118 The Agricultural Papers of George Washington 



necessity for it), there will be nothing to do in foul weather; 

 the people therefore must be idle. The man of prudence 

 and foresight will always keep these things in view, and 

 order his work accordingly, so as to suffer no waste of time, 

 or idleness. These same observations apply with equal force 

 to frozen ground, and to ground too wet to work in, or which, 

 if worked, will be injured thereby. 



These observations might be spun to a greater length, but 

 they are sufficient to produce reflection ; and reflection, with 

 industry and proper attention, will produce the end that is 

 to be wished. 



There is one thing, however, I cannot forbear to add, and 

 in strong terms ; it is, that whenever I order a thing to be 

 done, it must be done, or a reason given at the time, or as 

 soon as the impracticability is discovered, why it cannot be 

 done, which will produce a countermand or change. But it 

 is not for the person receiving the order to suspend, or dis 

 pense with, its execution ; and, after it has been supposed to 

 have gone into effect, to tell me, that nothing has been done 

 in it, that it will be done, or that it could not be done ; either 

 of these is unpleasant and disagreeable to me, having been 

 all my life accustomed to more regularity and punctuality. 

 Nothing but system and method are required to accomplish 

 any reasonable requests. 



UNION FARM 



DIRECTIONS CONCERNING CROPS FOR THE UNION FARM, AND 

 OPERATIONS THEREON, FOR THE YEAR 1800 



Field No. 1. Is now sown with wheat, to be harvested in 

 1800; the stubble of which is to be immediately ploughed 

 in, and rye sowed thereon for a sheep pasture. Grass-seeds 

 must be sown therewith, on such parts as will yield grass 



