by cattle, horses, sheep, hogs and poultry:' 
 
 Indian coin, 200 bushels 5 tye, 25 ditto ; buck-wheat* 
 40 ditto; potatoes, t^5 ditto ; hay 20 tons. 
 
 The family cohsumption may be estimated by what 
 will support nine persons-, viz; the man, his wife, and 
 three children; -one man hired by the year, one bound 
 boy, and one girl; the extra hiring of hands in harvest, 
 and hay-making; spinsters, visitors, &c. equal to the 
 maintenance of one person more during the year. 
 
 Tax pmd annually for defin ing the expences of the 
 country, supporting the poor, and repairing the roads, 
 will average about eight dollars. 
 
 Pittsburgh,October'^7, i79h 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Herewith I return your forni, filled as well as I am 
 able at present. I beg leave to mention, that in a new 
 country like this, where farming is not reduced to system, 
 it is difficult to form an estimate as you wish. Our farms 
 are generally new; the oldest not exceeding 20 years. 
 
( 66 ) 
 
 in order to give you as good an idea as possible, I have 
 thvided them into three^ classes, annexing the just value 
 ofeach class; and have averaged the product. Ibelieve this 
 rule would apply as equally here as any other. I have ex¬ 
 tended my inquiries to two or -three different farms of 
 each classi 
 
 . Should the method which I have, adopted, not answer, 
 your intention, or be too inej^plicit, I will, with the greatest 
 pleasure, make any further inquiries' that you may think 
 necessary, 
 
 I have the Honor to be. Sir,: 
 
 ^ With much respect, 
 
 Your obedient humble servant, 
 
 • (S'^gned) -- 
 
 . - To Alexander Hamilton^ Esq. 
 
 Value of Farm. 
 
 Lands divided into three 
 classes. 
 
 first class, at 25s. per acre 
 
 Second at 15s.-— 
 
 Third ——at 10s.- 
 
 Averaged value,. 16s. 8d. 
 
 Kinds of iJand. 
 Arable land, . . 47 acres 
 
 Pasture land, . . 10- 
 
 Meadow, ... 7 -r—— 
 Woodland, . . . 250—— 
 
 Annual Eroduct. 
 
 Quantity con- 
 sumedby Cat- 
 
 Prices. 
 
 Wheat, . . . 150 bushels. 
 
 try. 
 
 -^bushels 
 
 s. d. 
 
 3 9 bushel 
 
 Rye, .... 150-, 
 
 30 - 
 
 2 .6- 
 
 Com, .... 250 -- 
 
 200 - 
 
 2 0 . 
 
 Oats, .... 160- 
 
 60 - 
 
 1 6 - 
 
 Barley, ... 50 -— 
 
 _ 
 
 3 9 - 
 
 Buck-wheat, . 50- 
 
 _-_ 
 
 1 6 - 
 
 Potatoes, . . 200 - 
 
 160 - 
 
 1 10 —-- 
 
 Other roots and vegeta¬ 
 
 __ 
 
 _; ■ 
 
 bles,* in value 
 
 Black cattle, . . 4 
 
 _ 
 
 __ 
 
 _1_ 
 
 _ 
 
 Horses,. 2 
 
 _ 
 
 ___ 
 
 Sheep, ..... '6 
 
 — 
 
 -- 
 
 Considerable quantities ofpumkms^turnips,^c. vjkose 
 value Ioannot ascertain. 
 
f •65' ) 
 
 Hogs, , 15 • 
 
 iPoultrj^, 6 dozen. 
 
 Tobacco, a smdl quantity 
 in own consumption. 
 Cords of wood, consumed 
 in fuel—without number. 
 Ha}', ..8 tons. 
 
 'oO 0 ton. 
 
 Wye, (on the Eastern Shoi^e of MarylandJ, 
 November 11,1791. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 The method in which I proceeded on the inquiry was 
 this : in conversations with farmers, I expressed a wish 
 to be informed of several particulars in rural concerns, 
 that seemed to me to have been too little thought of by 
 husbandmen. On explaining ray meaning, they approv¬ 
 ed of the design, and promised to recollect what they 
 could of those matters, and that they would communicate 
 the result to. me. Having thus prepared them, I some 
 time after delivered to them printed papers, containing 
 the particulars of my inquires, and requested they would 
 fill up the blanks in those papers. The last step was to 
 wait on them at their houses. 
 
 The information contained in the paper which I have 
 now the honor to deliver to you, is all thatcould be obtain¬ 
 ed. The farmers received the papers with hearty inten¬ 
 tions to fill up the blanks, without conceiving there was 
 any difficulty in the execution; yet the only reason of 
 there not being other answers to the questions, is solely 
 from the difficult)', to them the impossibility, of fulfilling 
 their design and promise ; for they kept no minutes, and 
 their attention to, the bulk of the articles, as they ac¬ 
 knowledged with concern, had been ftrifling. On this 
 occasion 1 had the pleasure to hear several of the farmers 
 declare, that being, by the inquiry, led to think on the 
 numerous particulars in the paper, they had determined, 
 in future, to make some accoiuitof them, as they conceive 
 it will be considerably advantageous to them. 
 
 ■ The lil^tle introduction to the piece was meant to soften 
 
( 68 ) 
 
 it, from an appearance it ..might have of an inventory of’ 
 their effects; and I think that if the value of the things, 
 especially of the land, can be omilsed,the quantities-would 
 be more readiijq if not also, in more numerous insttmces, 
 obtained ; and there would be less danger of a jealousy, 
 that the inquiry is meant for political purposes. In one 
 instance only, there appeared a suspicion that such a use 
 was intended. It was in the last conversation I had on 
 the subject with some farming gentlemen. “ It may be 
 said, by some people, that Mr. il. is a politician, and that 
 he wants to know the value of country estates, that they 
 maybe taxed.” 
 
 The value of lands, as reported by the proprietors, pro¬ 
 bably is less to be depended on, than if it was collected 
 from conversations with people from the several States, 
 Ask any man what, his land would sell for, or is worth, 
 he cannot find a moderate rate. The land, in the present 
 case, is fully worth the sum it is rated at; but yet, in 
 my opinion, it could not now be sold, on tirae, for that 
 price. 
 
 No article is so slow of sale as land, at this time. 
 
 I have the Honor to be, &c, 
 
 The Hon. Mr., Hamilton. 
 
 The following account is of a farm in Talbot county 
 (State of Maryiaiid), of middling goodness, with the 
 medium produce oi its last four years crops. It contains 
 'about 450 acres, ofwhichlSO are woodland, 270 arable, 
 and of this 110 are pasture. The value of the whole, as 
 it might be expected to sell on time, according to present 
 opinion, is 25001.* (5621, at 4s. 6d.) 
 
 Its produce, in common, the medium of four years, 
 follows 
 
 
 ^antity. Value. 
 
 ■Wheat, - - - 
 
 . VOO — jf.263 Q 
 
 Rye - - 
 
 -0 0 
 
 ■Corn , . . 
 
 450 _ 67 0 
 
 Oats - - - 
 
 -0 0 
 
 ■Barley . - ^ 
 
 -0 0 
 
 Buck-wheat 
 
 -0 0 
 
 * The same as Fennsyhania money, dollar being 7s. Qd. 
 
Potatoes, with fruit, other roots, and 
 vegetables, in value 
 Tobacco .... 
 
 Wood for fuel (cords) 
 
 Hay (tons) .... 
 
 Pulse (peas, 8ce.) - - 
 
 I ‘ I ’ 
 
 Wool. 
 
 Butter ^ ... 
 
 Cotton, cheese, fruit •> 
 
 Cattle 35 , annually raised -■ 
 
 Horses 25 , colts do do 
 Sheep 80 , lambs do do - 
 
 Hogs, annually killed or sold 
 Poultry per year, dunghill 
 Turkies 100 , ducks 90 . 
 
 ^antity. Value,. 
 
 - 50 0 
 
 5000 — 50 0 
 
 160 — 20 0 
 5 — 25 0 
 
 - 0 0 
 
 20 — 0 10 
 100 — 2 10 
 200 — 10 0 
 400 — £.20 0 
 
 - 0 0 
 
 - 120 0 
 
 - 250 0 
 
 - 75 0 
 
 - 60 - 0 
 
 400 — .0 0 
 
 The quantities and values are generally in round num¬ 
 bers, which has a suspicious appearance. But the worthy 
 farmers, after considering well each article, stated them 
 partly from memory, partly from notes, or scraps of paper, 
 and thought it best to omit fractional quantities and sums, 
 as he had not perfect minutes. It is the account of an 
 honest candid man, who would not have given it if he had 
 not believed it .to be generally just. 
 
 MR. PETERS TO COL. HAMILTOK. 
 
 . Belmont (tuithin six miles of Philadelphia), 
 
 27th August, 1791 . 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I SEND you the best answers to your inquiries on the 
 agriculture subject, I can at present think of. I thought 
 it best to draw it up in the form of an account, though I 
 have filled up the columns you sent me. The manner I 
 have pursued, will furnish you with every thing you re* 
 quire, though much of it may be useless to you, and in- 
 applrcabie, perhaps, to your immediate object. You will 
 perceive the miserable state of agriculture in the part of 
 
( ro ) 
 
 the county I live in. It is bad enough every where, but 
 the fertility ofsoil in lands recently cleared, or naturally, 
 better, and readier access tomaniu-e, give advantages to 
 farmers more happily seated. The account will explain 
 the-principles 1 went on, and, lest my calculation should 
 be too conjectural, I took four similar farms I well knew, 
 which are situatednot far from each other, but far enough 
 to give a general view of the state of the country. I con¬ 
 sulted the most intelligent of their owners, men who hap¬ 
 pen to be the best informed bn the subject of any of my 
 neighbours. I averaged the actual produce in a year, the 
 best of four years’ cultivation, in all of them.- So that 
 this, added to my own experience, convinces me that I 
 am not far wrong in any particular. I omitted my own 
 farm, because it far exceeds the common produce of 
 others ■, and though my expences are greater, they are 
 amply compensated by the difference of ptp.duct t in all 
 instances double, in many treble, and in some quadruple. 
 Yet, with all this, I find farming but a bad trade, when 
 capital is calculated upon. There are fety men of.any 
 talents, who cannot employ themselves in any other busi¬ 
 ness to greater advantage. When I consider the actual 
 profit of a farm, I am, more astonished at the injustice and 
 follyofthosewhohaveburdened the landwlth such heavy 
 impositions. It is true, farmers are n.everon velvet, forthey 
 pay their share of imperceptible taxes. Yet these taxes 
 are also borne by those whose property is latent, and can¬ 
 not therefore be directly touched; and the owners of this 
 kind of property are frequently the greatest consumers. 
 But it is useless to trouble you with such, observations. 
 Nor will it be of service to enter into speculations, many 
 of which are confirmed by successful experience, to shew 
 how the agriculture of this country m.ay be improved. 
 These improvements depend not directly on Govern¬ 
 ment ; ultimatelij they have no inconsiderable relation to 
 it: but farmers can only come in for their share of bene¬ 
 ficial effects, flowing from good general sy'stems. I can. 
 truly say,'tliey ought to hope every thing in this view of 
 the subject; and I am happy to be convinced that the 
 spirit of improvement is rising rapidly among them. It 
 has been a point of patriotism with me for many years 
 past, to promote this spirit, and liaving set out with 
 
in) 
 
 moderate expectations, I have not been without some 
 gratifications. 
 
 I am, &Ci 
 
 (Signed) R, Peters. 
 
 A. Samiltmy Esq. 
 
 if- FARM. 
 
 s. A. 
 
 To annual interest on capital, 200 
 acres, at 8l. per acre, 16001, at 6 
 percent. - - - - 96 0 0 
 
 . Stock and Implements. 
 
 4 horses, at 15l. each, - 
 8 cows*, at 61. each - 48 
 
 .Cart, waggon, ploughs, har¬ 
 ness, geers, &c. - 60 
 
 12 swine, ... 12 
 
 ;C-180 
 
 On the above 1801. I only charge 
 6 percent. - - - 10 16 0 
 
 —^-^^.106 16 0 
 
 Though the annual loss in some ar¬ 
 ticles is 20 per cent, and in none 
 less than 10, decrease in value by 
 age in horses and cattle, acci¬ 
 dents, wear and tear, are the caus¬ 
 es, yet I have made no account of 
 annual losses by wear of build¬ 
 ings, or accidents to stock. 
 
 Annual Expenditures^ beside the per¬ 
 sonal labour of the farmer and 
 family, and the produce and cash 
 used for their support. 
 
 One hired man and his maintenance, 10 0 
 Extra wages at hay and harvest, 
 
 _ and expences, - - - 10 0 0 
 
 * The farms I selected, keep, on an average, 16 horned 
 cattle, 4 horses, 12 sheep and 12 swine. 
 

 Days hire for occasional business, 5 , 0 0 
 
 Smith’s bill, . - . - - - 3 0 0 
 
 All the hay consumed by stock, ' 90 jO O 
 
 Rye, 30 bushels, at 4s. 6d, '' * 6 15 6 , 
 
 Indian cbm, 100 b'ushelSi at 3s. - 15 0 0 
 Buck-wheat, 100 bushels,at 2s. 6d. 12 10 0 
 Potatoes, 80 bushels, at Is. 6d. - .6 j 0 0 ‘ ' 
 
 -Pirewood, 20 cords,at,5s.,, - * 19 9 
 
 Wheat, 15 bushels; at ys. 6d; 
 
 . Rye, 5 bushels, at 4s. - 6 |13.0 
 
 , Potatoes, 10 bushels, at Is. 6d. ^ 0 18 0 
 
 Indian com and buck-wheat, 1 10 O 
 
 _—- 199 16 0 
 
 ■ Direct taxes of various,descriptions have in 
 
 some years been 201. now perhaps, 
 
 CONTRA C*' 
 
 e.rf. 
 
 By 130bushelswheat,at 7s. 6d. 48 15 0 , 
 
 50-—^rye; at4s. 6d. ll 5 O 
 
 180 —— Indian corn, at Ss. 27 0 O 
 SO —^^ oats, at ^s. 6d. 3 15 0 
 
 - 175-.^^-- buck-whfiat, at 
 
 2s. 6d. , - 2117 6 
 
 100-^-potatoes. Is. 6d. 7 10 O 
 
 Roots add other vegetables, 6 0 0 
 
 . r 2 6 . 
 
 Two cattle raised annually, 4 00 
 Onc-horse, worth 15l.at3 years , , 
 
 bid - - - 00 
 
 Eight Iambs, at ;l(te. each, 4 0 0 
 
 . Wool of 12 sheep, 361b. at 2s. 3 12 0 
 
 Pork,l400lb. atSd. - 1710 0 
 
 Poultry, in value « - 3 0 0 
 
 Hay,30 tons,af3l. - 90 0 0 
 
 Dairy ‘ 
 
 Eight cows, . 
 
( 73 ) 
 
 §ixcjilves,at20sieach jT.S 0 0 
 (Men fallow, 2 calves 
 
 raised) - . - 
 
 Butter*, 8321b. at Is, 
 i - 3d. - . - 52 0 0 
 
 - Cheese, lOOlb. at 6di 2 JO O' 
 
 As to <)fial, inilk, &c; except asmidl 
 partfor the fam'dy, it is consumed . 
 
 , by the calves and pigs, and ac« 
 
 . Counted in their valuei . 
 
 Flax, 1501b. at 7di ; JT. 6 
 
 Deduct 1*2 for expenccs . . 
 
 'of breaking and hack-. 
 
 ' lin^ - * * 2 3 9 ; . 
 
 2 3 9 '■ 
 
 Add 4 bushels seed, at 
 5si * - - , i 0 0 
 
 s 3 9 
 ^316 18 S 
 
 Balance against farm j 4 13 9 
 
 3(;.321 12 0 
 
 N. 5.-*^About eight bushels of wheat per acre, is a ^li 
 allowance for the better kind of farms in these pafts- 
 Some do not yield six; and eight out of ten do not 
 come up to eight bushels per acre* The farms I have 
 selected sow from 16 to 20 acres, winter graim The a* 
 verage Ofactive crops is, however, less thm eight bush¬ 
 els to the acre. 
 
 ■* Take accidents, and the proportion of coxOs in milk, to 
 those not so, 2ll>. of butter per week, is the average through 
 theyeat, ; 
 
 K 
 
{ r4 ) 
 
 VALUiE ,0F FARM; 
 
 Ttt'o hvmdred acres, at 16001/ Pensylvania currency. 
 
