10 

 GEORGE A. WASHINGTON March SI, .1789. 



This letter was written by Washington to his nephew who 

 was to &quot; be trusted with the general management of all my 

 concerns during my absence.&quot; It is a long letter, and full of 

 explicit instructions as to the future management of his busi 

 ness affairs. One is amazed at Washington s complete mas 

 tery of detail as suggested by this letter. Yet he was not 

 without the capacity of viewing things at a distance, and get 

 ting them into their proper proportion. This must have 

 been one of his secrets of success as a general, and later as a 

 president. 



A very good insight into his farming methods is obtained 

 by a careful reading of the following letter. 



TO GEORGE A. WASHINGTON 



Directions for George A. Washington, respecting the Man 

 agement of the Plantation and other affairs at Mount 

 Vernon. 



31 March, 1789. 



Having given very full and ample details of the intended 

 crops, and my ideas of the modes of managing them at the 

 several plantations, little, if these are observed, needs be 

 added on this subject. But as the profit of every farm is 

 greater or less, in proportion to the quantity of manure, 

 which is made thereon, or can be obtained by keeping the 

 fields in good conditions, these two important requisites ought 

 never to be lost sight of. 



To effect the former, besides the ordinary means of farm 

 yards, cow-pens, sheep-folds, stables, &c., it would be of 



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