-7- 



Washington greatly improved his sheep, increasing the wool 

 production to 5:j pounds as the average fleece, whereas his neighbors 

 seldom clipped 2 pounds. His records show that he had about six 

 hundred sheep in 1793. In his efforts to improve his flock, he found 

 the restrictions on the exportation of breeding animals from the 

 Mother Country a decided drawback. 



Washington believed that records were essential to successful 

 farming. During his years at Mount Vernon he kept a diary in which 

 he recorded the happenings of the day, his agricultural and other 

 experiments, a record of the people who came to visit him, and a 

 detailed account of the weather. With this last information he hoped 

 to draw conclusions as to the best time for planting various crops. 

 He also kept a cash memorandum book, charge account books, mill books, 

 and a special book for the accounts of the estate of his stepchildren. 

 When away ■ from home he required his manager to send him detailed 

 weekly reports. These contained daily weather data and notes regarding 

 the work done on each farm, what each person was doing, the losses 

 and increases in livestock, and similar matters. In return he wrote 

 weekly letters containing inquiries, directions, and corrections. 

 Washington stands in the forefront of the leaders to whose vision, 

 determination, and judgment America owes its rapid progress in agri- 

 culture. - Everett E. Edwards. 



