70 



mentioned in my former work* in curing 

 hay, I scarcely know any plant that it 

 does not very materially injure, to cut it 

 when the stump bleeds ; I have known it 

 entirely destroy a willow. This gentleman 

 waters greatest part of his meadows, and his 

 is the most productive farm I ever saw in 

 America. I rode over in the summer on 

 purpose to see his timothy-meadows ; 

 which were very fine indeed, and vastly 

 superior to any other in that country. 



Now to resume my journey to view 

 General Ridgely's farm. In my way was 

 the residence of Mr. Ringold, whom I have 

 before mentioned. He had married a 

 daughter of Mr. Gittings ; and therefore I 

 must spend a night with him too. He 

 had built himself a very genteel house : 

 he said, in the English fashion ; though a 

 violent republican. His land was very 

 poor, and every thing in an unfinished 

 state. The next day he went with me to 

 General Ridgely's, where I stopped some 



* Experienced Farmer, vol. ii. p. 99. 



