6 

 THEODORIC BLAND December 28, 1786. 



We have here an interesting account of a &quot; drill-plow &quot; 

 over which Washington was very enthusiastic. Apparently 

 it was a very early form of our modern drill for planting 

 grains. 



In his Agricultural Diary for April 8th, 1785, he refers to 

 this same implement as a &quot; barrel-plough.&quot; (See p. 17.) 



TO THEODORIC BLAND 



Mount Vernon, 28 December, 1786. 

 Dear Sir, 



I am now about to fulfil my promise with respect to the 

 drill plough and timothy seed. Both accompany this letter 

 to Norfolk, to the care of Mr. Newton. The latter I pre 

 sume is good, as I had it from a gentleman on whom I can de 

 pend. The former, it is scarcely necessary to inform you, 

 will not work to good effect in land that is very full either 

 of stumps, stones, or large clods; but, where the ground is 

 tolerably free from these and in good tilth, and particularly 

 in light land, I am certain you will find it equal to your most 

 sanguine expectation, for Indian corn, wheat, barley, pease, 

 or any other tolerably round grain, that you may wish to 

 sow, or plant in this manner. I have sown oats very well with 

 it, which is among the most inconvenient and unfit grains for 

 this machine. 



To give you a just idea of the use and management of it, 

 I must observe, that the barrel at present has only one set 



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