Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-04-18
From the Chera1 Gazette.
AGRICULTURAL LETTER FROM
GEN. WASHINGTON.

an old friend tor the following VaicaOlS
document: valuable not ouly because d
the reveied source from which il ema.
mates, bu, because it affords many excel
len, lessons from an. able and practical
farmer; it is 100. strongly characteristic
Of the American hero. We sae here
the exercise in private. life Of that at
tenlion to detail, thar inlexible devotion
10 order and discipline, which so emi-
nently mark the public character oi
Washington. No one can read this letter
without seeing at once that the writer
was an Industrious, sound, practical far:
mer. He, whose indomilable energy
had given freedom 10 a world, did not
esteem The mos, minute details Of asri
culture unworthy his attention.
1t will probably surprise the reader 10
find Gen. Washington insisting upon the
use of harrows and cultivaiols in the
cultivation of his corn; this we have been
accustomed 10 plume ourselves upon as
much more modern invention.
The letter directed to his overscerS,
is taken from the manuscript copy in
Wasl,ington's own hand writing, and, as
we are Informed, now appears in print
for the fist time.
PHILADELPHIA, July IA, 1898,
Gentlemen IL, being indispensab!y
necessary that should hays some per-
son at Mount Vernon, through whom |
CAN communicate my orders; who will
see that these orders are executed; or if
moi obeyed, who will inform me why
they arc not; who willreceive the weeks
ly resorts and transmit, them; receive
money and pay it; and in general TO do
these things which do tot aperla;n TO
any individual overseer-I have sen,
my nephew, Mr.. Howell Lewis, (who
lives with me here 10 attend 10 them
until can provide manager Of estab-
lisl,ed reputation in these matters. YOU
will therefore pay due regard to such
directions as. you may receive from him
considering llem as coming Immediately
from myself. But that you also may
have general knowledge of what ]
expect from you, | shall convey the
following view (Which | have Of the bu.
siness committed to your chargc) as j
appears to me, and direct you TO govern
yourself by it, as i am persuaded no.
thing Inconsistent herewith will be or
dercd by Mr.. Lewis, without authority
from me- to depart from it.
1st. Although it is almost needless 10
remark that he corn ground at the fam,
you overlook ought 10 be kept perfectly
clea and we'll ploughed-yct, because
net only the goodness Of That crop de-
pends upon such management. but also
the wheat crop, which isto succeed it,
cannot fol bear urging the propriety and
necessity oflhe measure in very strong
terms.
ID. The wheat is to be got into the
barns or into stacks as it can be done
with any scd Of convenience that it may
mot Especially tho bearded wheat, which
is subject 10 injury by wet wea'!cr,)
sustain loss in shocks; and because the
shattered gain in fields may be. bcncfi-
cial to the stock; but no hogs are 10 be
put on slubble fields in..which grass SEEDS
were sown las, fall, winter, or s;,riag;
other stock, however, may be turned on
them, as it is roofing that would be pre-
judicial:
2. The whole swamp from the road
from Manley's bridge, up 10 the lane
leading. 10 the new barn, is 10 be got
into the bes, and most complete order
for sowing grass seeds in A1gus,,-or,
at the f,,rlhes, by the middle Of Scptem-
brr!: The loves, and we:cst part thereof,
is TO be so~n with timothy seed alone.
All the other parts Of it arc to be sown
with timothy and clover seeds mixed.
The swamp on the other side of the
aforesaid lane (now in corn and oats) is
to be kept in the best possible order, thai
the part not already sown With grass
seeds may receive them either this au
tumn tas soon as the corn can be taken
off with safety; or in the spring, as cir
cumstances shall dictate.
No exertions ur pains areAto be spared
at Daguc run 10 get the swamp from
Manley's bridge uplo the meadow above
and ihe two enclosures in the mill swamp
in the highest order for grass, to be
sown in The time and manner above
mentioned. But that no more may be
attempted than can be executed well
proceed lin tie following order viii
Them accordingly as the; weather ma!
happen TO be, for this must be consulted
as dry weather. will answer to work ir
the low, paris best, whist the highe
1'grounds may be worked at any time.
1st. Begin with the swamp from Man
leyas bridge upwards, and get all that i
/, not already in grass, well prepared 70
3 II snH inS3aods cnu, 20 .fFhot mart a