The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 103 



I have found it so on my farms. Of the former I have not 

 made sufficient trial to hazard an opinion of success. About 

 Philadelphia it succeeds well. 



The Eastern Shore bean, as it is denominated here, has ob 

 tained a higher reputation than it deserves; and, like most 

 things unnaturally puffed, sinks into disrepute. Ten or more 

 years ago, led away by exaggerated accounts of its fertiliz 

 ing quality, I was induced to give a very high price for some 

 of the seed; and, attending to the growth in all its stages, 

 I found that my own fields, which had been uncultivated for 

 two or three years, abounded with the same plants, without 

 perceiving any of those advantages, which had been attributed 

 to them. 



I am not surprised that our mode of fencing should be dis 

 gusting to a European eye. Happy would it have been for 

 us, if it had appeared so in our own eyes ; for no sort of 

 fencing is more expensive or wasteful of timber. I have 

 been endeavouring for years to substitute live fences in place 

 of them; but my long absence from home has in this, as in 

 every thing else, frustrated all my plans, that required time 

 and particular attention to effect them. I shall now, al 

 though it is too late in the day for me to see the result, 

 begin in good earnest to ditch and hedge; the latter I am 

 attempting with various things, but believe none will be found 

 better than cedar, although I have several kinds of white 

 thorn growing spontaneously on my own grounds. 



Rollers I have been in the constant use of for many years, 

 in the way you mention, and find considerable benefit in 

 passing them over my winter grain in the spring, as soon as 

 the ground will admit a hoof on it. I use them also on 

 spring grain and grass seeds, after sowing and sometimes 

 before, to reduce the clods when the ground is rough. My 

 clover generally is sown with spring grain; but, where the 



