Be good enough to excuse the freedom I have taken in addressing thee—being a stranger—and having no right to intrude upon thy time or attention—I have however conceived that the subject which I shall mention may be of vast importance to those States where men are used for cultivateing the Earth instead of animals of a different species—

Being setled on a Farm & finding the expence of cultivateing the ground wd not be in proportion to the fall of the price of the produce, I last season constructed a Machin[e] for planting corn—and almost every kind of seed that Farmers plant—and finding the benefits of it so great, I have concluded to apply for a patent—a model is on the way to the seat of Goverment

The Machine is drawn by a Horse—and is so constructed that it will drop the corn and cover it as fast as the horse can walk—and by my experiments it performs the labour of seven—if not ten men as it will drop1 & cover an Acre in one hour.

perhaps our modes of planting may differ, therefore I’ll2 describe mine—The ground—of a sod is ploughed deep enough that in marking out for planting the plough will not tear up the sods—this marking out is done only one way (North & South is preferd) from four to five feet asunder—the manure is strewed in the furrow—the horse walks in the furrow—& the corn drops from 6 to 10 Inches apart as is wishd—and a scraper draws the loose soil in again that was thrown out in marking out the ground—from information3 it is well calculated both for Cotton & rice—or any Seed planted in drills—the dropping Machine is easily made to suit various seeds—one man can tend it—small stone on small sods is of no consequence—the scraper acting in such a manner as will clear itself of them.

There are boxes & machinery for dropping & rolling in small seeds with the same expedition—In all the descriptions of planting or sowing Machines that I have read of, they are not only complex—but very expensive—this will cost twenty five dollars only—and with careful usage will do a great deal of work with little or no expence for several seasons—in dropping the corn I prefer it at 6 to 8 Inches—and when hoeing it out—reduce it with the hoe to 8 to 10 I find it less labour and think it produces more corn than when planted in hills—If leisure permits—may I ask the favour of a line from thee—giveing me your practise & thy opinion respecting the use of such a Machine in your State—& very much Oblige