Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-10

used q brush harrow between It 4 the barrel.
sent it by G. A. Washington TO Muddy hole and
| had the intervals between the corn which had
been left for the purpose sowed with turnips
in drills and with which it was done very we'll. "
THE ELEVATION OF THE MANSION
The Mt Vernon plantations we're now all in
good tillage and Washington was picturing to
himself the pleasure and comfort which he had
long hoped to enjoy in their management with
| time for studying the more scientific method
| Of agriculture. The question is often asked:
What is the elevation OF the Mt. Vernon man.
sion house above the level Of the Potomac
river. felicitate myself on being enabled TO
answer this inquiry, rs ascertained by an &C.
tual leveling from the edge of the piazza, oppo-
site the center door. to high-water mark near
the wharf, distant $50 feet, made by Genera,
Washington himself In 1875. The actual ele, A.
ton of the pavement of the piazza. above high
water mark, as ascertained by this survey, is
l24 feet l0H inches
The home life of Washington at Mount Yer
non and his efforts TO embellish it. which is told
with such ingenuousness In his diaries, almost
compel further quotations: Monday May 18th
l7S6-About o'clock Mr.. Tobias Lear, who had
been previously engaged on q salary of 200 dol
lars, to live with me as private secretary, aud
preceptor for Washington Gusts, year, came
here from New Hampshire, at which place his
friends reside. Friday. June 10th I7s6. Began
about 10 o'clock to put up the book-press in
my study"
Monday October 9th 17ss Allowed
all my People to go to the Races in Alexandria
on one OF three days as best comported with
their respective MISUNDERSTANDING careful
perso ms on the plantations"
Washington had faith in the progress of the
human race and belie7ed in making earnest
efforts to improve not only mans surroundings
and conditions but also his methods of securing
livelihood, and at the same time liberalizing
the institutions and governments under which
they lived. To him is awarded the
credit Of the introduction into the United
states OF the best breeds Of that very USE
ful animal. the mule. He also gave much at
tention to improving the breeds of sheep, hogs,
horses cattle and dogs, &c. The following ex-
tracts from his journal relate to his importa-
ton OF improved breeds OF some domestic ami
mails for his plantations:
Thursday, Novr. 10th 17S6 On my
return home, found Mons Campoint sent by the
Marqs de la Fayette with the Jacks and two she
Asses which he had procured for me in the
Island OF Malta, and which had arrived at Bal
tlmore with the Chinese Pheasants &c had with
my overseer DC got there before me-these
Asses are in good order and appear to be very
fine"
SOME EXPEDIENTs.
The expedient adopted by Washington in
sowing clover. timothy and other small seeds
broadcast to insure an even distribution Of the
seed over the ground. was to mix them with
dry sand or ashes, SO that greater bulk might
be taken in the hand for each cast
April LIST 1887 In the evening one
Young who lives on Col. Balls place-a farmer,
came here to see, he says my drill pillow & stsid
The spirit of inquiry and desire for exact
knowledge remained an active elementin WASH
ington character to the close of his life but it
is nevertheless wonderful that as late as 1888
he should take the pains to count the actual
number Of peas and beans there were in pint
measure OF six varieties of them, that he might
know the quantity of ground to prepare and
the number Of hills q bushel Of each would
plant. as will be noticed from the following
taken from his diaries:
Monday May 18th 1888 Athome all
day.-Counted the number Of the following
articles which are contained in pint--viz-of
the small q round pease commonly called Gen
tlemens Pease 8, IA. Those brot from York
Rivr by MAR G.. Washington 2,26S. Those brot
by Do from Mrs Dangerfelds 1875. Those
given by Hezh Fairfax 1880. Large 4 early
black eye Pease 1855. Bunch hominy beans
,47S. Accordingly-a bushel of the above.
allowing s to hill will plant the number of
hills wch follow.-viz