 Kinds of: Landi 
 'Arable & pasture, 152 acres, 
 Meadow, - 1« 
 
 Woodland, - i . 
 
 Annml Product. ■ 
 Wheat, ' - 130'bshls; 
 
 jRy^j - 50 -— 
 
 Oafs, - ' - 30 —— 
 
 Indian com, - 180 
 
 Barley, - - ——- 
 
 Buck-wheat, - 175- 
 
 Potatoes, - ioo — 
 
 Other roots and vegetables, 
 in value, 6l. 
 
 ■ Annual Product. 
 Cattle, increase,. - 2 
 
 Horses,:.- , 1 > 1 
 
 •Sheep, —-- - 8 
 
 Hogs (weighQvlilOOlb. 
 PoiStiy, in .value, 3l. 
 Tobacco;—.^' j 
 
 Cords of wood, consumed 
 ■ for fuel' . / :. - 20 
 
 Hay (tons), . 30 
 
 Dairy (butter. &, calves, , 
 
 / 6 calves),' - ' 7.00 
 
 Flax, I50lb. 
 
 Belmont, miles from Philadelphia), June 20,1792. 
 
 ■ ' • ■ ' SIR,/ I J 
 
 I SHALE be liappy if I can assist in solving Mr. 
 Young’s queries'; But the time will not admit either of ac¬ 
 curacy; or the combinations necessary to form the average, 
 fcf labour, building, or improvement, applicable :to the State 
 at large; . Fr6m .Mr.;,y6uNG’s calculatipns, formed, I 
 presUme/ upon communications from: you, I am surprized 
 to fibd that the prices .of labour, and quantity of product, 
 are,f'in a great degree, similar, to thp'se of this State, 
 thou^H.you iseem,.t6 have. confined yourselfto Virginia ' 
 and Maryland. I mean the labour and wages of hire¬ 
 lings^ Hbras-to -slaves Lhave but a. jiery.imperfect, and 
 yquaperfectjkho.wledge, of what concerns their value, 
 c^enceaudlabodri ,. , : - 
 
 Isf. Om tyages'for hirelings, by the dayi are commonly 
 2s.'* in winter, and 2s. 6d. nine months in the year, for 
 common days-work on a farm, and everything found, as 
 to eating and drinking. The same man will hire, and find 
 
 * Here and throughout, estimate the dollar at 7s; 6d. 
 
(' W: > 
 
 hiin;?clf> at 3s. and 3s. 6d. pet day- j, for a reaper 5s. to Ss. 
 9d.andfound; and the'sanre for cutting grass; reaping,by 
 the acre, I have neyerhad done under 5s. but the price 
 genarally 7s. 6d. tne labourers finding themselves; Nei- 
 ther reaper nor mower will, on an average, do more than 
 three-fourths of an acre. Mowers, per-day, are allowed 
 ifiere a pint of rum, orotherspirits—a vile and unnecessary 
 practice.' Reapers have as much as they choose, prehaps, 
 three, half-pints per day;, but this practice is'yearly 
 diminishing. When I say that a reaper or mower will 
 do three-fourths of an acre, I mean of a common crop ; 
 for in heavy grain, orgra^, such .as a good English crop, 
 no labourer here willreappr mow above half an acre. As 
 to mowing, or what we call cradling grtun, we pay a man 
 ,5s.|to 6s. per day, and found ;. and the day’s work about 
 the same with Mr. Young’^s statement, viz. two or two 
 acres and a half per day.. Mowing per acre 5s. to 6s. and 
 a pint of rum. Labourers find themselves food. 
 
 Sdr^The hire of a waggon, four horses, and driver, 
 from 15s. to 20s. per day. 
 
 3d. The yearly hire of a good labourer in Pennsylvania 
 T think. 60 dollars, or 22l. 10. currency, and found, cloth¬ 
 ing excepted. 
 
 4th. As to the quantum of labour to be commanded 
 for pay, I know not how, to answer. Many who have 
 small farms, either on rent, or their own property, can 
 spare a portion of their time to assist their neighbours 
 for hire. The class of people merely labourers is not 
 veiy numerous, and by no means stationary or collected. 
 The independent situation they can place themselves in, 
 by removing to the frontiers, is the cause of the scarcity. 
 oflabourers in .the settled parts of the State. Nor is the 
 demand so regular as to detmn unconnected labourers in 
 any spot. Whether the considerable improvements we 
 are about undertaking, by roads and canals, will operate 
 so as to attract labourers from other States, or from 
 Europe, in hopes of constant einployment, is yet pro- 
 . blematical. if these works employ none but our own 
 people, the price wiU increase on the farmers. 
 
 There is no doubt’biit that the rates of labour are, and 
 will, for a long time, continue to be higher than they are 
 in England. Our people live better than those of the 
 
' ( ) 
 
 sime rank in life In any part of the world. The employer 
 pays for the habits of the hireling, who not only eats and 
 drinks well, when provided for, in addition to his wages, 
 but out of his wages niust (if he has one) provide for his 
 family, according to the custom of the country. Even 
 an English labourer, who lives better than one in any 
 part of Europe, wpuld. be astonished at the fhre of one in 
 America. I do not believe Mr. Young much mistaken, 
 when he s:\ys that the rate is, comparatively, 100 per centi 
 higher than in England, and the ha,bits of living are as 
 much the cause of it, as the easiness of the passage over 
 the mountains, I am not displeased, as a citizen, at this 
 circumstance, though, as a farmer, it is against my profit, 
 ISonie things might be retrenched, but I am happy when 
 1 know that our common people are better fed and clo¬ 
 thed than in any other partof the world. 
 
 5th. The prices of lauds arc so extremely various, that 
 there is no fixing an average. The situation and im¬ 
 provement always add to value. Knowing so little as our 
 fanners dp, of the means of renovating lands, the longer 
 they are cleared the less valuable, for the most part, they 
 are. I gave to Colonel H amilton, an exact account of 
 the debtor and creditor of four farms, in my neighbour¬ 
 hood, taken from the knowledge I have of the' general 
 circumstances, of this part of the country. The result is 
 very unfavourable to the characters of our farmers. Be 
 pleased to ask Colonel Hamilton for it, as, I have not a 
 copy[ I believe Colonel Hamilton, who in some pro¬ 
 ject he had, sent for information to all quarters, could 
 most easily give satisfaction in this point, Mr. Young 
 does not know that, in parts where there are no slaves, 
 the farmer and his family do the greater portion of the 
 work of their farms within themselves, This is the 
 reason why they can get forward and liVe well. If calcula¬ 
 tions were made of every thing being hired, few farms in 
 Pennsylvania would clear a farthing. A man here savps 
 money by a crop pf 10 bushels, and in England he would 
 perish under it. There he rents and hires—^fiere, for 
 the most part, the farm is Ws ovm, and he hires little, or 
 none at all. 
 
 The products of wheat can be all sold. 
 
 Barley notin great quantities ; our people not being as 
 fpnd as they ought to be of beer. 
 
( rr. ) ^ 
 
 Rye may increase in demand by domestic distillation 5 
 at present it is no great object. 
 
 Butter, fluctuating, but all may be sold nowproduced. 
 
 Beef, a good article j an'd, when we know better how 
 to cure it for exportation will increase in demand. 
 
 Mutton, no sale for any great quantities. For soma 
 time hence this will not be a great sheep country; the 
 dryness of our seasons burns up the pasture for a great 
 part of the year ; we keep too many dogs, who destroy 
 them ; and our country is much intersected with moun¬ 
 tains, inhabited by wolves, which cannot be extirpated. 
 It is a profitable article, so far as you can extend it, but no 
 great capital can be employed in it j and, if the business 
 was more extensively carried on, the profit, would be 
 reduced to nothing. Our long winters are inimical to 
 sheep ; they render the keeping expensive, and subject 
 the animal to numberless disorders. We can have no 
 succulent or green forage—turnips are out of the question; 
 our snows and severe weather distroy or cover them ; nor 
 is their culture certain. I have tried the English sheep, 
 which soon degenerate, and stand the climate but badly. 
 —As to fleece, it is but scant, 3lbs. per sheep being rather 
 an over calculation. Wool is now in some demand, but 
 I have known it unsaleable. I hope manufactures will 
 continue to increase the demand ; but the prospect of this 
 is distant. Mr. Young’s calculation upon waste land, 
 might be well enough, if the circumstances before stated, 
 as to sheep, did not forbid our going extensively into 
 them. Sheep have most enemies where there could be 
 most range for them ; and they require care as well as 
 range., I know none who have tried the shepp business 
 that have succeeded. Folding is very Well, but it requires 
 labour ; and the seep,, crowded together here, have often 
 perished. I cannot ascertain how many an acre will sup¬ 
 port ; for none are kept, within my knowledge, but in 
 small numbers, and as a veriety in a farmer’s stock. They 
 are close feeders, and distroy pasture prodigiously.* 
 Excuse me, Sir, for this hasty and imperfect sketch ; 
 I should have gone more deeply into the subject had the' 
 time you allot permitted. 
 
 Unless one could find, as it is in England, the business 
 
 * This idea shexvs hoxv little tlictj know of sheep. —A. T. 
 
( S'* ) 
 
 carried on in different branches, systematically, it is dif¬ 
 ficult to make calculations, or even observations, generally 
 applicable. Few people here do all their business by 
 hiring, and some scarcely hire at all. 
 
 The race of tenantry is miserable indeed. 
 
 I am, with the greatest respect, 
 
 Your obedient servant. 
 
 Bichard Phters. 
 
 P, S. Should you think of any particular point, and 
 would be pleased to mention it, I will pay particular 
 attention to it. Mr. Young’s letter would require a very 
 extended discussion. 
 
 Philadelphia Oct. 20,1792. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I MUST beg your acceptance of my best thanks for 
 the book that accompanied your polite letter of the 9th of 
 June, which came duly to my hands. 
 
 I presume you have long before this received my 
 letter, which was committed to the care of Mr. Pinckney, 
 our Minister at the Court of Great Britain, and shall be 
 very glad if the contents of it afforded you the information 
 which it was intended to communicate; for I am per- 
 suaded,'that I need not repeat to you, how sincerely I 
 wish success to those laudable exertions which you are 
 making, to promote the important interest of agriculture, 
 nnd the cause of humanity. 
 
 With very great esteem, I am. Sir, 
 
 Your most obedientservant, 
 
 G. Washington. 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 Philadelphia, Etc. 2,1792. 
 
 Sir, . 
 
 I MUST begin this letter with an apology—^no apology 
 ought tc be so satisfactory as the truth—and the truth is, 
 
( iro ) 
 
 that not receiving the account of the taxes of a Virginia 
 estate, for which I had written (before I left this city, 
 during the recess of Congress), as mentioned in my letter 
 to you of the ISth of June, the promise I then made of 
 forwai'ding it toyou in mynext, had escaped me altoge¬ 
 ther, until I was reminded of it lately, by a circumstance 
 too trivial to mention. 
 
 A copy of the account is now annexed. The name of 
 the proprietor of the estate is not inserted, but on the 
 authenticity of it you may rely. That you may under¬ 
 stand the principles on which the land-tax in Virginia is 
 founded, it will be necessary to inform you, that by a law 
 of that State, the inhabitants of it are throivn into districts 
 ^—say parishes; in each of which, or for two, or more of 
 them united, commissioners are appointed to assess the 
 value of each man’s land, that lies withmit; on which a 
 certain per centum is uniformly paid. 
 
 No negroes under twelve years of age are taxed, nor 
 are any under sixteen subjected to the payment of county 
 or parish levies. Horses, at present, are the only species 
 of stock in that States which pays a tax. Carriages were, 
 when I left Virginia, and 1 believe still are, subject to a 
 tax by the wheel. It was then, if I recollect rightly, 
 about five dollars each wheel; but whether it is more or 
 less now, or whether there be any at all, is more than I 
 am able tvith certainty tp inform you. 
 
 With very great esteem and regard, 
 
 I am. Sir, your most obedient. 
 
 And much obliged servant, 
 
 G; WASHiJJOTOtr. 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 D*'. FOR PUBLIC TAXES—FOR COUKTY AND PARIS* 
 
 LEVIES. 
 
 In Truro Parish, 1792. g, d. 
 
 Taxon 6320 acres of land, for 1791 - - - 13 8 7 
 
 -114negroes, at2s. 6d. ... 1 14 5 0 
 
 -87 horses at 6d.236 
 
 -- 107 county and parish levies, at - . ' 
 
 29lbs. of tobacco each, 3013 
 Fairfax Parish (adjoining). 
 
 Taxon 3420 acres of land - -- -- -60S 
 
C 80 ) 
 
 Taxon 24negroes,at2s.6d. - - ^ 
 
 —:- 13 horses, at 6d. . - - - - 
 
 - 23 county and parish levies, 
 at 29lbs. of tobacco each 367’ 
 
 £. s. 
 
 S 0 0 
 0 7 6 
 
 3670, Sc £.39 1010 
 3670lb8, tobacco, at 15s. per cwt. - - - - 27 10 6 
 
 Total—(Dollars, at 6s.) /.67 1 4 
 
 .. Note .—^There ought to have been in the above account, 
 a discrimination in the charge for county and parish 
 levies.—The first is for building and repairing court¬ 
 houses, gaols, &c. criminal processes, &c. the latter is for 
 the support of the poor, and other parochial charges. 
 
 iXTKACTS from SOME REMARKS SENT TO GENERAL 
 •WASHINGTON ON THE PRECEDING ACCOUNTS. 
 
 A reaper, 3s. to 3s. 9d. a day, and does three-fourths 
 of an acre; say 2s. 2d. sterling, and board, which, with 
 us, is called 161. If a fanner boards his men with his 
 bailiff, he pays in that proportion: this is lOd. 1-2 a day; 
 but the better fare of harvest will make it at last Is. 6d. 
 or 3s. 8d. for three-fourths of an acre—4s. lOd. 1-2 per 
 acre. We have no part of England in which this is done 
 so cheaply. It rises from 5s. to 20s. per acre ; with you, 
 the same expence mows an acre, viz. 3s. 8d. This, on 
 the contrary, is dearer than with us, if for grass ; and, 
 for com, a man mows two or two and a half acres a day. 
 
 The next minute is a waggon, four horses, and (I sup¬ 
 pose a man) 15s. or 10s. sterling. This is nearly the price 
 with us all the year, except in very busy seasons, when 
 not to be had at all. 
 
 In Maryland, wages 20l. and all found but clothes; 
 sterling, 121.;—^with us, the head man lOl.; the rest 8l. 
 
 On the Fluvanna and Rivanna, a negro 9l. and every 
 thing found; and in a former letter, all labour with slaves. 
 Hence quere—Is the labour noted in these minutes, ac¬ 
 cidental, apdpotto be commanded in any amount; or is 
 
C 81 ) 
 
 it the standard employment of the State? Reciconihga 
 negro at 501. and estimating his life in any ratio, he must 
 surely be cent, per cent, dearer than the labour of Eng^ 
 land. Governor Glen, in ills description of South Ca¬ 
 rolina (one of the best accounts of a country I have met 
 with), says, that a slave can manage two acres of indigOj 
 or six of Indian corn: this must be less than the half of 
 whaf oiir labourers do, who will set out, and clean effec- 
 .tually half an acre of turnips every day, for the first hoe¬ 
 ing ; and from three-fourths to one acre the secondj 
 I see no feason to calculate it less than 100 per centt 
 • higher than in England; and the general information I 
 ■have at various times had from other persons, seems to 
 confirm the idea: no wonder, while every man, by going 
 over the mountains, can have land for himself. 
 
 The next difficulty is in respect of the purchase of land^ 
 .■which in the notes is every where per acre, very properly 
 (I suppose the statute English acre, dr it would have beeii 
 mentioned to the contrary) ; but it is riot mentioned what 
 State, the lands are in', which are thus valued; whether 
 additions td properties already built and improved, or the 
 .improvements themselves, including the buildings, fen¬ 
 ces, &c. In the instances of mountain-land, the expres¬ 
 sions seems to indicate waste land, unbuilt, and uninclos¬ 
 ed. The prices converted to sterling, appear to be near¬ 
 ly as follows: 
 
 Belotti 40^i 
 - 1 0 
 0 15 d 
 0 9 0 
 0 16.0 
 1 16 0 
 0 15 6 
 1 11 0 
 0 15 6 
 1 2 0 
 1 2 6 
 1 17 6 
 1 11 0 
 1 2 0 
 1 ,2 6 
 
 £.\0 0 0 
 
( 82 ) 
 
 Above 40s. 
 12 2 
 
 2)4 18 11 
 Gen. aver. 9 5 
 
 Below 40s. 
 17 6 
 0 14 0 
 0 19 0 
 
 17);f.l8 17 0 
 Aver. ^.1 2 2 
 
 Which maybe thus contrasted with SufFolk, the rent of 
 which is, on an average, nearly that of England. Rent 
 12s. an acre, at 28 years purchase, or I6l. 16s. 
 
