4 

 THOMAS PETERS (of Baltimore) December 4, 1786. 



In this letter, Washington makes urgent request of a mer 

 chant in Baltimore for some good spring barley seed. He 

 tells of its scarcity around Mount Vernon, and of his anxiety 

 to get some. He also makes some inquiries regarding clover 

 seed, objecting to the imported kind. 



TO THOMAS PETERS (OF BALTIMORE) 



Mount Vernon, 4 December, 1786. 

 Sir, 



Your letter of the 18th ultimo came duly to hand. From 

 the number of fruitless inquiries I had made after spring 

 barley before I applied to you, and the intervention, between 

 the date of my letter and your answer, being considerable, 

 I despaired of obtaining any of this grain; and therefore 

 seeded the ground, which was at first designated for this 

 crop, with wheat and rye. 



I have also since heard, that many gentlemen, who have 

 tried it (especially some on West River, where I know the 

 lands are very fine, and such as I thought well adapted to 

 this grain), do not find it answerable to their expectation. 

 Nevertheless, as I wish to divide my seed-time, and am de 

 sirous of sowing clover and other grasses with barley, in 

 preference to other grain, I would gladly take fifty bushels of 

 it, and will depend absolutely upon you for this quantity, 

 which I pray may be sent to me, as soon as it can be ob 

 tained, by the packet. With respect to the latter I am 



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