The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-09-07
WASHINGTON AS A FARMER.
a Great Mans Close Attention to Little
Things.

A Great Mans Close Attention to Little
! Things.
( Correspondence Nrrs and CJurirr.
I UNION, August 23.-In looking over
some old newspapers | found what con
sider quite valuable rcminiscence one
which contains much food for thought
and information for the farmers even OF
this day ana time.
Dr. Lee, the distinguished editor OF
The Southern Field and FTrcsiGe, of q
quarter of century ago, says of this
letter, then published for tie first time
Every planter and farmer should read
IT.. ac should read, mark, and inwardly
digest. 1t discloses the secret of Wash.
ington's great success in that peaceful
and noble calling in which he so much
delighted. 1t shows system, lucid or
:c:, close economy, aud accuracy of nc.
counts, even to the minutest things. It
shows a desire to improve OH past ideas
by careful experiments. 1t shows tire.
less vigilance in supervising each de-
partment of business, guarding against
neglect and waste, and holding each per
son in his employment to n just respon.
slbllity." Washington wrote this letter
whilst President Of the United States,
not only surrounded by the many duties
of this then new nation, but at most
exciting time in the worlds history, and
yet with all these things to attract ard
demand his attention he should have
found time for such minute details in his
farming business is truly wonderful.
Can we then be surprised that he who
displayed such numerous and valuable
traits of character should be, "First in
peace, first in war, and first in the hearts
OF his countrymen."
d. p. DUNCAN.
Letter Of General Washington.
PHILADELPHIA, August 18th, 1893.
Dear NowcN: Your letter of the
lIth inst, and enclosures, came duly to
hand
am glad to hear you had fine rain
Oh The Thursday preceding the date of
your letter. even if the corn should re-
ceive no benefit from it, because it would
put the ground in good condition for the
reception of wheat. hope it was fol.
lowed by another good rain on Wedncs.
day night last. Al this place it rained
the whole night.
want to make IN experiment with
respect to taking the tops from corn be-
fore the usual time. know that if the
tops of whole field were taken off be-
fore the dust has fallen, 30 as 10 impreg-
nate the grain, that there will he no
corn; but as soon as this function is per.
formed, the tops, i'll my opinion, serve
only to participate in the nutriment
which otherwise would be more abun-
dant for what remained. / believe, also.
rs the dust from the tassel impregnates
equally with its own, all the corn
Through the tubes Of the silk it falls
upon, that if every other row, through
out whole field, was deprived of the
tops, the corn, notwithstanding, would
be equally good and this is the expert.
ment, although it is late for it, that |
want to have made. Tell Mr.. Crow,
therefore, that it is my desire that he
would Immediately cut the tops from
every other row of corn in No. 5, to the
amount of twenty, beginning on the side
next to No. 2, by the barn. Let the
first row retain the tops; the second, i,
6, and so on alternately to the 10th, to
lose them. lie need not go beyond the
old ditch which formerly divided the
fields. Particular care must be taken to
cut the tops above the second joint, that
is, above the one from where the corn
proceeds. Experiments of this sort are
easily made, and without risk or ex.
pense; and the result may be important.
do not mean that the blades are also .o
be taken off, for this might expose the
stalk to the sun, stop the circulation of
the juice, and OF course injure the grain.
What arrangements have the over
seers made for exchanging their wheat,
and of what kinds does each SOW agree.
ably to my former directions to them /?
The barley from hence has been delayed
beyond my expectation-the vessel by
which intended to have sent it, having
sailed sooner than was expected. do
not suppose now, it can go earlier than
in Ellwood. But as soon rs it is re-
ceived, it must be s0wn, in order to give
it an equal chance in point of season.
Whether to begin on the contra side of
the fields which are sowing with wheat
at the time of its arrival or otherwise, |
scarcely know, at this distance. how 10
direct. l would wish it 10 have neither
better nor worse ground than what is
allowed fol wheat, and it would appear
odd to have it in the middle of field
of this grain. The overseers, knowing
what my design is, must dispose of it in
the best manner they can to a6gTer it.
Mr.. Lear insists upon it, that he put
shc clover seed In 3 cask containing
about 7 bushels) into the store himself,
on the left hand of the door. IF it. is
not to be found there, you may tell Mr..
Butler shall look to him for the value
Of it, unless he can discover what is gone
with it. The reason l had it put into
the store was for safety; and he will
find, By the written instructions l left
with him, that the key of that house was
not to remain in his possession longer
than whilst he was in the act Of giving
things out. If the clover seed, then, is
not there. Butler must have disposed Of
it h'mSt;, or by retaining the key in his
possession, contrary to my orders, give
the roguish people about tho house an
opportunity to come at it; in which case,
rs have observed in former letter,
there can be no doubt of their taking
every thing else that was saleable. If
no clover seed was gathered before you
found the rake or comb, were not both
seed and clover lost by standing too
long? And why this, ask Butler, when
both are 80 essential to my wants. Is
the clover which, by the report, is
brought from the oat fields at Dogue
Run, that which was sown last spring?
If 80, was it rank enough to cut7
I do, in earnest terms, enjoin it upon
you &c sec shat the bay is used With the
greatest economy Mt Mansion He-and
particularly, to guard against Mrs.