 , It is impossible to compare the soils without seeing 
 them j but from various circumstances touched on in the 
 letters, I am inclined to think American land as good as 
 ours in Suffolk least. The spontaneous growth of 
 white clover is, with us, a sure criterion of good land ; 
 we have none of it in Suffolk, or at least very little : when 
 our land is worn out by bad management, and left, it runs 
 to %vhat is called water-gi-ass, the Agtostis stolonifera one 
 of the worst seeds any country can be plagued with. A- 
 merican products, it is true, are shocking, and mark a 
 management which, thank God, we know nothing of. 
 Such crops would not be found in any part of this king¬ 
 dom. The observation, that in America fanners look 
 to labour much more than to land, is new to me; but it is 
 a calculation which I cannot understand, for, exactly in 
 proportion to the dearness of labour, is the necessity of 
 having good crops : a bad one, in every thing but thresh¬ 
 ing, costs as much in labour as a good one. Good crops 
 are not g:Uned by operose systems so well, or so surely, 
 as by reposing the soil under grass, and supporting great 
 stocks of cattle and sheep. Such products as you de- 
 ' scribe, with dear labour, are absolutely Inexplicable. A 
 very severe mildew has been known to damage wheat so 
 much in England, that the crop, being calculated at se¬ 
 ven or eight bushels an acre, in cheap times, has been 
 mown and carted to the farm-yard for the hogs to eat it, 
 and make dung. With so small a crop the quality is sure 
 to be bad, if the soil is naturally good. 
 
 I have stated the price of land in Suffolk at 161.16s,; 
 but this price includes buildings and improvements; for 
 instance, suppose 300 acres in one fann. 
 
( ) 
 
 House - - - . . 
 
 Barns.500 
 
 Stable - .... 200 
 
 Cow.house .... 100 
 
 Styes, &c. .... 50 
 
 Cart.lodge .... 50 
 
 Gates and fences, and road - . 370 
 
 £.187.0. 
 
 This, I believe moderate ; however, let us call it only 
 6l. per acre, 18001. it reduces the price of land to lOl. I6s. 
 There are various improvements besides, such as irriga¬ 
 tion, marling, draining; but we will, drop thematpre- 
 sent. 
 
 It should seem that in Virginia taxes may be calculat. 
 «d in this manner, perhaps not with accuracy., 
 
 7s. 6d. on lOOl. suppose 50 acres; this is about 0 2 
 Negro tax may be - - - - - 0 1 
 
 Horse tax, 6d. . - - - * .0 01-2 
 
 Parish, and county levies 7s. 6d. a head, 20 
 would be 7l. 10s. perhaps per acre - .-0 6 
 
 currency 
 
 per acre—sterling say . - - - 0 7 
 
 The price of products contrasted with Suffolk: 
 
 Ameriea. Suffolk, 
 
 s. d.. s. d. 
 
 Wheat per bushel, average 3 0 5 0 
 
 Rye . - - . 19 _ 3 0 
 
 Barley - - - 1 10 —26 
 
 Butter - - - 0 51-2 — 0 8 1-2 
 
 Beef - - - 0 2 1-4 — 0 41-2 
 
 Butter - - - 0 3 1-4 — 0 5 
 
 7 6 11 0 
 
 By means of the enormous demand of London, the 
 three cattle products may be sold in any quantities pro¬ 
 duced, without the least apprehension of wanting a mark¬ 
 et, and those of corn at these rates also. If 500 stone 
 of beef on a farm at 2 1-4 is made 10,000 stone, can you, 
 L 2 
 
,( .8^ ) 
 
 jiftU it readily ? the West Indies considered, this is pro¬ 
 bably the case, - Mutton is an article of infiBitely greater 
 importance, and that'not being barrelled, probably could 
 not be sold. 
 
 You have the-unaccountable circumstance, I s.ee, as 
 well as England^ of mutton being dearer than beef: hor-: 
 ses, not oxen, being almost universal with us, makes it 
 yet more strange. I know, from experiinents made with 
 considerable care, that if they were at the same price, the 
 farmer would have more profit by producing mutton 
 than by producing beef; yet is mutton by many per cent, 
 higher priced 1 but sheep give you another profit in their 
 wool, and a third in their fold. The former with us is 
 infamously depressed in price, but not in America, for 
 your wool at Is. per lb. is 33 per cent, higher than it 
 would sell for in England. Why then surely you should 
 yaise those products that sell well ? and wool sells better 
 (of course in any quantity) than any thing else you have, 
 With mutton at 3d, per lb. and wool at Is. there can be 
 no comparison between sheep and any other application of 
 land. But there must be a market for mutton; and to 
 <5ffect that, you should get B ake well’s breed, which fat¬ 
 ten so readily on very good land, that a common applica¬ 
 tion of it is salting, to use instead of bacon. The pro¬ 
 vincial asseniblies of France have employed smugglers to 
 get (badly chosen) English sheep. Hdf the Kings in 
 Europe have done the same, to get Spanish sheep; both 
 very wisely; I hope your American asse-mblies will be 
 equally wise, and take care that the food produced in the 
 State is applied to the breeds that will pay best for it. 
 
 We may thus compare England and America, suppos¬ 
 ing 300 acres bought and farmed by the purchaser: 
 
 ENGLAND. £. s. d. 
 
 Produce of 300 acres, 5 rents, at 12s. or 3l; 900 Q 0 
 
 Deduct: 
 
 Land-tax 3s. in the pound, at a £. s. d. 
 
 4s. cess on 1801. - - 27 0 0 
 
 Sates 4s. 6d. •- - - 40 10 0 
 
 Tithe 4s. 6d,* - - - 40 10 0 
 
 f On an average this -would be too low; and if gathe'tf 
 fff it liquid be 90/, 
 
Roads 
 
 Assessed Taxes 
 
 { 85 ) 
 
 A. A, 
 
 .10 0 
 
 Deduct further • 
 
 Labour .... 150 0 0 
 interest of 50401. at 5 per cent. 252 0 0 
 int^ 12001. farmer’s capital - 60 0 0 
 
 Nett T - - - - - A.323 10 0 
 
 5l. 3s. per cent, on 62401. 
 
 Repairs supposed the same with both, and therefore 
 omitted. But quere, Mr. Jefferson’s Virginia, p. 258, 
 where he says they are built so badly as to last only 50 
 yearspurs last 150 years of wood, and much longer if 
 pf brick. 
 
 AMERICA. f. s. d. 
 
 jProduceof 30Q acres, supposed the same as 
 in England, but the price as 7 1-2 to 11 613 0 0 
 
 Deduct: £. s. d. 
 
 Taxes Td, per acre • - - 8 15 0 
 
 Labour at cent, per cent, higher 
 
 than England - - ‘ 300 0 0 
 
 Interest of 10511. at 5 per cent, 
 the purchase of 300 acres at 
 31. 16s. 9d. - , - - 52 11 0 
 
 Interest of 900l. farmer’s capital, 
 at 3I. per acre, or 20s. less than 
 England - - - 45 0 0 
 
 --- 406 6 0 
 
 Nett./.206 14 0 
 
 lOl. 11s. per cent, on 19511. 
 
 ^lere —if labour should be reckoned so high as 3001. 
 But note, that the actual labour in America in amount 
 must not be regarded, unless, you take American pro¬ 
 ducts, which are very much below ours: I have supposed 
 the American land as good, and the produce as large as 
 in England ; consequently as much labour. The prices 
 
( 86 ) 
 
 sent, of oxen, cows, sheep, &c. justify the lowering tlie 
 stock of American farms 20s. an acre; but it will not jus¬ 
 tify it, if they are not as well built, and inclosed as in 
 England, which I suppose them to be, estimating the 
 purchase of our land not at lOl. 16s. but at 161. 16. an 
 acre. I have supposed very good husbandry in England 
 at five rents; but then I give America the equal advan¬ 
 tage of it, by allowing her the same. 
 
 The error, if there is one, I conjecture to be, supposing 
 the wk-ole American farm what the Suffolk one vmst be, 
 all cultivated at a good price per acre; whereas it is 
 obvious that the great profit to be derived from agriculture 
 in America, is to have 1000,1500, or 2000 acres of waste 
 adjoining to such a farm,, which waste should be, by very 
 simple methods, converted to sheep walk, and so made 
 the dunghill for the cultivated land. In such case, the 
 rent of that waste would be the interest of the money it 
 would sell for: as the country is peopled, the rent so, 
 estimated would gradually rise, till at last it would answer 
 no longer to adhere to such a destination. The object 
 is very important to convert wood to profit at small ex¬ 
 pellee. I have grubbed several acres, the expence lOl. 
 an acre ; but the wood pays : with labour cent, per cent, 
 higher, and wqod of no value, wood land thus acquired 
 would be dearer near 5l. per acre than land improved,^ 
 cultivated, and built, in England. 
 
 Theretum of a sheep in England, weight alive 1501b., 
 may be estimated at 10s. besides keeping up or renovat¬ 
 ing the stock : mutton at 5d. and wool at 9d. long or Is. 
 3d, short (9d, producing more money than Is. 3d.) In, 
 America mutton at 3d. 1-4 and wool at Is. a.sheep ought 
 to yield 7s. 6d. Suppose lOOO acres bought for lOOOl. apd 
 feeding 1000 sheep only, yielding 7s. 6d. each, or even 
 but 5s. and here is a profit at once arising, such as in 
 England we know nothing of: but from all accounts, 
 this is not the husbandry, and therefore Isu^jpose a market 
 impracticable. 
 
 ^ s. d. 
 
 England, per cent, on capital, - - -500 
 
 Ditto, nett profit,. '530 
 
 ^10 3 0- 
 
America, 
 Ditto, nett, 
 
 ( sr ) 
 
 10 11 0 
 jC- 15 11 0 
 
 Team, seed, ware and tear, reckoned to neither of 
 these, will reduce the interest on the English capital to 
 about 5 1-2 per cent. 
 
 Bradjield-Hall, Jan. 18,1792. 
 
 Bradjiekl-Hall, Jan. 15,1793. 
 
 IS it possible, that the inhabitants of a great continent 
 not new settlers, who live onlyto hunt, to eat, andtodrink, 
 can carry on farming and planting as a business, and yet 
 never calculate the profit they make by per centage on 
 their capital ? And yet this seems to be the case. 
 
 The farm of 200 acres in Bucks county, is such as an 
 Englishman would not accept; for it carries on the face 
 of the account which I have, drawn out (A) a dead loss, 
 and not an inconsiderable one : yet thef whole labour of a 
 family of five persons is thrown away in order to arrive 
 at that loss. 
 
 The Pittsburg account (B) is so much more profitable 
 that I know not how to believe that I understand it righ- 
 ly ; but I have calculated the products named, as issuing 
 irom the quantity of land noted; consequently 'there is 
 1151. from 47 acres arable, which is more than the double 
 of the Bucks, farm. 
 
 The Maryland account (C) seems to be very good 
 land, and to yield well; but no note being inserted of 
 expences, it is impossible to calculate the pi-ofits. 
 
 Mr. Jefferson’s Virginia calculation comes much 
 nearer to the point; but I cannot admit it; he reck¬ 
 ons 60l. a 5rear increasing value of negroes, and 1561. a 
 year rise in value of land. These articles may be. fact in 
 certain circumstances, but they will not do for compari¬ 
 sons.—In the first place, to have a considerable vaule 
 invested in slaves, is a hazardous capital; and there is no 
 man in the world who would not give 6ol. a year on 6ooo 
 
t 88 ) 
 
 acres, to be able to change slave's to cows and sheep': He 
 cannot otherwise, command labour, and therefore must 
 ■ keep them; but the profit in any other light than labourers, 
 is inadmissible. As to the rise on lands, it may be fair; 
 but taking place equally, perhaps, in Europe; it must not 
 ,come into the account. During the last ten years, land 
 in England has risen one third in value: Correcting thus 
 Mr. J errERSON’s account, his capital pays 11 per cent, as 
 in (D). There are, however,many deductions to be made; 
 as wear and tear of implements, carrage, team, seed, re¬ 
 pairs of buildings, white servant*, overseers, &c. &c. 
 Theseought, as I conjecture, to amount to near 2001. a 
 year, which, if so, would reduce the profit in the gross to 
 about eight, per cent, 
 
 , But I have a heavier objection tliaii this, aiid which 
 bears upon the pith of the subject. How can Mr. 
 jEFFERsofT produce annually 5000 bushels of wheat, 
 worth ITSOl. by means of a cattle product, of only 1251.1 
 'I do not want to come to America, to know that this is 
 simply impossible; at the comiriencement of a tenn it 
 may do, but how long will it last? This is the manage¬ 
 ment that gives such products, as eight and ten bushels 
 an acre; Arable land can yield wheat only by means of 
 cattle and sheep ; it is not dung that is wanted so much 
 as a change of products : repose under grasses is the soul 
 of management; and all cleaningand tillage to be given in 
 the year that yields green winter food. By such a system; 
 you may produce, by means of 4o oxen and 5op sheep, 
 5000 bushels of wheat; and if you raise the oxen to 5o, 
 and sheep to 6oO, you may have so much more wheat; 
 but it is only by increasing cattle that you can increase 
 wheat permanently.—\25\. from cattle, to 75ol. from 
 wheat, would reduce the finest farm in the world to a 
 caput morimtn; that is to say to ten bushels an acre which 
 must be nearly such; 
 
 Here then opens the partof the subjectof myinquiries: 
 where most darkness hangs—the demand for cattle and 
 sheep products. It is the quantity to be sold that makes the 
 difficulty, . The demand must be boundless, or encoura¬ 
 gement will be wanting. 
 
 ■Wolves are named as a motive for not keeping sheep ; 
 surely they cannot be Serious, who urge it. They abound 
 
.( 89 ) 
 
 fell o ver Eurqpe: in France and Spain, ampngthe greatest 
 flocks in the world; and no wolf could get into my sheep- 
 houses, or at least I may say, that nothing is so eaisy as to 
 keep Him o at, even of a yard. Dogs also are an enemy t 
 hut America surely has laws, as well as we, that.mtJte 
 every man ans-werable for the mischief done by, his dog. 
 By uightj if secure from wolves they are secure, from 
 dogs ; and by day, shepherds may have loaded firetarms 
 to kill all that approach. While sheep are kept by scores, 
 such objections may hold good; but when .by hundreds 
 and thpusands, they :muSt vanish. . i' . w. 
 
 In the .culture of grass for pasturage, as . preparatory 
 to com,. the profit of. well applying this principle in 
 America, must be very great; there' is every advantage 
 of soil, and extent of farm, and nb. drawback hut the rate 
 of labour. Pasturage demands scarcely any labour so 
 that if there is one system that squares . more ;• to the cir¬ 
 cumstances of America (not forgettingithe dispoStion. of 
 the land to run to, white cloVer) foan another, it is to adopt 
 a course of crops that takes grass in very largely. , ., • .! 
 
 Surely, the encwmous rise iii. the price of wool in Eng¬ 
 land. and Holland, fofiwoyears.past, must affect America, 
 and instigate to an increase in the. breed of .sheep. The 
 freight, when pressed into a. smaller .compass, is a trafle ; 
 and the price is now, such, that a flieece alone from Ameri¬ 
 can lands, without reckoning the carcass at any, thing, 
 must be more valuable than the profit on a ctopt of wheat 
 of eight or ten bushels an acre, on all lands that will pro¬ 
 duce white clover spontaneously. 
 
