RICHARD PETERS March 4, 1788. 



The following letter indicates with what a keen observation 

 Washington went about the country, and how he was always 

 ready to try new methods of cultivation, or new machinery 

 that might in any way increase the yield of his farms. 



TO RICHARD PETERS 



Mount Vernon, 4 March, 1788. 

 Sir, 



When I had the pleasure to be at your house last summer, 

 you showed me a triangular harrow with trowel tines, for the 

 purpose of cultivating your dell crops. The appearance 

 was prepossessing. But I forgot whether you spoke of its 

 merits from theoretical or practical knowledge. If the lat 

 ter, will you permit me to request the favor of you to direct 

 your workmen, to furnish me with one complete in all its 

 parts, accompanied with tines, or trowels, sufficient for four 

 more. Colonel Biddle will pay the cost upon demand. 



That you may be enabled to judge of the proper sizes, I 

 will inform you for what particular uses they are intended. 



From the experience of two years, one the wettest, the 

 other the driest, that ever was felt in this neighborhood, I 

 am persuaded, that as much Indian corn can be raised in rows 

 as in any manner which has yet been tried, in such middling 

 land, and with such management as is usually allowed for 

 this grain, and that, by drilling potatoes between, the quan 

 tity of the latter will, at least, quadruple that of the former. 



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