The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 27 



in my opinion can be more conducive to the welfare of your 

 country) will add aught to the satisfaction you must feel 

 from the conscious discharge of this interesting duty to it, I 

 give it with equal willingness and sincerity. 



In addition to the articles, which my last requested the 

 favor of you to procure me, I pray you to have the goodness 

 of forwarding what follows ; 



Eight bushels of what you call velvet wheat, of which I per 

 ceive you are an admirer. 



Four bushels of beans, of the kind you most approve for 

 the purposes of a farm. 



Eight bushels of the best kind of spring barley. 



Eight bushels of the best kind of oats. 



And eight bushels of sainfoin seed. All to be in good 

 sacks. 



My soil will come under the description of loam; with 

 a hard clay, or (if it had as much of the properties as the 

 appearance, it might be denominated) marl, from eighteen 

 inches to three feet below the surface. The heaviest soil I 

 have, would hardly be called a stiff or binding clay in Eng 

 land; and none of it is a blowing sand. The sort, which 

 approaches nearest the former, is a light grey; and that to 

 the latter, of a yellow red. In a word, the staple has 

 been good, but, by use and abuse, it is brought into bad 

 condition. 



I have added this information, Sir, that you may be bet 

 ter able to decide on the kind of seed most proper for my 

 farm. 



Permit me to ask one thing more. It is to favor me 

 with your opinion, and a plan, of the most complete and 

 useful farm-yard, for farms of about five hundred acres. 

 In this I mean to comprehend the barn, and every appur 

 tenance which ought to be annexed to the yard. The sim- 



