The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-11-15
OF Washington as a Farmer.

But II we wish. my friends, to establish
by ono bright example the dignity Of the
farmers calling, would remind you that
the man who stands alone in the respect and
affection Of his countrymcn, the consummate
chioftain, statesman and patriot, was not less
q consummato farmer. lnhcriting from his
older brother the estate Of Mt. Vernon, he
made considerable additions to it by Pur-
chase, 50 that at the time Of his dccease 1t
amounted altogether tn some eight thousand
acres. One half Of this was in wood or in
lawns, lying in state OF nature, but above
four thousand acres were in tillagc, Of which
the management was directed by Washing
ton himself. Besides the ordinary opera
tious Of husbandry, there were upon the cs-
tate ilour.mill, brick-yards, a carpenters
establishment. and extensive fisheries. The
property was divided into FIVE farms OF uDe-
quail Dimensions. each with its appropriate
set Of laborcrs, under the direction OF an
overseer-the whole, especially during the
Presidents long absences from home, under
one superintendent. Each Of the overseers
was required to make written report weekly
to the superintendent, in which minute ac-
count was given of everything done on the
farm in the course OF the week, including
the condition of the stock, and the number
of DAVIS work OF each laborer. These re-
ports were recorded in book by the super
intendent, and the originals sent in weekly
letter to the President. The President re-
turned q weekly answer, usuallya letter OF
four pages, sometimes twice that length,
carefully prepared from rough draft, and
then neatly copied by himself, after which a
press copy was taken. "A series OF these let
tiers, hitherto unpublished, has lately come
into my hands, comprising tho Presidents
correspondence with his superintendent, from
the commencement Of his second administra-
ton down to hisretirement from Office. They
eyince an adherence to system, grasp OF
detail, minuteness and accuracy OF obser-
walton, and an executive ability truly mar
vellous. The rotation OF crops in his nu-
merous fields was conducted ON n plan laid
down with great minuteness by himself.-
The culture Of tobacco ut this time had
ceased ut Mount Vernon, and the whole at
tention Of the President was given to those
crops which are cultivated in this part OF
the country: Not content with general re
suits, nor relying exclusively on the discre-
ton Of his intelligent superintendent, he
gave instructions from the scat Of govern
mcnt, on the smallest details Of management,
and the time and manner in which every OPP
Grafton on the estate was to be performed
Even when he was ON the march to suppress
the instruction in the Western counties OF
Pennsylvania, in 1874, his correspondence
was not wholly interrupted. One short
letter was written from Reading, and another
from Carlisle, ON his way to the rendezvous
Of the army. In these letters he mentions
the appearance Of the buckwheat and the
potatoes, which he saw on the farms by the
roadside, and gives general direction for the
care Of his stock ut the approach OF cold wea-
thcr. The father OF his country does not
seem to have thought that rebellion ought
to engro-s GU; minds to the interruption OF
tho ordinary duties Of life.
On the 10Th Of December, 1899, Wash
ington addressed long letter to the superin'
tendent Of his farms, the last elaborate pro-
duction Of his pen, enclosing a plan drawn
up on thirty written folio pages, containing
directions for their cultivation for several
years to come. nseven days from the date Of
this letter, his own venerate form "was sown
natural body, to be raised spiritual body"
EDWARD EyExxTr.