The Coolidge examiner., 1932-04-22

SAhHAl way anu Wlllle llle SIIuSSIc
for liberty put an end to these ac-
tivitfes for a time, it enabled him
frequently to come in contact with
the methods of agriculture used in
the other colonies. AS a result, he
accumulated much valuable in
formation which he put to good use
in later years.
His return after the war marked
the beginning of an era of ener-
getic effort to improve and beau
tify the place he loved so well.
Plants, seeds and cuttings were i'm
ported from Europe, while many
more were received from friends.
both at home and abroad.
In General Washington's day
mules were not commonly used in
America and those that were seem
to have been of an inferior breed. He
made earnest effort to better the
stock and was greatly aided in his
experiments along this line by two
gifts from abroad. Lafayette sent
his two spirited jennies and a jack
from the Isle of Malta, while the
king of Spain also made him a pres
ent Of a similar trio of high-bred
Spanish stock.
Seed and soil tests were under
taken, as we'll as stock breeding,
and the general engaged in a vol
luminous correspondence with the
leading agricultural experts in Eu-
rope. To have achieved the produc-
| tivity that he did from Mount Ver-
mons naturally none too fertile
acres is standing tribute to the
agricultural genius of Washington
the farmer, and together with the
many successful experiments he
conducted there, justified the use
of that title which pleased him
most-"The First Farmer of Amer
| ica."
His Threshing Barn.
General Washington's capacity for
the practical application of his ad-
vanced agricultural theories was in
evidence in the large barn which he
built on the DOgue Run farm. 1t
was a 16-sided brick structure, the
construction of which he supervised
| and the plans for which he drew.
The bricks for it were baked on
the estate, and among its unique
| features was circular threshing
| floor, the boards of which were laid
so as TO leave regular and frequent
| interstices. through which the failed
or trOdden grain could fall into
bins built beneath.
A motive which probably inn
PEELED the master of Mount Vernon
! to include this innovation in his
new barn was his adherence of
wasted time. By providing a good
threshing place indoors, he was able
to be Independent of the weather
in preparing his grain and made it
unnecessary for his slaves TO re-
main idle because of rain or cold.
For greater convenience, the
Mount Vernon estate was divided
into five farms. ranging in size from
the comparatively small mansion
| house farm to the river farm of
were slave quarters. an overseer's
house, and barns and other out
buildings. On one Of them, the Union
| farm, there was brick barn,
which Washington described in
letter to Arthur Young in Decem-
ber, 1893, as 'equal. perhaps, to any
in America. and for cOnveniences Of
all sorts, particularly for sheltering
and feeding horses. cattle, ETC.,
scarcely TO be exceeded anywhere"
An Overseer was in direct charge of
each of these farms. but General
| Washington did not leave the man.
agement entirely in their hands.
Just before the Revolution. Gen>
eral and Mrs. Washington had come
to the conclusion that the demands
upon them for entertaining would
necessitate an enlargement of their
residence. Work actually began in
| the spring of 1775, hut before il
was more than well started the
| master was called away to take
command of the army. His kinsman,
Lund Washington, took over its ac-
| tive direction, but the interior con-
structiOn work was not completed
until 1856, after the generals re-
turn. The mansion. as it stood then
and as it stands today, was of Vir-
ginia pine sheathing, designed and
painted to resemble stone blocks,
! and built over a framework of oak.
The foundations were of brick AMI
real sandstone; the roof of cypress
| shingles.
Practically all the food consumed
was raised on the place. The slaves
subsisted largely on corn meal, pork,
turnips, and a few other vegetables,
all of which were home grown. For
the use of the table in the great
house, wheat, fruits, sheep, and cat
tie were raised.
The hospitality at Mount Vernon
| II 4 i l.