-66- 



it will not, as four generations from their full-blooded ram will give 

 them the pure race from common ewes. 



In the meantime we shall not be without a profit indemnifying our 

 trouble and expense. For if of our present stock of common ewes, we 

 place with the ram as many as he may be competent to, suppose fifty, 

 we may sell the male lambs of every year for such reasonable price as, 

 in addition to the wool, will pay for the maintenance of the flock. 

 The first year they v/ill be half bloods, the second three-quarters, 

 the third seven-eights, and the fourth full-blooded, if we take care 

 in selling annually half the ewes also, to keep those of highest blood, 

 this will be a fund for kindnesses to our friends, as well as for in- 

 demnification to ourselves; and our whole State may thus, from this 

 small stock, so dispersed, be filled in a very few years with this 

 valuable race, and more satisfaction result to ourselves than money 

 ever administered to the bosom of a shaver. ... - h. A. Washington, ed.. The 

 Writings of Thomas Jefferson , 5:522-524 (Washington, D. C, Taylor & Maury, 1853). 



JEFFERSON TO C. 7/. FEALE, POPLAR FOREST, AUGUST 20, 1811 



On retiring from the presidency, Jefferson returned to his beloved 

 Monticello. Occasionally also he sought rest at Poplar 

 Forest. The following letter records his keen de- 

 light in being able to take up farming once more. 



.... I have heard that you have retired from the city to a farm, 

 and that you give your v;hole time to that. Does not the museum suf- 

 fer? And is the farm as interesting? Here, as you know, v/e are all 

 farmers, but not in a pleasing style. We have so little labor in 

 proportion to our land that, although perhaps we make more profit from 

 the same labor, we cannot give to our grounds that style of beauty 

 which satisfies the eye of the amateur. Our rotations are corn, wheat, 

 and clover, or corn, wheat, clover and clover, or wheat, corn, v/heat, 

 clover and clover; preceding the clover by a plastering. But some, 

 instead of clover substitute mere rest, and all are slovenly enough. 

 We are adding the care of Merino sheep. I have often thought that if 

 heaven had given me choice of ray position and calling, it should have 

 been on a rich spot of earth, well watered, and near a good market for 

 the productions of the garden. No occupation is so delightful to me 

 as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of 

 the garden. Such a variety of subjects, some one always coming to 



