THIRD STATEMENT OF CROPS FOR 1789. Har. Acres. rowed. Corn; 375 acres. Barley; 375 acres. do. do. The same as No. 1 and No. 2, Buckwheat; 375 acres. Ploughed in fall, in March and April, 1125 and Corn in August, Flax; 20 acres. Ploughed twice, harrowed three times, 1343 843 do. 750 1125 1125 750 375 MANSION-HOUSE FARM for the work of 12 men, 6 boys, and 4 girls, amounting per week to CR. By a wagon hauling posts and rails to Ferry-Barn lane, By do. hauling hay 1, stocks 1, timber for shafts for carts and moving park rails 1, By hauling 6 barrels salt to Major Washington's landing, and bringing home straw, By carts hauling manure from Ferry Barn to No. 2 French's, By cleaning loose manure about stables, and hauling it to lot intended for lucerne, By hauling corn from Ferry, and bran and meal from Mill wood to By hauling stones to repair the crossing-place of Muddy-Hole Swamp, Days. By Old Jack in care of granary 6, Old Frank in care of stock 6, 12 By Peter, in care of mares, mules, and jacks, By Gunner digging brick earth 3, cutting poles to build a brick house 2, 41 By Easter Monday, 22 By sickness Boatswain 6, Mima 3, Richmond 3, Postilion Joe 3, Lynna 3, Sam 3, 21 * While Washington was absent from home, in discharging the duties of President of the United States, it was his custom to exact from the manager at Mount Vernon, once in each week, a full report of the proceedings on all the farms. This paper is a sample of those reports. In the meteorological table, the figures denote the state of the thermometer, and the initial letters the direction of the wind. The design of this table was to communicate a knowledge of the weather, by which a more correct judgment could be formed of the amount of time, that the laborers could properly be employed at their work. Each report was accompanied with an explanatory letter from the manager, containing other particulars. These were regularly answered once a week by the President, and sometimes oftener. His letters frequently filled two or three sheets closely written. The importance he attached to these letters, and his diligence in preparing them, may be understood from the fact, that he first made rough drafts, which were copied out by himself in a fair hand before they were sent off. Press-copies were then taken, which he preserved. This habit was pursued, without intermission, from the beginning to the end of the Presidency. Increase, 2 Calves and 2 Mules. Received from Mill, 22 bushels of Meal, and 29 bushels of Bran; from Ferry, 3 barrels of Corn. Stock, 11 head of Cattle, 4 Calves, 60 Sheep, 28 Lambs, 4 working Mares, 4 do. Horses, 5 Colts, 4 spring do., 2 Jacks, 2 old Jennies, I do. three years old, I do. two years old, 1 do. one year old, 15 Mules, 10 one year old, 2 spring do. ; and 11 Mares. DR. Ditchers, for the work of 6 men, amounting per week to CR. By Baths and Paschal mortising posts 1, fencing Ferry-Barn new lane 4, By Dundee sawing trunnels with Dogue-Run hands, Days. 36 10 10 5 By Easter Monday, N. B. There has been almost one day and part of another lost by rain this week. DR. Days. MUDDY-HOLE FARM for the work of 3 men and 9 women, amounting per week to 72 CR. By listing in No. 2, By a cart hauling stakes and trunnels to the fence between Nos. 1 and 7, By taking down and new setting the Lane fence of No. 1, By Easter Monday, By raising the bank with a plough and hoes between No. 1 and No. 7, By putting up fences on said bank 19, cutting stakes and trunnels for do. 7, 11 26 7 12 By sickness, Kate 3, Amy 2, Molly 3, Received from Mill bushels of Meal, and 6 bushels of Rye Meal. - Stock, 37 head of cattle, 5 Calves, 30 Sheep, working Horses, and 1 Mule. DR. Days. FERRY AND FRENCH'S FARMS for the work of 7 men, 16 women, and 4 boys, amounting per week to 162 CR. By listing new ground in French's meadow, 16 By carts hauling stakes, rails, and trunnels to different fences, By hauling manure to No. 2 French's 3, hauling corn to Mill 1, 64 By spinning 3, hauling seine 5, French's Tom at Mansion-House 5, By sickness, Doll 6, Old Daph 5, Betty 4, Rose 3, Delia 2, Increase 2 Calves, and 5 Lambs. Received