48 The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 



essential use, if a certain proportion of the force of each 

 plantation could be appropriated, in the summer or early 

 part of autumn, to the purpose of getting up mud to be 

 ameliorated by the frosts of winter for the spring crops, 

 which are to follow. And to accomplish the latter, the gullies 

 in these fields, previous to their being sown with grain and 

 grass-seeds, ought invariably to be filled up. By so doing, 

 and a small sprinkling of manure thereon, they will acquire 

 a green sward, and strength of soil sufficient to preserve 

 them. These are the only means I know of, by which ex 

 hausted lands can be recovered, and an estate rescued from 

 destruction. 



Although a precise number of tobacco hills is by my gen 

 eral directions allotted to each plantation, yet my real in 

 tention is, that no more ground shall be appropriated to this 

 crop, than what is either naturally very good (for which 

 purpose small spots may be chosen), or what can be made 

 strong by manure of some kind or other; for my object is 

 to labor for profit, and therefore to regard quality, instead 

 of quantity, there being, except in the article of manuring, 

 no difference between attending a good plant and an indif 

 ferent one. But in any event, let the precise number of 

 hills be ascertained, that an estimate may be formed of their 

 yield to the thousand. 



Being thoroughly convinced, from experience, that em 

 bezzlement and waste of crops (to say nothing of the various 

 accidents to which they are liable by delays) are increased 

 proportionably to the time they are suffered to remain on 

 hand, my wish is, as soon as circumstances will permit after 

 the grain is harvested, that it may be got out of the straw, 

 especially at the plantations where there are no barns, and 

 either disposed of in proper deposites, or sold, if it is wheat, 

 and the price is tolerable, after it has been converted into 