 Suppose oh some of the mountain-lands (mountains are 
 no objection on account of wolves, for the Pyranees are 
 full of both sheep and wolves) which are to be bought for 
 5s. to 20s. an acre ; at Pittsburgh, 16s. 8d. ; ,at Huvan- 
 ha, 20s. Suppose 20s. sterling an acre, it is is. an acre 
 rent—such land, by carrying only one sheep per acre, 
 producing wool only 5lbs. at Is. or 5s. a head; and the 
 mutton to do no more than pay for losses, shepherd, &c. 
 here is a profit such as com cannot rival; five rents paid 
 by wool! The West Indies are, howeverj.too near for 
 salted mutton, to w ant a market; and if it sold for only 
 Id. per lb. the object on a large scale would be impor¬ 
 tant. 
 
■X -90 ) 
 
 300 ACSeS,- bucks , couNtr, bEnnsylvAki a« (A) 
 , Prpduce. 
 
 ■' Dollars. 
 
 500 acres, price 8200 
 interest at 
 
 [Wheati 20 acres," 200 ^ 
 bushels, - 
 
 five percent,; ; - ' leaRye, S acres, 50 bush- 
 
 €oniumpthn‘oA Farm. 
 Indian chni, '^-80 
 
 Eye;. 'W ■ 
 
 Euck-wheat, - 18 
 
 Hay^ 
 
 els, 
 
 Indian corn, 20 acres, 
 
 300 bushels, - l&O 
 Buck-wheat, 5 acres, TS- • 
 bushels, 
 
 licihour hired. 
 0!rio men, one boy^ and 
 ; one; girl,'vfed j bnt 
 supposed -not, for 
 simplicity of calcula- 
 ,1'. .'tion,. ■ iS;'; - 
 
 Ifsaesi,.,-, - 
 
 Maintenance of afattu^ 
 ; ly of five persons, : 
 Seed for the above. 
 
 228 Oats, 5 acres, ICObush- 
 
 : 747 
 
 els, 
 iFlaK, 
 Cyder, 
 Hay, , 
 Cattle (12), 
 SsdSheep (20), 
 Hogs, 
 Poultry, 
 
 [Five dollars per acre 
 150 acres. 
 
 S14 ACRES, PITTSBURG. . (B) 
 
 ■ . Exfences. 
 
 purchase of 31|) acres, at 163,-8d. 2611. di 
 
 interest at 5 per cent. - - » - 13 0 0 
 
 . Consumption by Cattle. 
 
 SO bushels rye, 2s. 6d. - 
 
 SOQ . ■ Indian com, 2s. 
 
 60 oats. Is. 6d. 
 
 ifiO tiaii.* ' potatoes,.Is. lOd. 
 
 3 IS 0 
 10 0 0 
 
 4 10 6 
 14 13 0 
 
 ^.45 18 0 
 
( 9*: ) 
 
 
 Produce. , , 
 
 
 iSO'busIiels wheat, at 3s, 9d. - 
 
 . 28K2 6 
 
 150-r--,176, at 2s, 6d. 
 
 - , 18 10 0 
 
 150-!-- Indian corn, 2s. 
 
 - . 25 0 0 
 
 160-oats, Is, 6d. 
 
 , 12 PP 
 
 50 ■' barley, 3s. 9d. 
 
 - - 9 7 6 
 
 50- f. -buck-wheat. Is. 6d. 
 
 - 315 0 
 
 200-potatoes. Is,. lOd. 
 
 - 18 6 0 
 
 From 4r acres; 
 
 ^.115 1 0 
 
 TAIBOT, COUNTY, MARYLAND, 450 ACRES. (C) 
 
 Expences. 
 
 Produce. 
 
 Frice, 25001.; interest ai Wheat, 
 
 - jf.263 0 0 
 
 fiye per cent. - ;C*i25 Com, 
 
 - 67 OO 
 
 Potatoes, 
 
 , - 50 0 0 
 
 Tobacco. 
 
 , - 50 0 0 
 
 Wood 
 
 - 20 0 0 
 
 Hay, 
 
 25'0 0 
 
 ■, Hemp, 
 
 0 10 0 
 
 ' Flax, 
 
 2 10 0 
 
 .Wool, 
 
 10 0 0 
 
 Butter, 
 
 20 0 0 
 
 Cattle, 
 
 . 120 0 0 
 
 Horses, 
 
 - 250 0 0 
 
 Sheep, 
 
 - 75 0 O 
 
 Hogs, 
 
 60 0 6 
 
 lon 450 acres, 1013 0 0 
 
 tlKGlNIA. (D) 
 
 
 . Expences._ i, , 
 
 Praduce,,_ 
 
 interest of 618H. .stock in Wheat, 5000 bushels f.7S9 
 
 land, and negroes, and Meat, 51, 
 
 a;headj 125 
 
 •utensils, &c. ^^30^,7 6 
 
 
 Clothes, &c..neg.. 150 0 0 
 
 875 
 
 Taxes (corrected), 30 0 0 
 
 489 
 
 j(:;489 7 6 PraSt on 
 
 capital'of 
 
 oiari. 
 
 - if386 
 
 jOr per cent. - 6 4 0 
 
 [Add 51. 
 
 . 5 O 'O. 
 
 [ 
 
 jf.tl 4 0 
 
 M2 
 
 
. .( 92 ) 
 
 ;District,—isi the map'prefixed to Mr, jErrERsox’s 
 Virginia, the cQunty of Botetourt, as traced b)' the moun¬ 
 tains, forms nearly a triangle. ' From the south point of 
 that triangle draw two lines ; one to Alexandria, and the 
 'other to Fort Pitt, and yoti inclose a country of this forip, 
 pndsize; 
 
 By extending it to the dotted line, it will strike the bend, 
 in the Fluvanna, near Taker, Randolph, and Snowden, and 
 include a country, which ought to be gentle slopes, ris- 
 ■ ing to the mountains. This large district ought, upon 
 theory, to be the best sheep country in America. 
 
 Philadelphia, June 20th, mu. 
 Dear SIR. . , 
 
 I HAD prepared the inclosed a considerable time ago, 
 but have waited for a communication from a person who 
 does the nttost in the grazing line, of any person I have 
 
( 93 ) 
 
 heard,«f. . But he has not-made the communication, 
 i'rom'a silly- belief that it is not for a public purpose, but 
 a private one, that I wish to get the account from him. 
 I, therefore, delay no longer to send you the best answer 
 to Mr. Yqumg’s query, I can niake. 
 
 I am, &c. &c. 
 
 Richard Peters. 
 
 . The President of the United States. 
 
 Philadelphia., June 2Bth, 1793. 
 
 DEAR SIR, 
 
 I SHOULD have taken time ere this, to have con- 
 ^idered the observations of Mr. Young, could I at this 
 place, have done it in such a way as would satisfy either 
 him or myself. When I wrote the notes of the last year, 
 J had never before thought of caculating what were the 
 profits of a capital invested in Virginia agriculture. Yet 
 that appeared to be whatMr. Young most desired. Lest, 
 therefore, no other of those, whom you consulted for him, 
 should attempt such a calculation, I did it; but being at 
 such a distance from the country of which I wrote, and 
 having been absent from that, and from the subject in 
 consideration, many y ears, I could only, for my facts, recur 
 to my own recollection, weakened by time, and very 
 different applications, and I had no means here of correct¬ 
 ing my facts. I, therefore, hazarded the cakulation, 
 rather as an essay of the mode of calculating the profits of 
 a Virginia estate, than as an operation which was to be 
 ultimately relied on. When I went last to Virginia, I 
 put the press copy of those notes into the hands of the 
 most skilful and successful farmerinthepartofthe country 
 of which I wrote. He, omitted to return them to me, 
 which adds another impediment to my resuming the sub¬ 
 ject here.—But indeed if I had them, I could only present 
 the same facts, with some corrections, and some justifica¬ 
 tions of the principles of calculation. This would not, 
 and, ought not, to satisfy Mr. Young. When I return 
 home, I shall have time and opportunity of answersing 
 Mr, Young’s inquiries fully. I will first establish the 
 
( 94 ) 
 
 fwts, as adapted to the present times, and Hot to those to, 
 which I was obliged to recur by recollection, and I wiU 
 make the calculation on rigorous principles. The delay 
 necessary for this will, I hope, be compensated by giving 
 something which no endeavours on my part shall be want¬ 
 ing to make worthy of confidence. In the mean time, 
 Mr. Young must not pronounce too hastily on the im¬ 
 possibility of an annual production of 7501. worth ofwheat, 
 coupled with a cattle product of 1251. My object was to 
 state the produce of a^ood farm, under ^oocf ' husbandry, 
 as prfjctised in my part of the country.; Manure does not 
 enter into this, because we can buy an acre of new land 
 cheaper than we can manure ah old one. Gssdhusbandry 
 with us, consists in abandoning Indian com, and tobacco: 
 tending small grain, some red clover, fallowing, and en-. 
 deavouring to have, while the lands are at rest, a spontane¬ 
 ous coyer of white clover. , I do not present this as a 
 culture judicious in itself, but s&gobd, in comparison wdth 
 what most people there pursue. Mr. Yoxtng has never 
 had an apportuhity . of seeing how slowly the fertility of 
 the originalsoil'is exhausted, with moderate management 
 of it. I can affirm, that the James river low-grounds, 
 
 with the cultivation ofsmall grain, will nevecbe exhausted ; 
 because we know, that, under that cultivation, we muse 
 now and then take them'dowTi with Indian com, or they 
 become, as they were originally, too rich to bring wheat. 
 The high-lands where 1 live, have been cultivated about 
 eOyears. The culture was tobacco and Indian corn, as. 
 long as they would bring enough to pay the labourthen 
 they were turned out. After four or five years rest, they 
 would bring good com again, and in double that time, 
 perhaps, good tobacco. Then they would be exhausted 
 by a second series of tobacco and com. Latterly we have 
 begun to cultivate smallgrain; and excluding Indian com, 
 and fallowing, such of them as were originally good, soon 
 rise up to fifteen or twenty bushels the acre. We allow 
 that every labourerwill manage ten acres of wheat, except 
 at harvest.—I have no doubt but the coupling cattle and 
 sheep with this, would prodigiously improve the produce.. 
 This improvement, Mr. Young will. be‘better able to 
 calculate than any body else. I am so well satisfied of it 
 myself, that having engaged a good farmer from the head 
 of Elk (the style offarming there you know well), I mea^ 
 
C &5 ) 
 
 in alarm of.abtot, 500 acres of clemeil Jand, and witiiA 
 dozea labourers; to try the plan of vyheat, rye, potatoes, 
 clover, v/ith a mixture of some Indian com. with the 
 potatoes, and to push the number of sheep. This last 
 hint,I have taken from Mr, Youao’s letters, which yoii 
 have been so kind as to communicate to me. I had ne¬ 
 ver before considered, with due attention, the proiit from 
 diat animal. I shall not be able to put the farm into tliat 
 form exactly the ensuing autumn, but against another I 
 hope I shall; and I shall attend with precision to the 
 me.asures of the ground, and to the product, which may, 
 perhaps, give you something hereafter to communicate to 
 Mr. Young, which may gratify him; but I will funiich 
 the ensuing winter, what was desired in Mr. Young’s 
 letter of January 17, 1793, 
 
 I have the honor to be, &c. 
 
 ThOS. jEFrERSOX. 
 
 To the President of the United States. 
 
 Observations on an extract of a letter, oAXEn 
 i7th JANUARY, 1793, from ARTHUR YOUNG, Esq. TO 
 the president of THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 1. “ YOUR information has thrown me afloat on the 
 high seas. To analyze your husbandry, has the dificu!i\j 
 of a problem. Is it possible, that the inhabitants of a 
 great Continent, &c. can carry on farming as a busines, 
 and yet never calculate profit by per centage on capital ?” 
 &c. 
 
 I know not where to land Mr. Young from his sea- 
 voyage, unless facts, well known and felt here, serving as 
 pilots to guide him into a safe harbour, will enable him to 
 arrive on a shore, pleasant in its prospects, and abundant 
 in its resources; not so much indebted to Art as to Na¬ 
 ture, for its beauties and conveniencies. Let him but rea¬ 
 lize his proposals of coming among us (I presume as a 
 visitant), and judge for himself. He will not be embar¬ 
 rassed with unavailing conjectures, or laborious calcula¬ 
 tions : he will find, that, added to our situation as anew 
 country, where much land is to be had for little money. 
 pur.poljtical grrangements contribute to our happiness, and 
 
( 96 ) 
 
 ‘ to bur moderate, 'but competent wealth. Wc 'haVe liO 
 princes, to indulge the' grades more immediately beneath 
 them, in their pleasures and their passions, that they may 
 themselves be supported at the expence of the nation, in' 
 their schemes of ambition and luxury—^no over-grown 
 nobles, to wanton on the hard earnings of an oppressed 
 yeomanry! He will find a respectable clergy, chosen br 
 their respective congregations, and reputably supported 
 by die voluntary contributions of their hearers. But 
 these are not ecclesiastical drones [-^fruges conmmere ndti! 
 they do, themselves, the duties required of them ! they act 
 not in the affairs of heaven by deputies, whose poverty is 
 truly apostolical; the penurious stipends allowed them 
 by their grasping superiors, compelling them to be con¬ 
 versant only in the fasts, while their principals revel in 
 die feasts, of the church. In a word, he will not see a 
 sable host of superfluous and pampered priests (maintain¬ 
 ed by numbers who do not hear, or believe in.their doc¬ 
 trines), who.fatten on the property of the people ; and, 
 while they fetter and terrify men’s consciences, to mould 
 them to their purposes^ eat out their substances, under 
 the sanction of law. These descriptions 'of characters, in 
 other countries, create and increase taxes; while they 
 render their subordinates less liable to pay them, by enor¬ 
 mous rents, made necessary by their dissipation and ex¬ 
 travagance, and by their capricious terms of leasinglands, 
 of which they are the principal engrossers, England has 
 perhaps, less reason to complain, on these accounts, than 
 some other European countries : but, if we had no other 
 statements to rely on than those given by-Mr. Young 
 himself, we should know enough to be convinced, that, 
 eventhere,some of these causes produce miisfortunes in 
 sufficient plenty. Not having the least inclination, if it 
 were in my power, to disturb the systems of other nations, 
 and wishing the happiness of mankind in their own way, 
 I do not mention either our possitive or negative prospe¬ 
 rity, with a view to draw odious or disagreeable compa¬ 
 risons. The world will never, agree about forms of go¬ 
 vernment. Let those who think well of grades in socie¬ 
 ty, be happy in the possession of such arrangements. We 
 tonsider it fortunate, and feel it beneficial, that we have 
 them not. ^ 
 
 it is said by some, stimulate to industry j and, 
 
( 9M . ■ 
 
 therefore, the higher the tax, the greater the exertion, and 
 the more employment. But, if this were a more tenable 
 doctrine than it is, I see not that man should labour not 
 forhimself—or for himself too hardly; nor should he be 
 compelled, by artificial necessity, like a criminal immerg- 
 ed to the chin in water constantly flowing in upon him, 
 incessantly to pump, or perish. Taxes we have, but the 
 greater part are imperceptible, and all of them light. The 
 moderate expences of our government, and the mediocri¬ 
 ty of our public debt, do not require heavy and ruinous 
 
 ■ taxation. Thebacksto bear it, increase faster than the 
 burthen ; and we are too .far removed from the scenes of 
 ruinous and unnecessary wars, to dread any sudden or fa¬ 
 tal increase of it. Wars are generally produced by the 
 pride, vanity, interest, or ambition of hereditary rulers. 
 
 The great body of an industrious people are inclined to 
 
 ■ peace; and from these, our government will always take 
 its tone. ■ ~As to our wars with the savages, they are, for 
 the time, embarrassmg, locally distressing, and, generally 
 expensive; but'are not natiohally formidable, or danger¬ 
 ous. Disputes with them must gradually diminish, and, 
 at no distant period, end. Though the reflection be pain¬ 
 ful to humanity, it is justified, in point of fact, by expe¬ 
 rience, that the nations-in contact with the whites, always 
 have been, and ever will be, exterminated. The ap- 
 
 ' proaches of our settlements, always banish the Indians. 
 
 Our laws are generally liberal in their policy. We 
 have no narrow arrangements, which, under false no¬ 
 tions of national convenience, or shadowy and miscalcu¬ 
 lated political restrictions, palsy agriculture and com¬ 
 merce, by preventing those who possess the products of 
 the country, from disposing of what their labour has creat¬ 
 ed, when, where and how they please. Free from such 
 restraints, and from the pressure of heavy rents, church- 
 dues, and taxes^ our farmers are the proprietors of the 
 soil they cultivate: they gather the honey, shear the 
 fleece, and guide the plough, for themselves alone. It is 
 not the “ sic vos non vobis'’ of Europe. They increase 
 the value of their capital, while they labour for their sus¬ 
 tenance. They do not, indeed, receive an annual inte¬ 
 rest, or revenue, on their capital; but theynone;' 
 yet, by their exertions for their own support and aecom- 
 
(. 98 !) 
 
