1From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 24 April 1786 (Washington Papers)
It did not occur to me when I was making out my Memorandum for you, that the cause which prevented Morris from proceeding in his field for experiments, might not be unfavourable for scratching over with the harrow (which was then idle) the grd in which the clover Seed failed last; and which I would wish to put in Timothy. Should this letter therefore reach you in time—it is to desire, in case the
2From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 10 June 1787 (Washington Papers)
...the furrow from the drilled Corn, especially after it has got to any size. I think the drilled Corn at Morris’s last year was injured thereby—and to this it was, that I inclined so strongly to the harrows; as I expected they would both weed, and stir the ground without throwing it ei⟨ther⟩ from, or to the Corn; the latter, two furrows (one on each side) if necessary, could always effect. The...
3From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 1 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
...plant, will leave the land in high ridges; and make it more liable to wash, & run into Gullies; to avoid wch, was one of my principal motives for introducing the Hoe & common Iron toothed Harrows, because, had these succeeded, the Grain would have been wed, & the Earth pulverized at the sametime that the land would have been left smooth & even. As these (owing to the uncommonly dry Season...
4From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 8 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
(that was harrowed) come on? Did the Rye adjoining, which was so very thin when I left home, come to any thing—and how has the Spelts & flax turned out? I should suppose that all the Potatoes planted in...
5From George Washington to George Augustine Washington, 15 July 1787 (Washington Papers)
The mode you propose to adopt, of following the Plows in the drilled Corn with the Harrows, to prevent high ridges, is very proper, & will be essential for the Wheat. If time would permit, I am of opinion, if the harrows were to follow the plows—the sowing follow the harrows—and then the harrows to cover the Seed, that it would be best. But experience has fully proved the efficacy of early...