George Washington Papers
Note: this document has content that may require expanded/print view for best results (icons above right)

Farm Reports: Statement of Crops for 1789

Farm Reports: Statement of Crops for 1789

First Statement of the Crops in 1789
 acs.    Acs.   Har[veste]d
Corn 375 Acres 1 Plowing in the fall of 1788 375
    Listed in the field in March abt 1/4 of the above work 94
    Opening the furrows in April 1/3 of the last wk 31
    Breaking up the balks,1 in May, 3/4 of the whole 281
    Plowing Do in June
        do      do 281
 
    Ditto in July
        do      do 281 1343
    Three times harrowed
        do      do        281 843
Rye 375 Acres once plowed for seeding in Septr 281
    once harrowed at do do 281
Buck Wheat 375 Acrs. 1 Plowing in Autumn after Rye comes off 375
                 1 Ditto in April 375 750
                 3 harrowgs once before & twice after sowing 1125
Wheat 375 Acres Plowing in B: Wheat in June 375
                 Ditto seeding the ground with Wheat in Augt 375 750
        One harrowg after Sowing 375
Sundries 375   Acres One plowing in fall 1788 375
  75   of Do in Pease Plowed into 3 ft ridges in April 75
  Checquered abt ¼ of the above work Apl 19
234   do in B[uck] Wht for a crop
  Plowed in April 234
  Ditto in July 1st 234
  3 times harrowed 1st July 702
    8   do Scarcity2 Plowed in March         8
Ditto May 8
Ditto July 8
    8   do Pumpions Plowed in March 8
Ditto May 8
Ditto July 8
  20   do Flax Plowed in March 20
Ditto April 20
Three times harrowed 1025 60
Barley 375   Acres 1st Plowing Jany or Feby 375
              2d Ditto Feby or March 375 750
              Three times harrowed 1125
4899 4511
Of the above work
Betwn the 1st of Oct. & Christmas— Corn amounts to 375
B: Wheat do 375
Sundries do 375 1125
In  Jany & Feby  Barley 1st plowing 375
Feby & Mar.  Ditto    2 Ditto 375 1125
March Listg for Corn as above 94
Plowing first time for Root of Scar[ci]ty 8
Do Do  for Flax 20
for Pumpions3 8 130
April 2d Plowing for Flax 20 60
Ditto Pease grd into 3 feet Ridges 75
Ditto checquered 19
Opening Corn Lists for Plantg 31
Buck Wheat for Manure 375 520 1125
 
May Ditto for Seed 234
Pumpkins 2d Plowg 8 Scar[cit]y do 8 [16]
Breaking Balks betwn Corn 281 531 281
June Plowing Corn 2d time 281 281
Ditto B: Wheat for Manure 375 656
July B: Wheat for Seed 324 702
3d Plowing of Corn 281 281
3d Do of Scar[cit]y 8 3d do Pumkns 8 16 531
Augt Wheat 375 375
Sept. Rye 281 281
4899 4511
Dr.    Cr.
for By
375  bushl  Rye for sd @  3/         £ 61.   5.0   5625  bushl  Corn    @  3/     £ 843.   0.0
375    do  B. Wht  do 2/ 37. 10.0 5625  do Rye 3/ 843.   0.0
375    do  Wheat   do 5/ 93. 15.0 5625  do Potats. 1/ 281.   5.0
750    do  Barley   do 3/6 131. 15.0 4500  do Barley 3/6 937. 10.
Sundries—viz.— Sundries viz.
75  Bl Pease seed 4/ 15.   0.0 1404  bushl B. Wht 2/ 140.   8
234  do B. Wht 2/ 28.   8.0 375  do Pease 4/ 75.
30  do Flax 3/6 5.   5.0 100  do Flax Seed 3/6 17. 10.
  3750  lbs. Clover Sd 8d. 125. Dressed flax
3120  Bls Corn for Buck Wheat 375 acs. Manure   
     Neg[roe]s 3/ 468. 3924.   3.
2750  do Rye for Hors. 3/ 412. 10.0 375  acs. Clover    @ 20/ 375.
100  do of Salt 2/6 12. 10 4299.   3.
330  Gallons Rum 2/ 33. 10.0 100  M Tobo Hills 20 Hhds
£7/10 150.   
750  Bls Pots. seed 1/ 37. 10.0 15  M: Hole
1461. 18.0 20  D. Run
30  Frchs & Ferry
35  River
100  Total
2d Statement of Crops for 1789
Corn 375 acres Same in all respects as No. 1 1343 843
Buck Wheat 375 Acres One Plowing in Aprl 375
2d Ditto last of June 375 750
Three harrowings 1125
Wheat 375 Acres One Plowg after the Buck W: is cut 375
Two harrowings 750
Sundries 375 Acres the same as No. 1 1025 762
Barley 375 Acres Do Do 750 1125
4243 4605
Of the above Work
Fall One plowing for Corn 1788 375
One Do for Sunds. Do 375
 