 Kiodation, imd'tlie growing population and improTement- 
 of the country, to which'every one, stranger as well as 
 native, contriWes, more than an European per centage is 
 added to their principal; insomuch, that farms will in¬ 
 crease, in very many parts of the country, tenfold in their 
 value, in less than 20 years. Immense tracts of new 
 lands have been recently sold by the State of Pennsylva¬ 
 nia, at less than an English shilling per 'acre. Great and 
 extensive bodies of these lands can be now procured, afi 
 •econd hand, at less than half Mr. Y.’s calculation for 
 mountain-lands. I know valuable tracts, of great extent, 
 within a few days ride of Philadelphia, which may be had 
 at from 3 to 9s. sterling per acre. These are not “ moun- 
 tam-lands,” though, like all the face of our country, they 
 are cut in some places, by ridges. They are, for the 
 most part, level, and so luxuriant in pasturage, that, mau- 
 gre our winters, cattle now pass that season in prime or¬ 
 der, without cover, or artificial forage. They command 
 both the New^-York and Philadelphia markets, and are 
 aituated in a safe country, which will, ere long, be as great 
 for grazing as any in America. Other States have simi¬ 
 lar advantages. Mr. Y.’s farm, or even his 60 acres, and 
 the sheep he summered on it, will buy him a little territo¬ 
 ry; and his capital, in 10 years, will be increased 500 per 
 cent. This is not a bad per centage, nor is it a visionary 
 ctdculation. I wish not to throw out falacious tempta¬ 
 tions, but to relate facts, merely to shew why our farmers 
 need not make nice calcvilations about per centage. They 
 have now, and always have had, a sure resource for the 
 wear oftheir sea-board farms, &c. the growth of their fa¬ 
 milies. Children in Europe', are often a burden and ex¬ 
 pence. The wealth of a great part of the American farm¬ 
 ers, grows with the additions to their families. The chil¬ 
 dren assist in the labour of the old farm, or in the esta¬ 
 blishment of the new one. This supersedes the necessity 
 of calculating on hired labourei-s, the work being chiefly 
 done within themselves: they are paid by the increased 
 value of the common stack. Our laws contrary to the feodal 
 injustice of Europe, encourage and direct equality of 
 distribution among the children of intestate descendants ; 
 *0 that many parents purposely oiriit making wills, con- 
 tentend with the distribution made by law. And though 
 every than has the right, at his pleasure, to dispose of his 
 
( .99 ) . 
 
 eetate by will or deed, yet the habits of thinking en such 
 occasions, ■ take their bias, from the spirit of our laws. 
 Many, who have large families, and want , room, ;or are 
 tired of their old farms, think it bkter to sell, and reiiiovft . 
 to places where Nature is in her prime ; leaving to their- 
 successors, the toil, calculation, and expence of renovating 
 lands exhausted by bad tillage. The worn farms always 
 find purchasers; and the price paid for them, buys.a 
 sufficient quantity of new land, besides leaving a surpluf 
 in cash, for improvement. One day this must ■ have an, 
 en,d; but that day is far distant. When it arrives, th« 
 proprietors of old lands will adopt better systems of agri¬ 
 culture, which are now fast advancing. These will add 
 to the products of their lands, and procure them inor« 
 wealth, but possibly not more happiness, in. our more 
 ancient settlements. Our old lands are capable of renova¬ 
 tion, having a good staple, as has, been proved in num¬ 
 berless instances. 
 
 I condemn not calculation, which is 
 in every business—“ Ego sum pictor. 
 seized with the faculty of calculating, but not always 
 successful in the practical proof of it. I need not, how¬ 
 ever, be discouraged ; for I often read, with pleasure, 
 Mr. Y.’s writings: I admire his genius and respect even 
 his enthusiasm; in which he often strikes out fino 
 thoughts : but I venerate his candour, while he frequently 
 acknowledges, that success does not always crown his own 
 calculations, or inveriably durable conviction, his opinions. 
 We have here innumerable instances of farmers -who get, 
 forward, without ever spending a thought on per centage, 
 or other nice calculation. Andhowever probkmaticcE ’. 
 this may seem, it is an observation as old as the first ap¬ 
 pearance of the redoubtable Hudibras, that 
 
 “ No argument like matter of fact is.” > 
 
 I ask your forgiveness for the multifarious, and perhapa 
 tiresome, scope I have taken. The easy situation of aii 
 industrious, full-handed American farmer is the pleasing 
 result of a combination, produced by all the causes I have 
 mentioned. Instead of calculating, he labours and enjoya* 
 And thought Ido not profess to have a good opinion of 
 the style of American husbandry, yet even this shews the 
 
 prudent and proper 
 I am sometimes 
 
( 100 ) > 
 
 happy situation, iii other respects, of our countr}'. With 
 suchfarmingin Europe, the farmers would start'e, and 
 leave their children common labourers, or beggars. And 
 yet, here, they live well, and leave their descendants the 
 means of obtaining the comforts and conveniencies of 
 life*. This is the problem I have endeavoured to solve. 
 And I could not, but by this circuitous route arrive at 
 the answer to Mr. Y’s, question, “ Is it possible that the 
 inhabitants of a great Continent not new settlers, who, of 
 course, live to hunt, to eat, and to drink, can carry on farm., 
 ing as a business, and yet never calculate the profit they 
 make by per centage on their capital ?”—^The phraseology, 
 “ who, of course, live to hunt, to eat, and to drink f I do 
 not perfectly comprehend. Our hunters are only a few 
 borderers, and not to be counted upon as farmers ; nor 
 are our farmers, though they have not the best systems, 
 idle. I therefore think, that (without meaning a critique J 
 
 who eat and drink, to livef would have been a more just 
 arrangement of language. 
 
 2. “ The demand for cattle and sheep, products, hides, 
 tallow, barrellmg beef, sheep, wool, wolves, dogs, and law 
 respecting their killing sheep.” 
 
 The demand for cattle products is as great as we can 
 •upply; and the cattle business may be carried on to any 
 extent. This will be agrowing and extensive business, 
 and can be pushed as far, and to as great advantage, as in 
 any other countrj'. W.e have people acquainted with the 
 victualling branch, in all its details; and as this is a 
 country which invites those who “are wsary and heavy 
 laden,” ?zi7i“to ^vethem rest,” butproiitable employment, 
 we have some from Cork, andean have more from thence, 
 and any other part of the world. Our exported beef is in 
 good credit, particularly that from Boston. I have ate 
 me^s-beef put up in Philadelphia, after having been an 
 . East India voyage, in excellent condition.—With this 
 beef, a sample of Philadelphia brewed porter was produced. 
 This had been the same voyage, was perfectly good, and 
 not inferior to English porter. Our merchants prefer our 
 own, though they cfm purchase Irish beef. The 
 tallow will dways sell to profit, and is chiefly consumed 
 
 * There is much good sense in many of this gentlemen's 
 observations —A. Y. 
 
( 101 . ) 
 
 here. The hides do not supply our home demand, and. 
 therefore importations of Spanish and other hides are 
 frequent. A great proportion of our beef, and all our 
 mutton, are consumed at home ; as our people will live 
 well, and eat more meat than any equal number in the 
 world. If the sheep business was carried on to much 
 extent, there would be a necessity for exportation. The 
 establishment of considerable manufactures, which is 
 more practicable and beneficial in this country, than ma¬ 
 ny people (particularly those of Europe) suppose, will 
 t^e off part of the mutton of our flocks. There is little 
 or no export of wool to foreign parts; though it is 
 brought coastways, as it happens to be more abundant in 
 one State than in another. There is no prohibition against 
 the exportation of this, or any other product. But it is 
 consumed at home, where excellent coarse cloths are 
 made, in which a great proportion of our farmers are clad. 
 A variety of other woolen fabrics are also made. 
 
 I have no copy of what I mentioned respecting sheep 
 destroying pasture, I know they do not eat so much in 
 proportion*as other beasts, and their dung is remarkably 
 fertilizing; but they bite close, and the droughts and 
 heats of summer, which are here long and periodical, burn 
 up the roots. It is a generally received opinion here, that 
 they destroy pasture ; and I am warranted, by my own 
 experience, to give into it, with some qualifications. We 
 do not find that “ the more sheep we keep, the more we 
 may.” I believe, in the state of our agriculture, the con¬ 
 verse is the most true. In counties where it is an object, 
 and where there are better systems of farming, with drip¬ 
 ping seasons, it may be odierwise. I once thought, in 
 some degree, as Mr. Young does, but find that English 
 ideas will not in this, and many other agricultural cases, 
 apply here. In the present state of things, I adhere to 
 my former opinion—^that distributing sheep in small 
 numbers, to every farmer, will do better than any other 
 plan. I know that wzore, instead of less, care can be taken 
 of them in this way, for the farmer can, and does attend 
 to them, without interfering too much with his other af¬ 
 fairs. Invariably, the sheep of one of our small flocks 
 look the best, and have the most wool. With twenty 
 sheep to each farm capable of supporting them, we might 
 have a prodigious number. If Mr. Young were here, 
 
( 102 ) 
 
 and in the prime of life, and would practise his systems, 
 so as to improve the whole mass of agriculture, much 
 might be done. Our difficulty is to carry large flocks 
 through'Our long winters. As things are, I have a bet¬ 
 ter opinion of the catde business than that of sheep ; and 
 I think the former would succeed better than the latter, 
 with all the management that could be bestowed on it. 
 No one knows, however, what might be done, if the 
 whole capitals and attention of industrious, intelligent, 
 and experienced men were dratvn to this point. Our 
 snowy winters would embarrass, if not ruin the turnip 
 plants; and the droughts of summer their large flocks. 
 If chiccory be a serious auxiliary, it is well. It grows as 
 a weed in many parts of this country. 
 
 In the observations upon sheep, you were pleased to 
 derire of me on a former occasion, I exhausted my small 
 stock ot knowledge on that subject. If any thing in these 
 observations is applicable now, I beg to refer you to them.- 
 
 Wolves are a serious enemy to the sheep plan, in places 
 where there are the largest ranges. Time may, perhaps, 
 subdue them. But we have paid for forty or fifty years 
 past, out of our county-rates, 20s. for a wolf’s head; 
 and though they are chiefly banished from our plains and 
 older settlements, yet on our mountains they are plenty. 
 Where a large ridge rum through a country, in other parts 
 ever so well peopled, they find retreats, and breed prodi¬ 
 giously. Unless wecanhavethePt/reneannizV/eti/m, in 
 which wolves and sheep,itseems, live togetherinworsAtjd- 
 fulsociety, I know not a speedy remedy. I lay notlongago, 
 at the foot of the South Mountain, in York county, in 
 this State, in a country very thickly settled, at the house 
 ofa Justice of Peace. Through the night I was kept a- 
 wake by what I conceived to be a jubilee of dogs, assem¬ 
 bled to bay the moon. But I was told in the morning, 
 that what disturbed me, was only the common howling of 
 wolves, which nobody there regarded. When I entered 
 the Hall of Jicstke, I found the ’Squire giving judgment 
 for the reward on two wolf whelps a countryman had 
 taken from the bitch. The judgment-seat was shaken with 
 the intelligence, that the she-wolf was coming— not to 
 woe bail —but to devote herself or rescue her offspring. 
 The animal was punished for this daring contempt, com¬ 
 mitted in the face of the court, and was shot within an 
 
( 103 ) 
 
 hundred yards of the tribunal. The storge had prompt¬ 
 ed her to go a little too far. " - 
 
 Dogs are also formidable—tooT'mahy. being uselessly 
 .kept by the wealthy, and not a few by poor people, who 
 dp not feed them. The law is exactly the same as in 
 England. But it is difficult to prove that the owner had 
 the required scienter of his dog being accustomed to kill 
 theep. Tt is also difficult to discover the destroyer., He 
 often reigns like an Achilles, but not so opea in his feats 
 of destruction. We suffer, therefore, the devastations 
 committed by this nocturnal marauder, and see our 
 slaughtered sheep,. .. 
 
 “ Whose limbs unburied on the naked shore 
 
 “ Devouring dogs and hungry vultures tore.” 
 
 As to the /flw, our fanners are not fond of it, on such 
 occasions. They think the first loss sufficient, and rather 
 . subniit to the ravages of the “ devouring ddgsf than 
 risque their purses being “ torn” by those they dread, 
 as much as if they were “ hungry vultures.^' In short, 
 they prefer losing the value of their sheep, to being fleec¬ 
 ed, as they suppose, in a prosecution for damages. If 
 they discover the guilty dog, they proceed in a summary 
 way—they shoot him, or otherwise put an end to his ca¬ 
 reer. To multiply their chances of punishing the cul¬ 
 prit, they often bring to the/anterne, or gtullotine, a num¬ 
 ber of victims, as is sometimes done on more important 
 occasions.;, a practice, however, not very justifiable, even 
 in the case of dogs. It is doing justice as quickly, if not 
 . so reputabty, as was done in England by their old court of 
 Trail-baton, which, as my Lord Coke says, was as rapid 
 in its movements, “asone mightdraw, or traile, a staffe, or 
 stycke.” 
 
 We must establish such a court here, if the business of 
 sheep-feeding is largely extended; and perhaps send for 
 some Pyrenean wolves, to train our mountaineers to a 
 little more civility. If this fails, we inust turn our dogi 
 upon them, and, as artful politicians treat their fellow- 
 bipeds, keep ourselves safe, by stimulating one enemy to 
 root out another, and so ruin both in the contest. Se¬ 
 riously, if we had the means of keeping large flocks, so 
 as to employ shepherds, we might manage both wolves 
 wnddogs ; but, at present, it is hot an attainable object. 
 
( 104 ) 
 
 Philadelphia, September 1, IfOSj 
 
 Sir, 
 
 INSTEAD of commencing this letter with an appo'* 
 logy', for suffering your favour of the 1 Vth of last January 
 to remain so long unacknowledged, I will refer y^ou to the 
 bearer, who is perfectly acquainted with my situation, 
 for the reason why it has done so. 
 
 The bearer, Sjr, is Mr. Lear, a gentleman who has 
 been a member of my family seven years, and, until the 
 present moment, my Secretary; consequently cannot, as 
 I have obsen'ed before, be unknowing to the nature, and 
 pressure of the' business in which I am continually in¬ 
 volved. 
 
 As a proof, however, that I have not been altogether 
 inattentive to your commands, I inclose the result of 
 Mr. Peters’s answer to some inquiries of yours ; and 
 the copy also of a letter from Mr. Jefi'erson, to whom 
 I had propounded for solution, other queries contained 
 in your letter of the above date. 
 
 The documents 1 send, have the signature of these 
 gentlemen annexed to them, but for your satisfaction 
 onl}^ 
 
 Mr. Peters is, as y'ou will perceive by a vein in his 
 letter, a man of humour. He is a theorist, and admit¬ 
 ted one of the best practical farmers in this pai t of the 
 State of Pennsylvania. 
 
 But as it is not so much what the soil of this country 
 actually produces, as what it is capable of producing by 
 .skilful management, that I conceive to be the object of 
 your inquiry; and to know whether this produce would 
 meet a ready market, and good prices; what the nature 
 of the climate in general, is; the temperature thereof, in 
 the different States; the quality, and prices of the land*, 
 Avith the improvements thereon, in various parts of the 
 Union; the prospects which are unfolding m each, &c. 
 &c. I can do no better than refer you to the oral infor¬ 
 mation of the bearer, who is a person of intelligence, and 
 pretty well acquainted with the States, from New Hamp¬ 
 shire, (inclusive) to Virginia ; and one in whom you 
 may, as I do, place entire confidence in all he shall relate 
 ofhi* own knowledge; and believe what is given from 
 information, as it will be handed with caution. 
 
( 105 ) 
 
 Ml’. Lkah, has been making arrangements for forming 
 an extensive commercial establishment at the Federal 
 City, on the river Potowmac ; and now goes to Europe, 
 for the purpose of taking measures, there, to carry his 
 plan into effect. I persuade myself, that any informa¬ 
 tion you can give him respecting the manufactures of 
 Great Britain, will be gratefully received : and, as I have 
 a particular friendship for him, I shall consider any civili¬ 
 ties shewn him by you, as a mark of your politeness to, 
 Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient, 
 
 and very humble sen'ant, 
 
 G, Washington. 
 