from Mill, 124 bushels of Meal, sent do. 54 bushels of Corn. To Mansion-House 3 barrels of do., feed to Horses 1 barrel of do. - Stock, 83 head of Cattle, 5 Calves, 136 Sheep, 60 Lambs, 16 working Horses, and 2 Mules. DR. RIVER FARM for the work of 9 men, 18 women, and 1 girl, amounting per week to Days. 168 By loading carts with manure 6, cutting straw 3, By plashing thorn hedge 4, repairing the bank of Lane fence No. 6, 2, By stopping hog-hole in do. 6, putting up new fence next to the woods of do. 18, By cutting cornstalks, and getting them off, Lost by rain, or very little done, By Easter Monday, 96 24 56 By Cornelia in childbed, Increase, 2 Calves. Received from Mill, 93 bushels of Meal, and 10 bushels of Rye Meal.-Stock, 83 head of Cattle, 5 Calves, 221 Sheep, 45 Lambs, 4 working Mares, 13 working Horses, and 1 Mule. DR. DOGUE-RUN FARM for the work of 6 men, 8 women, and 2 girls, amounting per week to Days. 96 By sickness, Grace 3, Molly 3, Sall 3, Cicely 4, CR. By listing in No. 2, 5, by ploughing in Mill meadow 2, By raising a bank with a plough and hoes in Mill meadow for the fence, By repairing fence around the middle meadow, By repairing fence around No. 2, 7, by spinning 2, By hauling post and rails to Ferry-Barn new lane, By hauling rails to Mill meadow fence, By hauling rails to the middle meadow fence, By Easter Monday, 7 19 12 10 5 3 2 16 13 Received from Mill, 63 bushels of Meal. - Stock, 57 head of Cattle, 1 Calf, 124 Sheep, 9 working Horses, and 1 Mule. DR. JOINERS AND CARPENTERS for the work of 6 men and 2 boys, amounting per week to Days. 48 5 CR. By Thomas Green making sashes for the new quarter, By Isaac making and mending ploughs 4, getting ash for rake-handles 1, By Sambo ripping plank on account of rain By David with Isaac on account of do. By Joe planing plank, MR. WHITING, TO ANTHONY WHITING. Philadelphia, 11 November, 1792. Since my last, I have received your letters of the 2d and 7th instant, and shall notice such parts of them as require it, and give such directions respecting my business, committed to your management, as may occur to me. I shall again express my wish, and, as the raising of corn at the Mansion-House is given up, will also add my anxiety, to have all the ground (except single trees and clumps here and there) cleared, and well cleared, as mentioned in a former letter, between the old clover lot and the sunken ground quite from the wharf to Richard's house and the gate; but, previously, do what has been desired from the cross fence by the spring, to the wharf. In clearing the whole of this ground, let all the ivy and flowering trees and shrubs remain on it, over and above the clumps, and other single trees where they may be thought requisite, for ornament. The present growing pines within that enclosure might be thinned, and brought more into form. When this is done, and all the low land from the river up to the gate laid down in grass, it will add much to the appearance of the place, and be a real benefit and convenience, as it will yield an abundance of grass. All the hands, that can be conveniently spared, may be kept steadily at this work until it is accomplished, or till they are called off for other essential purposes. The ditchers too, when not employed about more essential work, may aid in this. And it will be necessary for you to think of some crop for the new part of the ground, that will require cultivation through the summer; otherwise the clearing of it will be labor in vain, as in a year or two, without cultivation, it will be as foul as ever. By a vessel called the President, Captain Carhart, you will receive, I hope, the articles contained in the enclosed invoice and bill of lading. The linen, I expect will be cut out and used to the best advantage. You will perceive there are two prices; let that, which bears the lowest price, be given to the boys and girls, and the highest price and best, to the grown and most deserving * This letter is directed to his manager, and may serve as a sample of the communications on the subject of his farms, which, as heretofore stated, he usually wrote once a week. |