Jan. & Feby 1st Plowing for Barley 375
Feb. & March  2nd Do for Do 375 750 1125
March Listing for Corn 94
Plowg 1st time for Root of Scarcity 8
Ditto for Flax 20
Ditto for Pumpions 8 130
April 2d Plowing for Flax 20 6-
     Ditto Pease grd into 3 feet Ridges 75
     Ditto checquered 19
     Openg Corn lists 31
1st Pl[owing] of Buck Wheat for a Crop 375 520
May 1st P[lowing] of Buck Wheat among the 234
     Sundries
Pumpns 2nd Plowg 8 acs.
     Scary 2 Plowg 8 do 16
Plowing balks between Corn 1st time 281 531 285
June Plowing Corn 2d time 281 281
2d Do of B. Wht Do 375 656 1125
July      Do Do Do Do 234 702
Corn 3d time 281 281
3d Plowg of Scarcity 8 Do of Pumpns 8 16 531
Augt Plowing for Wheat 375 780
    4243     4905
Dr.    Cr.
for By
375  Bushl of B. Wheat seed        @ 2/ £    37.10.0     5625 bushls of Corn                    @ 3/ £  843.  0.0
    5625     do        Potat[oe]s 1/ 281.  5.0
375      do    Seed Wheat 5/ 93.15.0 Buck Wht Plowd in for
    Mane nothing
375  Sundries viz.     3750 bushl Wheat 5/ 937.10.0
75  Bls Pease 4/ 15.  0.0 Sundries   375 bls Pease 4/ 75.  0.0
234  do B. Wht 2/ 23.  8.0 1404 bls B. Wh. 2/ 140.  8.0
30  do Flax Seed 3/6 5.  5.0 Ba[r]ley 4500 bls 3/6 787.  0.0
750  Bushl Barley 3/6 131.  5.0 Flax   100 bls 3/6 17.10.0
3750  lbs. of Clovr Seed                 @ 8d. 125.  0.0 dressed flax 3181.13.  
3120  Bushls of Corn   375 Acs. Clovr @ 20/ 375.       
     Neg[roe]s 3/ 468.  0.0   375 do        do       do 375.       
2750  do Rye 3/ 412.10.0 3931.13.  
100  do of Salt 2/6 12.10.0
330  Gals. of Rum 2/ 33.  0.0
750  Bushl Pot[atoe]s
     for seed 1/ 37.10.0
1396.13.0
3d Statement of Crops for 1789
Corn 375 Acs. the same as No. 1 & 2 1343 843
Barley 375 acs.           Do                Do 750 1125
 
