The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14
AGRICULTURE
TEE views OF GEORGE WASH
INGTON.
Letter. to Arthur Young. Deserisisr
American Farming n Century AGO.


A series OF letters OF Washington concern,
ing agriculture. addressed to Arthur. Young
tho English expert. was recently tho subject
Of 4 spirited contest at an auction sale In Lon
don, and was finally bought by an English
man. a Mr.. Robinson, tho editor of Farm and
Home. The letters have been republished In
part by the London Field. In an early letter
Washington says:
Agriculture has over been amongst the
most fayourite amusemcnts Of my life. though
never possessed much skill In the al I; ana nine
years total inattention To II has added nothing
to a knowledge which Is best understood from
practice; but with the means you have been
so obliging rs to furnish me I shall return TO
It, though rather late In the day. with hope
and confidence. Thc system OF agriculture
w the epithet Of system can DO applied to i)
which is In use in this part OF :he United States
is Ms reproductive to tho p~ractitio iers as IL is
rui ious 10 the landholdors. Yet IL Is peril
naciously adhered TO -" Replying to Ar
thur Young's offer OF service. he asks that the
following. am ong other things. should, DO
Constructed plough" for land Which is !" neither
very heavy nor sandy. To he drawn ~ two
horses to have SPARE shares and colters-and
q mould on which TO forin new irons when the
old ones are worn out, or will requlr" replnc-
Ing lie proceeds: II shall take the liberty
IN this place to observe that some wears ago,
from u description OF recommendation OF
what was then called tho Rotterdam or patent
plough, | sent To England for one OF them;
and MI IL began to wear. and was ruined by a
hnngling country smith. that no plough could
have done better WORK. or appeared to have
gone easier with two horse: hut for want OF
n mould twhich | had neglected to order with
III, plough IL became useless after tho irons
IA tSe meanwhile perinit M. 10 ask whs, a good
ploughmAn might he had for: annual wages.
to DO fourd being a single man in board. wash
bandry estimate the hire OF labourcrs so diror-
entity in Entland that It is not easv to dis.
am speaking Of would cost eight or eighteen
pcrnds n year"
tried the ploughs which you sent me. mud find
that they answer the description which you
gave mo OF them; this is contrary to the opin-
they we're used. for II was thought their ercn;
weight would oe an insuperable objection to
their being drawn by two h%orses."
i%ngton's farm follows: ~ am now preparing
TO your plan. which I think an e~xcellsnt one.
Before undertake to give the Information
you request, rcs,erting the arrangement Of
serve that there Is. perhaps. scarcely any part
OF America where farming has been. less at.
or tobacco has been almost the sole object With
men OF landed property. and consequently q
The general custom has been. lrst TO raise a
crop of Indian corn Imalzel, which. according
~ the mode OF cultivation. is u good p:epnra-
tion for wheat: then u crup OF wheat; after
which the ground Ia respited Except from
weeds. and every trash that can contribute TO
Its foulnessl for about eighteen months: AMI
40 on. alternately, without any dressing. TIL
tho land Is exhausted; when IL Is turned out,
without being so wn with grass seeds. or any
method taken Ia restore II. and another piece
Is ruined In the same manner. NO more cat
tie are raised than can be SUPPORTED by lowland
blades OF Indian corn. as very fow persons
have attended to sowing grasses and connect
is tho chief support OF the iaborers aud horses
Our lands, as | men .ioned In my first letter TO
you. were originally very good; but use ani
abuse have made them quite otherwise, Tbs
above 10 the mode OF cultivation which has
been generally pursued here; but tho system
OF husbandry which has ben found so hene-
feisl In England. aud which must be Rener-
ally promoted by your valuable Annals, IL now
gaining, ground. There are several among
which | may class myself who are ondeavor-
ing to get into YOUR regular and sYHcmatic
course OF Cropping, as fast as the nature of the
course OF = few years we shall make n NOR
Tesoectabls figure as farmers than we have
The more / an acquainted with agricultural
affairs" he writes under date Dee. 4. 1883.
the better | am pleased with them; lnsomuch
that can nowhere lind so great satisfaction
as IN those innocent and useful pursuits. In
INDUCING these f%e.lings. ! am led, to reflect
mind is the task OF making improvements on
tho earth than all the yainglory which can be
ACQUIRED from ravagins II by the most unintcr-
~ 49, VI Nhl'''N's ~
help thinking that increasing and improving
our breed Of sheep would be one OF the most
especially IN this part OF tho continent. where
We have. SO little winter that they require either
no dry fodder; or next To- none; and where we
to b" troubled with wolves or other Wild YER
min. which prevent tho INHABITANTS there
pect OF Introducing into this country a very
excellent race OF animals. also by means Of ~
liberality of the King OF spain. one OF the
lacks which lie WAS Dleagpd To present 10 me
1.-THE other persisted nt sen is about Is hands
high. his body and limbs very large In propor-
tion To his height. and tho mules which have
had from him appear. TO be extremely well
formed for service. / am convinced
binary mules (which perform as much labor,
with vastly less feeding than horses that those
can employ for the harness: and In n few years
| intend Ia drive no other In my carriage, hay
Ing appropriated for the sole purpose of breed.
There IL q significant observation In II letter
sent from Philadelphia; Aug. is. 1901:
read in No. 50 OF your Annals the account Of
the taxes with which YOU are burtheneh. Had
iho account come from Suitable authority.
been questioned. but absolutely unboliovod.
for ! can assure you that there is nothing In
Arthur Young having requested Information
concernina the agriculture Of the United
the most Intelligent farmers in the States OF
New York, New Jersey. Pennsvlvania. Mary.
land. ana virginia, ana his reply, based on
tho answers to his questions. states that;
new York and New Jersey do not diner
much ~ soil OF, climate from the northern
parts or Pennsylvania. Both are pleasant.
and both arc we'll improved, particularly the
frat. But tho country, beyond there TO the
eastward tand the further YOU advance that
way IL IL stlll more sol Ia unfricndly 70 wheat.
which Is subject TO n blight or mildew, and o:
late years 10 a ny. ,whic!i has almost, di-cour-
IA the New England Statos are strong and pro-
ducti,ve OF other crops, arc well improved.
populously seated, and ns pleasant us II can
he IN a country fast locked in snow several
months In the year. To the southwark Of
Virginia the climate Is not well adapted TO
wheat, and less and less 50 as you penetrate
tho warmer latltu les; nor n the country so
thiCkly settled or we'll cultivated. In A word.
hs | have alrendY minated, wns 10 COM
mcnco my career OF lie anew, ! should not
s-ok u residences north OF Pennsylvania nor
south Of Virginia, nor . . should / 20
more than twcnty'fyo miles from tho mar
gin OF the pOtOwInac. = II is the river
moro than any other In my opinion which
must. In the natural progress OF things con.
meet by its Inland navigation . . the At
lantic States with tho. vast region which ia
populatins lhryond all concoptionl TO tho
westward of IL. = An English farmer
.... -. ''N'