The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 45 



pacity and skill. The former, though of essential im 

 portance, are not sufficient without the latter. For, as I have 

 often remarked to you, contrivance in business, and a judi 

 cious arrangement of it, should be the leading trait in the 

 character of a manager. Indeed, they are of such infinite 

 consequence, that no estate can be well conducted without 

 them. Unless the different kinds of business, which occupy 

 the laborerers of every plantation or farm, can be brought 

 into one view and seen at a distance, they will for ever be 

 interfering with and treading on the heels of each other. By 

 foresight, arrangement, and the execution of a due propor 

 tion of work, this jumble is to be avoided. 



It is with pain I receive the Saturday-night reports, for 

 no week passes away without a diminution of my stock. Nor 

 is it less painful to me to see the condition of my work 

 horses ; some dying, and others scarcely able to walk, unin- 

 cumbered with a plough. And I might add, as a matter of 

 no less concern, that it is vain and idle for me to attempt to 

 stall-feed any kind of meats, when I have only my expense 

 for my pains, without a morsel of meat fit to appear at my 

 table or for market. But I will rest in hopes, that these 

 things will undergo a change for the better. 



I am not inclined to your keeping a horse. There is no 

 occasion for it. My own are adequate to all the services, 

 that my business will require, and more would add expense 

 without profit; as I need not tell you that there must be 

 no more running about, whilst I am absent, than if I were 

 on the spot. Indeed, I have too good an opinion of you to 

 suppose it necessary to remind you of this. 



As I have already given you plans of those plantations, 

 which are committed to your care, and have detailed the 

 business of each in the best manner my time and judgment 

 would enable me to do, I shall add nothing more on this 



