108 The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 



farms, and with their people. The work, under such circum 

 stances, will go on smoothly ; and, that the stock may be well 

 fed, littered, and taken care of according to the directions, 

 it will be necessary to inspect the conduct of the overseers 

 in this particular, and those also whose immediate business 

 it is to attend upon them, with a watchful eye; otherwise, 

 and generally in severe weather, when attention and care 

 are most needed, they will be most neglected. 



Economy in all things is as commendable in the manager, 

 as it is beneficial and desirable to the employer ; and, on a 

 farm, it shows itself in nothing more evidently, or more essen 

 tially, than in not suffering the provender to be wasted, but, 

 on the contrary, in taking care that every atom of it be used 

 to the best advantage; and, likewise, in not permitting the 

 ploughs, harness, and other implements of husbandry, and 

 the gears belonging to them, to be unnecessarily exposed, 

 trodden under foot, run over by carts, and abused in other 

 respects. More good is derived from attending to the minu 

 tiae of a farm, than strikes people at first view ; and exam 

 ining the farm-yard fences, and looking into the fields to see 

 that nothing is there but what is allowed to be there, is often 

 times the means of producing more good, or at least of 

 avoiding more evil, than can be accomplished by riding from 

 one working party or overseer to another. I have mentioned 

 these things not only because they have occurred to me, but 

 because, although apparently trifles, they prove far other 

 wise in the result. 



The account for the present quarter must be made final, as 

 an entire new scene will take place afterwards. In doing this, 

 advertise in the Alexandria paper for the claims of every 

 kind and nature whatsoever against me, to be brought to you 

 by the 1st of January, that I may wipe them off, and begin 

 on a fresh score. All balances in my favor must either be 