B: Wheat 375 acs. plowed in fall in March & Apl 1125 1125
Wheat 375 acs. Plowed in June to covr B. Wht
    & Sown in Aug. 750 375
    4008     4468
Of the above Work
Fall One plowing for Corn 1788 375
One       do    for B. Wht Do 375 750
Jan: & Feby     1st Plowing for Barley 375
Feb. & Mar.     2d      Do     for    do 375 750 112
March Listing for Corn 94
2 Plowing for Buck Wheat 375
1    Ditto   for Flax 20 489
April 2d    Do    for    Do 20 6
3d    Do    for B: Wheat 375 75
Opening Corn lists 31 426
May Breaking up the Balks betwn Corn 281 28
June 2d Plowing of Corn 281 28
     Plowing in Buck Wheat 375 656
July Plowing Corn the 3d time 281
Plowing for Wheat—on Buck Wheat 375 656   75
  4008 352
Dr. Cr.    
for      By
750  Bls Barley Seed 3/6     £   131.15.0     5625 bushl of  Corn      @  3/ £   843.  0.0
375  do B. Wht 2/     37.10.0     5625    do Potats. 1/   281.  5.
375  do Wheat 5/     93.15.0     4500    do Barley 3/6   787.
3750  lbs. Clover Seed 8d.   125.  0.0     3750    do Wheat 5/   937.10.
30  Bushls flax Seed       5.  5.0 B. Wheat Manure   nothing
3120  do Corn for Flax 100 Bls 3/6     17.10.
     Neg[roes] 3/   468.  0.0
2866.  5.0
2750  do Rye for Horses   412.10.0 Clover 375 Acs.                 @  20/   375.
100  do of Salt 2/6     12.10     Do      Do        Do   375.
330  gals. of Rum 2/     33.10.     Do      Do        Do   375.
750  bushls of Pots. 3991.  5.
     seed 1/     37.10.
1357.  5.0
Fourth Statement of the Crops 1789
Acres
Plow —Har[veste]d
Wheat 375 Acrs. on a Clover lay. one Plowing 375 750
Sundries 375 Do     pr No. 1 1025 762
Corn 375 Do fall plowing saved—remains then 968 843
B. Wheat     375     Do Plowed in April & June 750 750
Barley 375 Do in Jany and Feby—perhaps—March     750 750
3868 3855
Dr.    Cr.
For By
375  Bushls Seed Wht 5/     £ 93. 15.0 3750  Bls of  Wheat 5/     £ 937. 10.0
75    Do     Seed Pease 4/ 15.   0.0 375    do Pease 4/ 75.
234    Do     B: Wht 2/ 23.   8 100    do flax Seed 3/6 17. 10.
30    Do     Flax Seed 3/6 5.   5. flax lbs.
375    Do     B: Wheat 2/ 37. 10. 2250    do B: Wheat 2/ 225.   0.0
750    Do     Barley 3/6 131.   5. 4500    do Barley 3/6 787.   0.0
3120  Bl Corn for
     Negroes 3/. 468. 5625    do Corn 3/ 843.   0.0
2750  Bl Rye for 55 Wk 5625    do Irish Pots. 1/ 281.   5.
3/ 412. 10.0 3166.   5.
100  Bls Salt 2/6 12. 10. 375 Acrs. Clovr 20/ 375.   0.
330  Gallns Rum 2/    33.    375    Do    Do Do 375.     
£ 1232.   3.0 3916.   5.
750  Bls Irish Pots
     seed 1/ 37. 10.0
3750  lbs. of Clovr seed
8d.    125.   
1394. 13.0
a Fifth Statement
Dr. Cr.
for By
375  Bls of B. Wht for Mane £ 37. 10.0 5625  bushls  Corn 3/ £ 843.
125    do    do for a Crop 12. 10.0 5625   do of Pots. 1/ 281.   5.
125    do of Rye do         @  3/ 181. 15.0 1875    do of Rye 3/ 281.   5.
125    do Pease do 4/ 25.   0.0 625    do Pease 4/ 125.
375    do Wheat 5/ 93. 15.0 3750    do Wheat 5/ 937. 10.
750    do Barley 3/6 131. 15.0 4500    do Barley 4/ 787.
3750  lbs. Clovr Seed 8d. 125.   0.0 750    do B: Wht 2/ 112. 10.
3120  Bls Corn
   for Neg[roe]s 3/ 468. 3367. 10.
2750    do Rye for Hos. 3/ 412. 10.0 375 Acres in Clor 20/ 375.
100    do Salt 2/6 12. 10.0 375   Do      Do do 375.     
330  Gallns Rum 2/ 33. 10.0 4117. 10.
750  Bls Poto Seed 1/ 37. 10.
1408.   5.
Work for Hooes at the Plantn about 55 exclusive of Plown.
days
Corn 375 Acs     to plant wch will require abt 12 
replant ditto
Hoeing ditto 1st time 12.
Ditto Ditto 2d time 12 
Pease   75 acs hilled
Wed 1st time
 
Do   2   do
Do   3   do
Tobaco   36 Acs Hilled—large & well 4 feet distance
Planted in May
replanted Do
Weeding Do in June
Ditto do      July 4.
Ditto Do     Augt
Ditto the Beds at sundry times
Warming & Succouring Do 5.
Scarcity   8 acs Planting
Weeding &ca 3 difft times
Pumpions   8 acs Hilling
Weeding 3 different times 3.
100 

AD, DLC:GW.

For background to this document, see Farm Reports, 6–12 Dec. 1789, source note.

1A balk is a ridge or strip of ground left unplowed as a boundary between two furrows.

2Root of scarcity (Beta vulgaris or mangel-wurzel) is a coarse beet grown primarily as cattle fodder. For additional information on GW’s cultivation of this plant, see Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 5:298.

3A pumpion (pompion) is a large melon or pumpkin.

Index Entries