 Arthur Toung, Esq. 
 
 Philadelphia, December 12, 1793. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I WROTE to you three months ago, or more, by my 
 late secretary and friend, Mr. Lear ; but as his depar¬ 
 ture from this country for Great Britain, was delayed 
 longer than he or I expected, it is at least probable that • 
 that letter will not have reached your hands at a much 
 earlier period than the one I am now writing. 
 
 At the tim.e it was written, the thoughts which I am 
 now about to disclose to you, tvere not even in-embryo; 
 and whether, in the opinion of others, there be impro¬ 
 priety, or not, in communicating the object which has 
 givem birth to them, is not for me to decide. My oira 
 mind reproaches ms with none ; but if yours should view 
 the subject differently, burn this letter, and the draught 
 which ,accompanies'!#, and the whole matter will be con¬ 
 signed to oblivion. 
 
 All my landed property, east of the Apalachian moun¬ 
 tains, is under rent, except the estate called Mount Ver¬ 
 non. This, hitherto, I ha-ve kept in my own hands: but 
 from mv present situation, from my advanced time of 
 life, from a wish to live free from c.are, and as much at 
 
 ^ A Map of the General's Farm ,, 
 
( 106 ) 
 
 my ease as possible, diiring the remainder of it, and front' 
 other causes, which are not necessary to detail, I have^ 
 latterly, entertained serious thoughts of letting this es¬ 
 tate also, reserving the mansion-house farm for my own 
 residence, occupation, and amusement in agriculture ; 
 provided I can obtain what, in my own judgment, and in 
 the opinion of others whom I have consulted, the low 
 rent which 1 shall mention hereafter ; and provided also 
 1 can setde it with good farmers. 
 
 The quantity of ploughable land (including meadow,) 
 the relative situation of the farms to oUe another, and the 
 division of these farms into separate inclosures, with the 
 quantity and situation of the woodland appertaining to the 
 tract, will be better delineated by the sketch herewith 
 sent (which is made from actual surv'eys, subject, never¬ 
 theless, to revision and correction), than by a volume of 
 words. 
 
 No estate in United America, is more pleasantly situ¬ 
 ated than this. It lies in a high, dry and healthy country, 
 300 miles by water from the sea, and, as you will see by 
 the plan, On one of the finest rivers in the world. Its 
 margin is washed by more than ten miles of tide-water; 
 from the bed of which and the innumerable coves, inlets, 
 and small marshes, with which it abounds, an inexausti- 
 ble fund of rich mud may be drawn, as a manure, either to 
 be used separately, or in a compost, accoi'ding to the judg¬ 
 ment of the farmer. It is situated in a latitude between 
 the extremes of heat and cold, and is the same dis¬ 
 tance by land and water, with good roads, and the best 
 navigation (to and) from the Federal City, Alexandria, 
 andGeorge-Town ; distant from the first, twelve, from 
 the second, nine, and from the last, sixteen miles. The 
 Federal City^, in the year 1800, will become the seat of 
 the general government of the United States. It is in¬ 
 creasing fast in buildings, and rising into consequence ; 
 and will I have no doubt, from the advantages given to 
 it by Nature, and its proximity to a rich interior country, 
 and the western territory, become the emporium of the 
 United States. 
 
 The soil ofthe tract of which I am speaking, is a good 
 
 * The General favoured me also with a large and beav- 
 tifiil Plan of this intended City. 
 
( ioT > 
 
 loam, more inclined, howeverj to clay than sand. From 
 use, and I might add, abuse, it is become more and more 
 consolidated, and of course heavier to work. The great¬ 
 er part is a gre 3 'ish clay; some part is a dark mould; a 
 very little is inclined to sand; and scarcely any to stone. 
 
 A husbandman’s wish would not lay the farms more level 
 than they are; and yet some of the fields (but in no great 
 degree) are washed into gullies, from which all of them 
 have not as yet been recovered. 
 
 This river, which encompasses the land the distance 
 above-mentioned, is well supplied with various kinds of 
 fish, at all seasons of the yearand, in- the spring, with 
 the greatest profusion of shad, herrings, bass, carp, perch, 
 sturgeon, &c. Several valuable fisheries appertain to the 
 estate ; the whole shore, in short, is one entire fishery. 
 
 There are, as you will perceive by the plan, four farms 
 besides, that at the mension-house; these four contain 
 3260 acres of cultivable land, to which some hundreds 
 more, adjoining, as may be seen, might be added,’if a 
 greater quantity should-be required; but as they were 
 never designed for, so neither can it be smd they are cal¬ 
 culated to suit, tenants of either the first, or of the lower 
 class ; because, those who have the strength and resources 
 proportioned to farms of from 500 to 1200 acres (which 
 these contain), would hardly be contented to live in such 
 houses as are thereon : and if they were to be divided 
 and sub-divided, so as to accommodate tenants of small 
 means, say from 50 to one or 200 acres there would be 
 none, except on the lots which mighthappen to include the 
 present dwelling-houses of my overlookers (called bailiffs 
 with you), bams, and negro-cabins: nor would I choose 
 to have the wood-land (diready too much pillaged of its 
 timber) ransacked, for the' purpose of building man}*^ 
 more. The soil, however, is excellent for bricks, or for 
 mud-waUs;- and to the buildings of such houses there 
 would be no limitation, nor to that of thatch for the cover 
 of them. 
 
 The towns already mentioned (to those who might 
 .incline to encoimter the expence), are able to furnish 
 scantling, plank, and shingles, to any amount, and on rea¬ 
 sonable terms; and they afford a ready market also for 
 the produce of the land. 
 
(' 108 ) 
 
 On what is called Union Fann (containing 928 acres of 
 arable and meadow), there is a newly erected brick barn, 
 equal, perhaps, to any in America, and for conveniencies 
 of all sorts, particularly for sheltering and feeding horses, 
 cattle, &c. scarcely to be exceeded any where. A new 
 house is nowbuidingin a central position, not far from 
 the barn, forthe overlooker : which will have two rooms, 
 16 by 18 feet, below, and one or two above, nearly of the 
 same size. , Convenient thereto, is sufficient accommoda¬ 
 tion for fifty odd negroes, old and young; but these 
 buildings might not be thought good enough for the work¬ 
 men, or day-labourers, of your country. 
 
 Besides these, a little without the limits of the farm 
 (as marked in the plan), are one or two other houses, 
 very pleasantly situated, and which, in case this farm 
 should be divided into two (as it formerly was), would 
 answer well for the eastern division.—The buildings thus 
 enumerated, are all that stand on the premises. 
 
 DogueRun Farm (650 acres) has a small, but new- 
 building for the overlooker ; one room only below, and 
 the same above, 16 by 20 each ; decent and'comfortable 
 for its size. It has also covering for forty odd negroes, 
 similarto whatis mentioned on Union Farm. It has a 
 new circular barn, now finishing, on a new construction; 
 well calculated, it is conceived, for getting grain out of 
 the straw more expeditiously than in the usual mode of 
 threshing. There are good sheds also erecting, sufficient 
 to cover 30 work-horses and oxen. 
 
 Muddy-hole Farm (476 acres) has a liouse for the 
 overlooker, in size and appearance nearly like that at 
 Dogue Run, but older : the same kind of covering for 
 about 30 negroes, and a tolerable good barn, with stables 
 for the work-horses. 
 
 River Farm, which is the largest of the four, and 
 seperated from the others by Little Hunting Creek, con¬ 
 tains 1207 acres of ploughalsle land, has an overlooker’s 
 house of one large, and two small rooms below, and one 
 or hvo above ; sufficient covering for SO or 60 negroes, 
 like those before mentioned ; a large barn, and stables, 
 gone much to decay, but will be re-placed next year, with 
 new ones. 
 
 I have deemed it necessary to give this detail of the 
 buildings, that a precise idea might be had of the con- 
 
( 109 ) 
 
 iilencies and inconveniencies of them ; and I believe the 
 recital is just ill all its parts. The inclosures are precisely 
 and accurately delineated in the plan ; and the fences now 
 are, or soon will be, in respectable order. 
 
 I would let these four farms to four substantial farmers, 
 of wealth and strength sufficient to cultivate them, and 
 who would ensure to me the regular payment of the 
 rents; and I would give them leases for seven or ten 
 yeai-s, at the rate of a Spanish milled dollar, or other 
 money current at the time, in this country, equivalent 
 thereto, for every acre of ploughable and mowable 
 ground, within the inclosures of the respective farms, as, 
 marked in the plan; and would allow the tenants, during 
 that period, to take fuel; and use timber from the wood¬ 
 land, to repair the buildings, and to keep the fences in 
 order until live fences could be substituted in ])lace of dead 
 ones ; but, in this case, no sub-tenants wmuld be allow¬ 
 ed. 
 
 Or if these farms are adjudged too large, and the rents, 
 of course, too heavy for such farmers as might incline to 
 emigrate, I should have no insuperable objection against 
 dividing each into as many small ones, as a society of 
 them, formed for the purpose, could agree upon, among 
 themselves ; even if it should be by the fields, as they are 
 now arranged (which the plan would enable them to do), 
 provided such buildings as they woidd be content with, 
 should be erected at their ow'n expence, in the manner 
 already mentioned.—In wdiich case, as in the former, 
 fuel, and timber for repairs, would be allow'ed ; but, as an 
 inducement to parcel out my grounds into such small te¬ 
 nements, and to compensate me, at the same time, for 
 the greater consumption of fuel and timber, .and for the 
 trouble and expence of collecting small rents, I should ex¬ 
 pect a quarter of a dollar per acre, in addition to what I 
 have already mentioned. But in order to make these 
 small farms more valuable to the occupants, and by way 
 of reimbursing them for the expence of their establish¬ 
 ment thereon, I would grant them leases for 15 or 18 
 years; although I have weighty objections to themea-' 
 sure, founded on my own experience, of the disadvan¬ 
 tage it is to the lessor, in a country w'here lands are ris¬ 
 ing every year in value. As an instance in proof, about 
 20 years ago, J. gave leases for three lives, in land I held 
 
(110 ) 
 
 above the Blue Mountains, near the Shenandoah river, 
 seventy miles Irom Alexandria, or any shipping port, at a 
 rent of one shilling per acre (no part being then cleared); 
 and now land of similar quality, in the vicinity, with very 
 trifling improvements thereon, is renting, currenth’^, at 
 five, and more shillings per acre, and even as high as 
 eight. 
 
 My motives for letting this estate having been avow¬ 
 ed, I will add, that the whole (except the mansion-house 
 farm), or none, will be parted with, and that upon unequi¬ 
 vocal terms; because my object is, to fix my income 
 (be it what it may) upon a solid basis, in the hands of 
 good farmers ; because I am not inclined to make a med¬ 
 ley of it; and, above all, because I could net relinquish 
 my present course, without a moral certainty of the sub¬ 
 stitute which is contemplated: for to break up these 
 farms ; remove my negroes ; and to dispose of the pro¬ 
 perty on them, upon terms short of this, would be ruin¬ 
 ous. 
 
 Having said thus much, I am disposed to add further, 
 that it would be in my power, and certainly it would be my 
 inclination (upon the principle above), to accommodate the 
 wealthy, or the weak-handed farmer (and upon reasonable 
 terms) with draught horses, and working mules and oxen ; 
 with cattle, sheep, and hogs ; and with such implements of 
 husbandry, if they should not incline to bring them them¬ 
 selves, as are in use on the farms. On the four farms 
 there are 54 draught-horses, 12 working mules, and a 
 sufliciency of oxen, broke to the yoke; the precise num¬ 
 ber I am unable this moment to ascertain, as they are 
 comprehended in the aggregate of the black cattle ; of the 
 latter, there are 317; of sheep, 634 ; of hogs, many ; but 
 as these run pretty much at large in the wood-land (which 
 is all under fence), the number is uncertain. Many of 
 the negroes, male and female, might be hired by the year, 
 as labourers, if this should be preferred .to the importa¬ 
 tion of that class of people ; but it deserves consideration, 
 how far the mixing of whites and blacks together is ad¬ 
 visable ; especially where the former are entirely unac¬ 
 quainted with the latter. 
 
 If there be those who are disposed to take these farms 
 in their undivided state, on the terms which have bee* 
 
( 111 ) 
 
 mentioned, it is an object of sufficient magnitude for them, 
 or one of them in behalf of the rest, to come over and in¬ 
 vestigate the premises thoroughly, that there ma)rbenoth- 
 ing to reproach themselves, or me, with, if (though unin¬ 
 tentionally) there should be defects in any part of the infor¬ 
 mation herein given; or, if a society of farmers are disposed 
 to adventure, it is still more incumbent on them to send over 
 an agent,forthe purpose above-mentioned; forwithme the 
 measure must be so fixed, as to preclude any cavil or dis¬ 
 cussion thereafter. And it may not be mal apropos to ob¬ 
 serve in this place, that our overlookers are generally en¬ 
 gaged, and all the arrangements for the ensuing crops are 
 made, before the first of September in every year : it will 
 readily be perceived, then, that if this period is suffered 
 to pass away, it is not to be regained until the next year. 
 Possession might be given to the new-comers at the sea¬ 
 son just mentioned, to enable them to put in their grain 
 for the next crop; but the final relinquishment could not 
 take place until the crops are gathered ; which of Indian 
 com (maize), seldom happens til! towards Christmas, as 
 it must endure hard frosts before it can be safely housed. 
 
 I have endeavoured, as far as my recollection of facts 
 would enable me, or the documents in my possession al¬ 
 low, to give such information of the actual state of the 
 farms, as to enable persons at a distance to form as dis¬ 
 tinct ideas as the nature of the thing is susceptible, short 
 of one’s own view; and having communicated the mo¬ 
 tives which have inclined me to a change in my-system, 
 I will announce to you the origin of them. 
 
 First, Few ships, of late, have arrived from any part of 
 Great Britain, or Ireland, without a number of emigrants; 
 and some of them, by report, very respectable and full- 
 handed farmers. A number of others, they say, are desir¬ 
 ous of following, but are unable to obtain passages; but 
 their coming in that manner, even if I was apprized of 
 their arrival in time, would not answer my views, for 
 the reason already assigned; and which, as it is the 
 ultimatum at present, I will take the liberty of repeating, 
 namely, that I must carry my plan into complete execution, 
 or not attempt it; and under such auspices, too, as to 
 leave no doubt of the exact fulfilment: and, 
 
 2dly, Because from the number of letters which I have 
 received myself (and, as it would seem, from respectable 
 
( 112 ) 
 
 people), inquiring into matters of this sort, withintima- 
 .tions of their wishes, and even intentions, of migrating to 
 this country, I can have no doubt of succeeding. But I 
 have made no reply to these inquiries; or, if any, in very 
 general terms; because I did not want to engage in corre¬ 
 spondences of this sort with persons of whom I had no 
 knowledge, nor indeed leisure for them, if I had been so 
 disposed. 
 
 I shall now conclude as I began, with a desire, that if 
 you see any impropriety in making these sentiments 
 known to that class of people who might wish to avail 
 themselves of the occasion, that it may not be mentioned. 
 By a law, or by some regulation of your government 
 artisans, I am well aware are laid under restraints ; and, 
 for this reason, I have studiously avoided any overtiu-es to 
 mechanics, although my occasions called for them. But 
 never having heard that difficulties were’ thrown in the 
 way of husbandmen by the governmentj is one reason for 
 my bringing this matter to your view. A second is, that 
 havingyourself expressed sentiments which shewed that 
 you had cast an eye towards this country, and was not in¬ 
 attentive to the welfare of it, I was led to make my inten¬ 
 tions known to yoii, that if you, or your frinds, were dis¬ 
 posed to avail yourselves of the knowledge, you might 
 take prompt measures for the execution.—And, 3dly, I 
 was sure, if you had lost sight of the object yourself, I 
 could, nevertheless, rely upon such information as you 
 might see fit to give me, and upon such characters, too, 
 as you might be disposed to recommend. 
 
