New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-23
WASHINGTON AS A FARMER.
SOME RECENTLY PUBLISHED LETTERS.
CAREFUL HUsBANDMAN-wHAr VISITORS WERE
TO HAVE WINE

phia whiIo Washington was President to Mr. Will
lam Pearce. superintendent for three years of the
Mount Vernon estate They relate to agIculturul
and domestic matters, show extensive knowledge
OF farming and afford additional proof of the care
full attention bestowed By Washington upon tho de-
tails Of has business. In one of his letters to Mr..
Pearce. as he IS about TO take charge. Washington
says, Dec Is, 1893: q My object is to recover the
fields from the exhausted state into which they
have fallen by oppressive crops, and to restore
them Ut possible by any means In my power to
health and vigor"; and after detailing
abuses which have crept into all parts OF my bust
ness" he adds: :" had rather you should probe
things tn the bottom. whatever time it may
quire to do 10, than to decide hastily on the first
view of them; to establish good rules and reg
uar system is the lire aud the soul of every kind Of
business" Soon after ne wrote:
-. Among the first things to be done after you
are well fixed Yourself, will be. presurre that of
taxing nm exact account Of the Stock of every
epecles. Tools and implements each of the farms
charging them herewith that regular acct unit
thereof Day be rendered wbenev or called for.-Buy
IN Alexandria proper (bound) book for this pur-
pose, ana another to enter the weekly reports IN -
The latter required not only for my piesent salts
faction but that it NAV also, Mt any time hereafter.
shew in what manner the hands have been en-
ployed and the state of the stock and other things
of any past period and it my wish. this IL in
tended register of tho proceedings the faruis.
ethat they may be made with correctness always
comparing the last with the preceding weeks re-
port and all differences satisfactorily account ed for
The Overseers are allowed paper for these Re-
porte. Suffer no therefor for their not com
ing into you every Saturday night that YOU NAV be
enabled 10 fOreward copy OF them TO me by the
Wednesdays Post following. And 1t is not only
satisfactory, but may be of real utility to know the
state of th" weather as to heat q cold. drought or
moisture; prefix, usual. at the head of every
weeks report a METEOROLOGICAL account OF these;
The Thermometer which Is at Mount Vernon Will
enable you to do the FIST
To these weekly letters and reports Washington
replied by every Mondays post, reviewing his
superntendents work and adding minute instruc-
tions in reference to every detail of his business
down to the preparation of Seins" for the spring
catch of fish in the Potomac These letters make
up the collection of one hundred and eighteen in all
which 1t is TO be hoped the Long Island Historical
Society will publish in full. A few extracts are
added:
Is there anything particular ia the cases of Ruth
Hannah & PeRg. that they have been returned SICK
for several weeks together Ruth know Is ex-
tremely deceitful she has been aiming for some
time past TO get into the house, exempt from wO-k
bnt II they are not made to DO what their age d
strength will enable thom it will be very bad ex-
ample to others. none of whom would work If by
pretcXts they can avoid it..
Do not suffer the Quarter Negro children to be in
the Kitchen in the yards unless brought there on
busness-as besides the bad habit they too ire
quently are breaking limbs or twIgs from. or doing
other injury to my shrubs. some of which, at con-
siderable expense. have been propagated
From some complaints made by my Negroes. that
they had not sufficient allowance OF meal, and
from willingness that they should have enough.
the quantity was increased by Mr.. Whiting so as TO
amount by what have learnt from Mr. STUART
to profuson. This is an error again on the other
side. My wish and desire is that they should have
as much as they can eat without waste and no
more. E. j always used to lay in great quantity
of Fish for them and when We were at he me meat,
fat * other things now and then given to
them besides; But it would seem ltrom their &C
counts AZ least that the Fish which wero laid in
for them last Spring have disappeared without their
deriving much benefit FROM them.
Is, this time expect the Hogs that we're put up
for Porle either are killed, OF are fit to kill. re-
quest. after every person has had their allowance
given TO them, that the residue may DO made into
Bacon . After the drilled wheat at Union farm
is taken Off let particular care be used 70 prevent
its being mixed with any other. have for
many years past been urging the superintendent OF
NV business Mt Mount Vernon TO break q number OF
Steers 30 the Yoke that NO set Of Oxen NAV be
worked low but DO not believe it is yet done tn the
There is one thing wish to impress you pretty
strongly with. that you may use every precautlOn
in your power to guard against, and that suffer
ing my horses to be rode ut unreasonable hours in
the night without your knowledge or that of the
Oyerseers. No doubt rests upon my n,inu that this
Is too much practised
Speaking of GeLtlemens Sery': it calls to
my mind. that in a letter from Mrs. Fanny Wash
iuQlOn to Mrs. Washington her aunt sue mentions,
that since left Mount Vernon she has svcn out
four doz n and eight bottles of wine. Whether they
are used or not she does not say: but am led by
it to observe. that it is not my Intention tnat IL
should be given to every ono who may incline to
mako a convenience of the honso in travelling; or
who may be induced visit it from motives OF curl
osity There are bot three descriptions OF people
10 whom | think 10 ought TO DO gwen first, my
particular and intimate acquaintance. in case bus-
ness should call them there such for In, lance as
foreigners may. perchance. be III Alexan dria or
the federal City, and be either brought down. or In
troducel by letter from some OF my particular ac-
ouaintance as before mentioned or thirdly. to pei
sons of distinction such smemberso OF Congress
90. VINO may be travelling through the country |
from North To South, or from South 10 NORTH. Un-
less some caution of THE sort governs, should be
run to an eXpence improper as it would DO con-
siderable.
Mr.. Pearse Bailey may be informed that |
never lower my price If land II is infinitely more
likely that IL will be INCREASED than to stand even
at hat it has been offered Tor rms he might rea,
value every where, from the number OF cuigrants.
& Others who are wanting to vest their money In
that species OF property.
June 7, 1895.
~ wish you could find out the thief who
robbed tho meat house at Mount Vernon " bring
him tu punishment and at the same time secure the
house against future attempts; for our drafts upon
IL will be pretty large, / expect, when we come
home which probably may be about the middle OF
ooh of next month. Nathan has been ssuspected' II
+ ss Iilely as any one to be guilty OF il Pos
tilion Joe has been caught in similar p.actces and
sam AIN sure would not be restrained by any
quaIms conscience.
9Th June, 1896 |
On Wednesday last Congress closed their
,essiou: but there is yet good deal for me to do
before can leave the Seat of the Governments. MY
orssent expectation however Is that shall be able
10 do this On tomorrow week but as this is not
certain, and as / shall travel slowly, 10 avoid what
nSuay happens to me Mt this season. that Is. kill
mo or knocking up horse and AS Ne shall. more
over, stay a day or two at the Federal City Wash.
net on, it Is not likely we shall arrive st Mount
Vernon before the Doth OF u. of this month.
In lew daya after We get there, We shall 90 Wis.
ted. expect by characters OF distinction. could
wish therefore, that the Gardens Lawns ana eVeiy
hing else in aud about the Houses, may DC go. ia
.ieSn & nice order. II the Gardener needs ana 20
accomplish az much of this as Ives within ms Iine
ct hin have it; < let others rake ,a hpus "s