102 On Virginia Husbandry. 
rarely sold, but distributed among my overseers, and 
people: that which comes to my own table is stalled for 
a few months, and fed with corn-fodder, (corn blades 
and tops,) clover and vegetables. We have but few in- 
stances of the hollow horn here, though immediately on 
the south side of Rappahannock, there is a distemper the 
nature and origin of which is not yet known, and proves 
very fatal to cattle. On my plantations generally, I work 
horses, oxen and mules ; the latter, which I greatly pre- 
fer, are by far the most numerous, the oxen that are 
used for heavy burthens, are worked with a common 
yoke and bow; the few that plough work in a collar, 
and are geared some what like horses.—I do not drill 
my grain, but generally cover it with the plough, fol- 
lowed by the hand hoe, to make a finish; it is generally 
put in, in September amongst the corn as it stands on 
the field. I fallow my land in the fall. When I plant my 
corn in the spring, I plough deep or shallow, though I 
prefer the former, according to the soil.—Orchards suc- 
ceed tolerably well here, though I think the peach pre- 
ferable to the apple for produce.—I have no particular 
defence for either, except to have the trees looked over, 
and pruned once a year. I have no doubt but Colonel 
Taylor’s mode of recovering his land, by its own nui- 
sances may be a good one; but then he can raise very 
little or no stock. 
Most respectfully I remain 
Your obedient servant, 
Jonn Taytog. 
June 5th, 1809. 
Ricuarp Prrers Esa. 
