Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-08-11

ed most zealously in the improvement Of his
farming and his breeds Of domestic animals
in fitting up the farm-buildings adjoining the
grounds around the mansion-house with trees
and shrubs, and by laying out tasteful walks
arranging anew the vegetable garden pruning
and training the orchards with his own hands
and repenishing the orchards, gardens and
greenhouses with new and rare varieties Of
trees, vegetables, shrubs, and towering plants,
procured in this and foreign countries. Through
his correspondents in Great Britain, he obtain
ed skilful gardeners and farmers to assist him
also through those correspondents came new
and desirable field and other seeds, farm imple-
ments and tools for conducting his operations
the country being then too young TO furnish
such helps also, from the same source, the
works Of the best British writer's on agriculture,
which he atieniively studied, drawing from
them such principles as could be advantageous
ly applied in his farming, and which his emi-
neniy sagacious mind knew how to draw out
and reduce to practice. Ii was his habit to
rise early, despatch necessary letters before
breakfast and that meal finished, to mount his
horse and ride over the farms, giving directions
for the operations Of the day. He kept diary
for several years, in which was noted the kind
and quantity Of work done each day on the
farms the times Of planting or sowing the
fields; Of gathering the crops /; the expenses
OF cultivating, and the product Of each crop,
with the balance for or against each field in
given year; asd every other circumstance
which would enable him to draw useful conclu-
sions about the details Of cultivation and to en-
large his knowledge Of farming by experience.
He engaged in correspondence upon agricultu-
raj topics with men in this country and Great
Britain, distinguished by their knowledge Of such
matters, as we'll as entertained many such at
his house and his thoughts never flowed more
enthusiastically, nor his pen more forcibly and
practically, than when writing on these sub
ljects, speaking of his fondness for agricultural
pursuits, and Of their claims not only upon the
intelligent citizen, but upon the statesman and
patriot
In these, TO him, delightful occupations, he
fondly hoped to pass the remnant of his life
Writing to Lafayette during this period, he re-
marks IL am become private citizen on the
banks Of the Potomac and under the shadow
OF my own vine and my own fg-tree, free from
the hustle Of camp, and the busy scenes Of
public life, am solacing myself with those
tranquil enjoyments, Of which the soldier, who
is ever in pursuit Of fame, the statesman, whose
watchful days and sleepless nights are spent ia
devising schemes 10 promote the welfare Of his
own, perhaps the ruin Of other countries, as il
this globe was insufficient for US all, and the
courtier, who is always watching the coun,e.
nance Of his prince, in hopes of catching q
gracious smile, can have very little conception
have not only retired from all public employ
menis, but am retiring within myself. and
shall be able 10 view the solitary walk, and
tread the paths OF private life, with heartfelt
satisfaction. Enyious of none, am de,emn'
ed to be pleased with all and this, my deai
friend, being the order Of my march, ! will
move gently down the stream of life, until
sleep with my fathers
The Mount Vernon estates consisted Of five
fams-Mansion House farm; Union Farm
Dogue Run Farm; Muddy Hole Farm, ant
: River Farm ;-containing in all over $500 acres
Of arabic land, besides large tracts Of woodland
Washington employed his talent as practica
7 surveyor in dividing these farms into regula
!. fields, which were all numbered, and their are'
E Of acres ascertained.
Field-books were prepared, in which will
| his own hands, were placed nicely drawn plan
D and charts Of the farms and their subdivision
f into fields. He carefully studied a rotation O
Q crops best adapted to his lands, aud varying OF
the different farms and and fields of farm, Il
8 suit their respective peculiariies Of soil ; an,
n by various practical trials and observation Q
4 results, at length established a system Of crop
: ping which was adhered to. with but slight va
n riations, through life. Tables were prepare
: of the rotation of crops 10 be practiced on eac
field, and showing what particular crop was /
l. be cultivated on a given field for years ahead
!, underneath the table Of crops. was another stat
e ing the probable average time necessary 70
: blowing, narrowing, planting, and sowing, tn
IS cost of after cultivation, of harvesting the
e below an estimate of the probable average pre-
e duct, and the proceeds above the cost of eac
e crop and note at the foot of the page, e,
70 planned briefly wherein that particular rotatio
:. of crons was hest adanted 10 the field on whic