 Lengthy as this epistle is, I wdll crave votir patience 
 while I add, that, it istvritten in too much .haste, and under 
 too great a pressure of public business, at the commence¬ 
 ment of an important Session of Congress, to be correct, 
 or pro perly digested. But the season ohhe year, and 
 the apprehension of ice, are hurrying away the last vessel 
 bound from this port to London. I am driven therefore 
 to the alternative of making the matter known in this 
 hasty manner, and giving a rude sketch of the farms, 
 which is the subject of it; or to encounter delay—the 
 first I preferred. It can hardly be necessary to add, that 
 I havs no desire that any formal promulgation of these 
 sentiments should be made. 
 
( 113 ) 
 
 Ti) accomi>l'sh my wishes, in the manner herein ex¬ 
 pressed, would l)e agreeable to me; and in a way that 
 cannot be eseepliouable, would be more so. 
 
 Will) much esteem and regard, 
 
 1 am, Sir, your most obedient serv'ant, 
 
 G. Wabhingtos. 
 
 Arthur Toun^, Esq-. 
 
 FARMS, AND THEIR CONTENTS. 
 
 UNION FARM. 
 
 Field, No. I. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VI. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Meadow, 
 
 Clover lots, 
 
 120 acres. 
 129 
 
 928 
 
 DOGUE RUN FARM, 
 
 Field, No. I. 
 
 70 acres. 
 
 II. 
 
 III. 
 
 IV. 
 
 V. 
 
 VII. 
 
 Meadow, 
 
 80 
 
 38 
 
 18 
 
 10 
 
 36 
 
 -- 114 «. 
 
 . 18 
 
 
 filoverloti, 
 
 649 
 
(114) 
 
 , . MUDDX-HOLE lARM. 
 jiejiiy.No. f. , . . - 
 
 II. - . - . 
 
 , m. . . . . 
 
 IV. i; , „ 
 
 . . V. ■ - ... . 
 
 VI. - . . 
 
 VII. . - . . 
 
 Clover loti, «• - •. 
 
 68 
 
 52 
 
 54 
 
 65 
 
 80 
 
 74.' 
 
 20 
 
 ■ RIVER JARm. . 
 
 field, No. I. . . 120 acres. 
 
 il. ..... 120 
 
 III. . . . . 125 
 
 IV. ■ . - . - .132 
 
 V. - . ' . • . ' V • 132 
 
 ■ VI. ■ . ■ . • 130 
 
 Vll.- - . * . 120 
 
 Pasture, . . . ■ . . 212 
 
 Orchards^ &t. - ■ . . . 84 
 
 Clover lots, 32 
 
 - 1207 
 
 tJnienfanti, - ■.928 
 
 Dogue rdh farm,' -' - • - - 649 
 
 ' Total of the four farms, . 3260 
 
 Philadelphia^ October 20, 1792. 
 
 Sir, .. - 
 
 I HAVfe received^ your letter of the l8th of May, 
 •nclosing the pamphlet and papers which you had the 
 goodness to send me. While I beg your acceptance of 
 my acknowledgptent, for the polite mark of attention in 
 transmitting these, things to me, I flatter myself you will 
 be assured, that I consider the subject therein recom* 
 
 , mended as highly important to society, whose best inter* 
 
 ' ests I hope will be promoted by a proper investigation of 
 Aessj and the happiuess of wankind advanced thereby. 
 
( US > 
 
 I have to regret, that the duties of my public station do 
 not allow me to pay that attention to Agriculture and the 
 objects attached to it (which have ever been my favorite 
 pursuit) that I could wish; but I will put your queries 
 respecting sheep into the hands of such gentlemen as I. 
 think most likely to attend to them, and answer them sa. 
 tisfactorily. 1 must, however, observe, that no important 
 information on the subject can be expected from this 
 country, where we haye been so little in the habit of at¬ 
 tending either to the breed or improvement of our stock. 
 
 With great respect and esteem, 
 
 I have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant. 
 
 G. Washington, 
 
 Sir John Sinclair. 
 
 Philadelphia^ Jidy 20, 1794 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I AM. indebted’ to you for your several favors of the 
 15th of June, 15th of August, and 11th of September of 
 the last—and for that of die 6th of February, in the pre¬ 
 sent year j for which, and the pamphlet accompanying 
 them, my thanks are particularly due. To say this, and 
 to have suffered them to remain so long unacknowledged, 
 needs explanation. The truth is, they came to hand— 
 the first of them about the opening, and the second set, 
 towards the close of a long and interesting Session of 
 Congress, during which my time was very much occupi¬ 
 ed, and at the end thereof, I had a pressing call to my 
 estate in Virginia, from whence I have not been returned 
 more than ten or twelve days. 
 
 I have read with peculiar pleasure and approbation, the 
 work you patronise; so niuch to your own honor and the 
 utility of the public. Such a general view of the Agri¬ 
 culture'in the several counties of Great Britain, is ex¬ 
 tremely interesting; and cannot fail of being very bener 
 ficial to the Agricultural concern of your country and 
 to those of every other wherein they are read, and must 
 entitle you to their warmest thanks for having set suck 
 a plan on foot, and for prosecuting it with the zeal and' in¬ 
 telligence you do. 
 
 J am so much pleased with the plan and execution my- 
 
.( ) 
 
 ?s tp. pray you to have the goojdne'ss to direct your 
 bookselier to continue to forward them to pie, acconipa- 
 njed with tjie cost which shdl be paid to his order; or 
 remitted so sopti. as the amount is made known to me. 
 When the wMe are received, I will promote, as far as 
 ip ine lays, the reprinting of them here. 
 
 I know of no pursuit in which more real and importmt 
 services can be rendered to any country, thmi by improv- 
 ing its Agriculture—its breed of useful anipials—and 
 other branches of a husband-man’s cares;—^nor can I 
 conceive any plan more conducive to this end, than 
 the ope you have introduced for brmging to view the 
 actual state of them, in all parts of the kingdom; by which 
 good and bad habits are exhibited in a manner too plain 
 to he misconceived; for the accounts given to the Brit¬ 
 ish board of Agriculture, appear in general, to be drawn 
 up in a masterly manner, so as fully to answer the expec¬ 
 tations formed in the excellent plan which produced 
 them ; affording at the same time a fund of information 
 useful in political econoniy—serviceable in all countries. 
 
 Commons, Tithes, Tenantry (pf which we feel nothing 
 in this country) are in the list of impedinients I perceive, 
 to perfection in English farmmg; and taxes are heavy 
 Reductions from the profit thereof. Of these yvh have 
 none, or so light as hardly to be felt. Your system of 
 AgRculture, it must he confessed, is in a stile superior, 
 and of course much more expensive than ours, but when 
 the balance at the end of the year is struck, by deducting 
 the taxes, poor rates, and incidental charges of every 
 kind, from the produce of the land, in the two countries, 
 no doubt can remtun ip which scale it is to be found. 
 
 It will be sometime I fear, before an agricultural Spcier 
 ty tvith Congressional aids will be established in this 
 epupRy; we must walk as other countries have done be¬ 
 fore we can run, Smaller Societies niust prepare the way 
 for greater, but with the lights before us, I hope we shall 
 not be so slow in maturation as older.nations have been. 
 An attempt, as ypu will perceive by the enclosed outlines 
 of a plan, is making to establish a State Society in Pennr 
 sylvaniafbr Agricultural improvements. If it succeeds, 
 it will be a step in the ladder, at present it is too much in 
 embryo to decide on the result. 
 
 Our domestic animals, as weU as our Agriculture, are 
 
( m ) 
 
 inferior to yours in point of size; but this does, not pro¬ 
 ceed from any defect in the stamina of them, but to de-i 
 ficient care in providing for their support ; experience 
 having abundantly evinced that, where our pastures are 
 as Weil improved as the coil and climate will admit; 
 where a competent store of wholesome provender is laid 
 up, and proper care used in serving it, that our horses, 
 black cattle sheep, &c. are not inferior to the best of their 
 respective kinds which have been imported from Eng¬ 
 land. Nor is the wool of our sheep inferior to that of 
 the common sort with you: —as a proof, after the peace 
 of Paris in 1783, and my return to the occupation of a 
 farmer, I paid particular attention to my breed of sheep 
 (of which I usually kept about seven or eight hundred.) 
 By this attention, at the shearing of 1789, the fleeces 
 yielded me the average quantity of 5 l-4lbs of wool; a 
 fleece of which promiscuously taken, I sent to Mr. An-. 
 THUR Young, who put it, for examination, into the hands 
 of Manufacturers. These pronounced it to be equal in 
 quality to the Kentish , wool. In this same year, i. e, 
 1789,1 was again called from home, and have not had it 
 in my power since to pay any attention to my farm; the 
 consequence of which is, that my sheep, at the last shear¬ 
 ing, yielded me not more, than 21-2 lbs. This is not a 
 single instance of the difference between care and neglect. 
 Nor is the difference between good and bad management 
 confined to that species of stock; for we find that good 
 pastores and proper, attention, can, and does, fill our mark- 
 ets with beef of seven, eigh and more hundred weight, 
 the four quarters ; whereas from 450 to 500 (especially 
 in the States south of this, where less attention hitherto 
 has been paid to grass,) may be found about the average 
 weight. In this market, some bullocks were killed in the 
 months of March and April last, the weights of which, as 
 taken from the accounts which were published at the 
 time, you will find in a paper enclosed. These were paiur 
 pered steers, but from 800 to a thousand, the four quar¬ 
 ters, is no uncommon weight. 
 
 Your general history of sheep, with observations there¬ 
 on, and the proper mode of managing them, will be an in¬ 
 teresting work when compleated; and with the informa¬ 
 tion, and accuracy, I am persuaded it will be executed, 
 under your auspicies, must be extremely desirable. The 
 
r 11* ) 
 
 elimate of this countiy, particularly that of the middle 
 States, is congenial to this species of animal, but want 
 of attention: to them in most farmers, added to the ob¬ 
 stacles which prevent the importation of a better kind, 
 by men who would be at the expence, contributes not a 
 little to the present inferiority we experience. 
 
 Mr. Edwards would have it as much in his. power as 
 most of our fai^niers,. to solve the queries you propound¬ 
 ed to him: in addition to which, a gentleman of my ac- 
 quaintance (who is also among the best farmers of this 
 country,) ta whom I gave the perusal of your proposi¬ 
 tions, has favoured me with some ideas on the subject, 
 as you wiy find on. a paper, herewith enclosed. 
 
 The sample you were so obliging as to put into the. 
 hands of Mr. Lear, for me, of a Scotch fabrick, is ex¬ 
 tremely elegant, and I pray you to accept my thanks for 
 it, as I entreat you also to do for the civilities shewn to 
 that gentleman, who has a grateful sense ofthem. 
 
 Both TVIr. Adams, and Mr., Jefferson, had the pe¬ 
 rusal of the papers which accompanied your note of the 
 11th of September. 
 
 With great respect and esteem, 
 
 I have the honor to be, Sir, 
 
 your obedient servant. 
 
 G. Washington., 
 
 Philadelphia, 10th July, 
 
 Sir, 
 
 I COULD not omit so favourable an opportunity, aS 
 the departure of Mr. Strickland affords me, of pre¬ 
 senting my best respects to you; and my sincere thanks 
 for the views of Agriculture in the different counties of 
 Great Britain, which you have had the goodness to send 
 me; and for the diploma, (received by the hands of Mr. 
 Jay) admitting me a foreign honorary member of the 
 Board of Agriculture. 
 
 For this testimony of the attention of that body, and 
 for the honor it has conferred on me, I have a high 
 sense; in communicating of which to the board, I shall 
 rely more upon your goodness than on any expression of 
 mine to render it acceptable. 
 
i 119 ) 
 
 From the first intimation you were pleased to give ma 
 of this Institution, I conceived the most favourable ideas 
 of its utility; and the more I have seen, and reflected on 
 the plan since, the more convinced I am of its impor¬ 
 tance, in a national point of view, not only to your own 
 country, but to all others which are not too much at¬ 
 tached to old and bad habits to forsake them, and to new 
 .countries that are just beginning to form systems for the 
 improvements of their husbandry. 
 
 Mr. Strickland has not been'idle since he came to 
 this country. To him therefore, for a description of' 
 the climate—the soil—^the agriculture, and the improve¬ 
 ments generally; the modes of carrying them, on—the 
 produce of the land— the draught cattle—domestic ani¬ 
 mals—and the farming implements which are used by 
 our people in the Eastern and middle States, through 
 which Ee has passed, I shall refer you. Nothing, I be¬ 
 lieve, has escaped his observation that meritted notice. 
 
 You ivill add to the obligations already confered on 
 me, by directing your Bookseller to supply me regularly 
 with all such proceedings of the Board, as are intended 
 for the public; and when they are in a fit state for it, 
 that they may be neatly bound. To this request, I pray 
 he may be desired to add the cost, which shall be paid 
 at sight, to his order here, or remitted to him as may be 
 most convenient and ag'eeable to himself. 
 
 N'ote ,—The remainder of this letter, was merely a con¬ 
 clusion in the usual terms, and is wanting, having been 
 cut off and given to a gentleman, who requested it, as a 
 particular favour, “ there being nothing, he declared, 
 “ he wished for more, than to have in his possession a 
 “ specimen of the handwriting, and above all the signa- 
 “ ture, of the illustrious Washington.” 
 
 . London, 10th Feb. laoo. 
 
 John Sinclair. 
 
 PHiladelpIiia, ZOth February., i79i 
 
 Sir, 
 
 WHEN I last had the honor of ivriting to you, I had 
 hopes, though I ixujist confess they were not of the most 
 
(120 ) 
 
 san^ine soft, that I should have been enabled ere this, 
 to have given you a inore satisfactory account of the busi¬ 
 ness you had jaeeh plgased to commit to me than will be 
 conveyed in this letter. 
 
 Doubts having arisenj from peculiar calls bh the Trea¬ 
 sury of this country for money (occasioned by the 
 expences of our wars with the Indians, the redemption 
 of bur captives at Algiers, obtaining peacfe with that 
 regency and Moroccoj together, with other demands iii 
 addition to the ordinary ■ expenditures of ^veniment), 
 that funds- with difficulty would be provided to answer 
 them, without iniposihg additional taxes; a measure 
 wished to be avoided. I vvas constrained (aftbr consult¬ 
 ing-one or two influencial members of the legislature)j 
 from introducing your plan for a contribution; and, un¬ 
 der these circumstances, I avoided communicating thd 
 “ Extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the 
 “ Board of Agriculture, respecting Mr. Eliungton’s 
 “ mode of draining,” &Ci except to one gentleman only, 
 in whom I had' entire confidence j and who Tknew was 
 always disposed to promote measures'of utility. These 
 being the grounds of ihy proceeding, I shall hope, al¬ 
 though your expectations may be disappointed, you will 
 receive the information as an evidence of ray candour. 
 
 Agreeably to your desire, I have put the Outlines 
 « of the ikh chapter of the proposed general report 
 “ from the Board of Agriculture, on the subject of ma¬ 
 nures,” into the hands of one of the ihbst' judicious far¬ 
 mers within my reach, and when his observations there¬ 
 on are received, they shall be transmitted to you. I 
 wish my own engagements would allow me time to at- 
 attend, more than I do, to these agreeable and useful 
 pursuits ; but having been absent from what I consider 
 my proper home (except on-short occasional visits) for 
 ihore than seven years; and having entered into my 65th 
 year, a period which requires tranquillity and ease. I 
 have come to a determination to lease the farms of my 
 Mount Vernon estate, except the mansion-house farm, 
 and a grazing one 3 miles bffj which I shall retain in my 
 otvn occupation for amusement, whilst life and health is 
 dispensed to me. And as many farmers fromyom' coun- 
 emi^ated to this, and many more, according to 
 tJieif accovmfs,' desifbuS of follbwihg, if they kriew b»- 
 
.(■ 121 ) 
 
 fofehand, where and on what terms they eould Sx them* 
 ’selves compactly in a healthy and populous countryi I 
 have taken the liberty to enclose you the copy of a noti¬ 
 fication which I have published in some of the Gazettes 
 ■of the United States ; that in case any farmers imswering 
 :the descriptions therein contained are about to trans¬ 
 plant themselves, to whom you might be inclined p give 
 the infonnation, that you may have it in your power to 
 do so. But let me entreat you, Sir, to believe, that I 
 have no wish to its promulgation farther than I have de¬ 
 clared, that I have no intention to' invite emigrants, even 
 df there are no restrictive acts against it“-and even if 
 there be, that I ant opposed to it. altogether. 
 
 As wheat is the staple produce of that part of the coun¬ 
 try in which this estate lies, I shall fix Ae rent therein, 
 at a bushel and a half for every acre of arable !md con¬ 
 tained within the lease; to be discharged, in case, of fail¬ 
 ure of that crop, at the price the article bears in the market. 
 
 • I have but little expectation that arrangements will be 
 made by the time limitted, for. giving possession of the 
 farms next year; nor should I wish tb do it with such 
 iinskilful farmers as ours, if there was a prospect of ob¬ 
 taining them from any other country, where husbandry 
 was better understood, and more advantageously prac¬ 
 tised. It is time however, to conclude ; for I feel asham¬ 
 ed at having employed so much of it, in matters interest¬ 
 ing to myself only ; and I shall do it with assurances as 
 sincerfe as they are warm, of bemg. Sir, 
 
 Your most obedient and obliged servant, 
 
 . G. WASHIKXGO^:. 
 
 Sir John Sinclair, Bart. 
 
 Pkiladtlpliia lUth June, 1 ?96. 
 Sir, ■ ' ' 
 
 A LONG and Interesting Session of Congress which 
 did not close until the first day of this month, andthe laws 
 .which required to be carried, into execution promptly; 
 will, I ain persuaded, be admitted as a reasonable excuse 
 for my not tvriting to you since the 20th of February last, 
 agreeably to assurances then given. But what appology can 
 I offer, now that I am about to give you the result of the 
 inquiries you requested me to make, when it will be foun^. 
 
{ mi ) 
 
 ?o.faIl s6 far short i>f what,you might have “expecte^ frbmt, 
 ihc time which has been taken to render it. , 
 
 • ;¥our wishes pn this head! communicated to Richard 
 ■PeT£Rs\ Esq. who is ,ohe of the most intelligent and best 
 •practical as well as,theoretical; farmers we have; with a 
 •desirc.that he would advise with others, ^d condence 
 theirobserVations in: a summary stktement- 
 ‘ Why this Avas 'notdone and why he could do no inorc 
 ^oawUlfind iiihis own priginal letter,with the questions 
 •add answers, therein enclosed, 
 
 ' To,Mr.,PETERs’s experience with respect to gypsum 
 as a ihanurey let me add the. folloiwn^ as an unequivocal 
 evidence;/that it has no . effect on stiff heavy land that 
 does not absorb ;or permit.the vVater oii the. surface oc¬ 
 casioned by superabundant falls of rain of snow to pene¬ 
 trate quickly; which .is the case gehe'rally with the soil 
 of my . estate at Mount Vernon. The experiment dnd 
 probftowhich I aliudedi'were made eight or niiie years 
 ago ; :at ,the rate, of from one to. twenty, bushels of the 
 -Plaister ofParis to the acre, (among, other, things to asser- 
 tjun the just quantum.to be used).. I spread it on grass 
 grounds and on ploughed land,; on the latter,, part of it 
 was ploughed ih; part harrowed; part scratched inwidi 
 a light bush, while another part lay undisturbed-on the 
 surface ; all with oats ih the spring. But it had no more 
 effect in any instance ihen^ or since, than so much of the 
 earth it was spread over would have had, if it had beeii 
 taken up and spread again.' 
 
 I have the honor to be, Sir, &c. 
 
 . . Sir .yohn Sinclair. G. Washington. 
 
 ' > ' Philadelphia, &th March, 1797. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 ON the 11th of December, I wrote you a long letter; 
 and intended before the close of the last Sessidn of Gon- 
 'grfess (which ended oh the third instant, eonformably tb 
 'this ’Cbfastitution) to have addressed you again, biit op¬ 
 pressed as I was with the various bccuffpnceS incident 
 therelb, especially in the latter part of it,dt has hot been 
 in ihy pbwev tb.' do so during its conimaance; and how, 
 •■{he arrsihgeniehts necessary 1:6 my departhfe from this 
 iity,'fofh more tfsihtiuii : theatre, cihdfot the indulgence 
 »f rural pursuits, will oblige me to suspend my purpose- 
 
( m ) 
 
 iuitit l am fixed at Mount Vernon, where I expect soon to 
 be; having resigned the chair of government to Mr* 
 John Adams, on Friday Jast ; the day on w;hich I 
 completed my second four years administration*. 
 
 ^ Under the circumstances here mentioned, I .should 
 not have troubled you, at this tim e, with so short a letter, 
 -but for, the purpose of accompanying it with two dr three 
 pamphlets on the subject of Agricultiu-e; one of which 
 treats more extensively on gypsum as a miinu're, than any 
 I liave seen before. The other two will only serve tO 
 shew, that essays of a similar kind are making in this ihr 
 ;fant country. 
 
 ' lam sorry to add, .that nothingjfnnl in -Congress, has 
 been decided respecting the institution .of a .National 
 Board of Agriculture, recommended by me, at the open- 
 ing-of the Session, But this did not, I believe, proceed 
 from any disinclination to the measure, but from their 
 limitted sitting, and a pressure of what they conceived, 
 more important business. I think it highly probable that 
 next Session will .bring this matter to maturity. ■' 
 Imave the honor to be. Sir, &c. 
 
 Sir ^ohn Sinclair< U. WAsniNOTOs; 
 
 3^omi Vernon, tSth Jidy, 1791. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 SINCE my fast to you, dated in Philadelphia the 6th 
 of March, I have been - honoured with your’s and Lord' 
 Hawke’s joint favour of the 28tb of March 1796, intro, 
 ductory of Doctor Sc ANDALLA ; who gave me the plea¬ 
 sure of his company in June last, and whom I found a 
 ver}'- sensible, and well informed man. 
 
 I have also received your separate favours of the 21st.. 
 of February, and 29th of March, in the present year,' 
 The last accompanying your printed account of the ori-’ 
 gin of the Board of Agriculture and its progress Tor the 
 three vyears after its.'establishment. For your kindness 
 in forwarding of them, I pray you to accept my best thanks. 
 
 I will keep one copy of this svork myself, and shall read 
 it, I am sure with pleasure, so soon as I have passed 
 through my harvest, which is now nearly finiMied j the 
 ^2 
 
( 124 ) 
 
 other copies shall be put into such hands, as I conceive- 
 t^ill turn theinto the best account: ■ 
 
 Your not havinf;, in either of the letters acknowledged 
 above, mentioned the receipt of two .from me, dated the 
 loth and 11th of :December 1796 ; the last a private and 
 Very long one, fills my mind with apprehension of a mis¬ 
 carriage, although I do not see how it should have hap¬ 
 pened, as they: went with several other letters under co¬ 
 ver to Mr. King, (our Minister in London,) who in a 
 ■letter to meydated the 6th of February following, after 
 giving information of what he had done with my other 
 letters, adds “ and as soonas Sir John Sinclair returns 
 “ to town, I will also deliver the letter addressed to him.” 
 • - Was it not for this information I should by this con¬ 
 veyance, have forwarded a duplicate. 
 
 ■ The result of my enquiries of Members of Congress, 
 attending the December Session, varied so little from 
 the details I had the honour to give you concerning the 
 prices of land, &c. in my private letter of the 11th of 
 December, as to render a second edition' unnecessary. 
 The reduction however, in the price of our produce since 
 last year;, (flour having fallen from fifteen to seven or 
 eight dollars,a barrel, and other articles in that proportion), 
 may occasion a fall in the price of lands: a stagnation 
 it has already produced ; and I have been told, a reduc¬ 
 tion tilso, in some of the latter sales. ■ 
 
 Out crop of wheat this.year, from the best information 
 I have been able to obtain ; will be found very short, owing 
 to three causes; an uncommon draught last autumn, a se¬ 
 vere winter with but little snow to protect it; and which 
 ■is'still more to be regretted, to what with .us;is denomi¬ 
 nated the Hessian fly, which has spread devastation, more 
 of less, ill all quarters nor has the latter; wheat escaped 
 the rust. The grain however, except where the rust 
 appearW before ,it was hardy is extremely fine. We are 
 equally Vmlucky in our oats, occasioned by a iseyere- 
 draught ^hce the month of April.—With .sentiments, of 
 high esteefn and regard, 
 
 Lftaye the honor to be, Sir, See., • 
 
 ■ Sir Jdliri'^S^lair. r • ■ ■ -G. Wasiiinviton'. 
 
( 125 ) 
 
 ' ' Mount Vernm,6t!i,Nooe>nber, .1797.‘ 
 
 StR, 
 
 SINCE I bad tbe honor of v/riting j^ouon the' lSth 
 July, 1 have been favoured with, your letter of the 13th 
 of February, introductory of Thomas Macdonald, 
 Esq. and your note of the 9th of June, by General Kos¬ 
 ciusko ; together with the surveys, and papers accom¬ 
 panying both. For youi^ goodness in sending them, 1 
 pray you to accept my best thanks, and that I may not be 
 a bunhensonie member of the Board,! enclosed a small 
 bill of exchange, to be-deposited in 'the hands of your 
 Bookseller, to defray the costdf the several copies of your 
 works which inay be forwarded to me. When this is ex¬ 
 pended, I will make anothefdeposit for the same purpose. 
 
 As neither-of the notes, the receipts of which is ac¬ 
 knowledged above, nor any other has intimated in the 
 most distant manner, that my letters of the 10th and 11th 
 of December, (the latter a private one) had ever reached 
 your hands. 1 now do, as well for the puiposeof evinc¬ 
 ing that! was not inattentive to your request^ as to give 
 information ^vhich,may'yet‘(though late)' beuseM, for¬ 
 ward a duplicate of the private letter, from a press copy 
 taken at the time, and ofmy last also, of the 15th of July; 
 being liiOre disposed to trouble"-you with a repetition of 
 the sentihients then expressed, than to lay under tKe stis- 
 picion'of inattention to your commands. . > •• 
 
 • I hail now, with more 'Certainty than on the 15th of 
 July, inform you that lands have fallen in,price ;• ascrib- 
 able to two causes, the shocking depradations committed 
 on our commerce (within the last six or eight months by 
 the French), and the reduction in price of our produce. 
 
 Our crops of grain are,' in places, tolerable, but upon 
 the whole below mediocrity. ■ • 
 
 ■ An eight years absence frOm home (except occasonal 
 short visits to it), has thrown "all my budding, and- other 
 ■ matters of private concern, into so much--disorder, 
 that at no period of my life have I ever been more en¬ 
 gaged, than in the last six or eight months, to repair and 
 ■bring them; into tune againthis has prevented me from 
 looking into the Agficultuial surveys of the counties of 
 England and Scotland, with the attention I propbse" to do 
 the ensuing winter. I shall certainly be very desirous of 
 having a compleat sec of them, and if anv are missing 
 will apply accordingly, as it is my intention to have them 
 
l( 126 ) 
 
 classqc}, and bound neath'. With great pleasure, I re¬ 
 ceived a visit from Mr. IvIacdonald a few da)’s ago, 
 
 , who fully answers the character given of him, as a polite- 
 and sensible man. 
 
 ■ I havethehonpp to be, Sir, &c. 
 
 Sir Jolm, Sinclair, Bart .. , G. Washisgtok. 
 
 : SINGE this work was'sent to the press, I find that one- 
 of General Washington’s, most interesting letters 
 has- been lost., , There is fortunately, however, an ex¬ 
 tract from it, in the First Volume of the Gommunica-. 
 tions published by the Board of Agriculture (p. 374), 
 a copy of which I beg leave today before the Reader, 
 
 froni that puhlicationi^ 
 
 BMladilphia, XOth December, 1796, 
 
 “ THE result of the experiments entrusted to the care 
 - of Dr. FiOrdyce, must be as curious as they may prove 
 . interesting to the science of husbandry. Not less so, will 
 be an intelligent solution of those queries relative to live 
 stock, which are handed to the public. 
 
 “ A few months more,., say the 3d of March next. 
 (1797), and,the scenes of my political life will close, and 
 leave me in the shades of retirement; vVhen if a few years 
 are allowed me to enjoy it (many I cannot expect, being 
 upon the verge of sixty-five), and health is continued ro 
 me, I shall peruse with pleasure and edifiication, the fruits 
 of the exertions of the Board for the improvement of 
 Agriculture; and shall have leisure, I tirist, to realise 
 some of the useful discoveries which have been, made in 
 the science of husbandry'. 
 
 “■ Until the above period shall have arrived, and par¬ 
 ticularly during the present Session of Gongress, whidh 
 commenced the 5ih instant, I can give but little attention 
 to matters out of "the line of my immediate- avocations. 
 
 I did not, however, omit the occasion, at the, opening of 
 ihe Session, to call the attention of that body to th'e im¬ 
 portance of Agriculture. What will be the result, I know 
 not at present; but if it should be favourable, the bints 
 which y'ou will have it in your power to give, cannot fail 
 of being gratefully received by the members who may 
 constitute the Board.” 
 
{ m ) 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 On the character of general washiiJgtok. 
 
 WHOEVER has perused the preceding Letters, will, 
 I trust, concur- with me* in the following reflections. 
 
 1. That nothing could possibly place the character of 
 this distinguished statesman in a mote estimable light, 
 than that of beholding the same individiral, whose milita¬ 
 ry exploits had spread his fame over the universe, and 
 who' had been invested with supreme power in the countiy^ 
 where he was born; in the midst of all his various public 
 avocations, carrying on an extensive correspondence, with 
 the native of a distant country, on Agricultural and other 
 general inquiries of a similar nature. 
 
 2. That those who are blessed with a reflecting and 
 
 philosophic mind, must contemplate with pleasure and 
 delight, a person elevated by the voice of his fellow-citi¬ 
 zens, to the summit of political authority; who, instead 
 of wishing to agrandize himself, and to extend his pow¬ 
 er, was anxiously bent to quit that situation, to which 
 so many others would have fondly aspired, and to return 
 to the comfort and enjoyment of private life: belying 
 thus the insinuations of those malignant spirits, who are 
 perpetually railing against the talents and virtues which, 
 conscious of wanting themselves, they do not believe thai 
 others can possess. ' 
 
 3. Is there,onthe whole, any individual,eithcrin ancient 
 or modern history, who has prouder claims to distinction 
 and pre-eminence, than the great character whose letters 
 this volume contains ? His military talents were early ce¬ 
 lebrated; first in the service of Great Britain, and after¬ 
 wards in that of America. His powers as a stateaman, 
 and as the founder of a constitution, which with British 
 prejudices, I may consider as inferior to our own, but 
 which promises to secure the happiness of the great nation 
 it was formed to govern, cannot possibly be questioned. 
 His public virtue, as the uncorrupted magistrate of a free 
 people, who reluctantly received supreme authority, when 
 
 * Sir John Sinclair. 
 
i 128 ) 
 
 it was judged necessary for the public good for him to as* 
 sume it, and who anxiously wished to resign it into their 
 hands when it could be done with public safety, can hardly 
 be equalled in history. His literary endowments were 
 unquestionably of a superior oixief; his letters in this 
 collection, his addresses to the American Congress, and 
 his farewell oration, when he quitted, for the last time, the 
 Presidency, of the United States, are models of each spe¬ 
 cies of composition. His closing a well-spentlife, after a 
 short illness, w.ithout having his strength or faculties im¬ 
 paired by any previous disorder, or any untoward circum¬ 
 stance having, occurred, that could materially affect his 
 feelings, or, could possibly tainish his fame, is an uncom¬ 
 mon instance of goodfortune. The scene in which he act-' 
 ed also, and the object which he achieved, are the most 
 memorable which history furnishes. For it was such a 
 mjtn alone, who by combining the force, and commanding 
 the confidence, of thirteen separate states, coiddhave dis¬ 
 solved those ties which subjected A.merica to Europe,.and 
 to whom the political separation of two worlds is to be at¬ 
 tributed. But, above all, what distinguished this celebrated 
 warior and statesman is, that to all those military and pubr 
 lie talents, and to those literary endowments, which are so 
 rarely united in the same person, he added the practice of 
 every virtue that could adoni the private individual. . It 
 were in vain for me, to attempt adequately to express, the 
 ideas I entertain of a character, in every respect so pecu¬ 
 liarly splendid. The pen of the immortal Shakspeare, is 
 alone competent to the; task, and on the tombstone of the 
 illustrious Washington let it be engraved,— 
 
 His life was gentle, and the elements 
 So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up 
 And say to all the world ,—This xcas a naa, 
 
 ---- take him for all in all. 
 
 We shall net leek upon his like again.* 
 
 * Julius Cesar, AcfV. Scene 5 —and Hamlet, Act I. Scene i. 
 
 FINIS.