Your Queries are very apt ones, and I regret my inabillity to answer some of them so satisfactorily as I could wish, and you might reasonably expect:1 Arising from my whole life being recluse, & the early part wrapt in contemplation.

Altho I wrote in 1794, I had only began the practice in the year my publication alluded to, supposing myself fixed with a Person capable of conducting the business: It was to his skill I owed the success of that experiment. That Person, a Scotchman, could not make the Slaves exert themselves to moderate Labor; so that my whole number, under him, were competent only to a small concern: He required wages that nothing less than that whole could pay, and the experiment ceased for some years. Each one that succeeded him had still his failing; and added to that, were unfit for abstract execution; so that I was forced to suffer them to jog on in the old way.

I had such conviction, that I was willing, under a spirited agent still to embark my all; and my anxiety for such an one led me thro a quick rotation: But my ignorance of mankind has repeatedly missguided my Choice. In the year I wrote, and under an equally bungling succession, I often ventured considerably; and the Issue has, each time that I tryed, confirmed my Theory as far as related to the ensuing Crop: Even the Pease I gathered served to pay me for the Labor bestowed upon that preparation for small grain; leaving it a Nett Crop.

Harrassed thus by frequent disappointment, I resolved to strike out another Plan: And chosing out two of the most confidential of my Slaves, I fixed them off with a small Farm each under some pecuniary influence. This Scheme has operated during one Crop; and tho the full vigor of industry has not been put forth, owing to all around being idle under an indifferent overseer; yet the venture does not set so much at stake, and a continuance, bound as they are to follow my directions, will serve to exemplify in the effect on the soil.

Altho the Narative, given above, does not afford the expected information, in answer to your four first queries; yet I hope it will serve to wave them, without shaking your confidence in the Theory. I will flatter myself too, that the Philanthropic eagerness to communicate a supposed good, will not devote me to that oblivion, to which the vain speculatist is so properly consigned. The experience of every Country man, tho he has been hitherto unconscious of the end, will proove the good I advocate to be more than imaginary. Every man who has planted Pease, in the small household way, will tell you of the amendmt of the Land: I will adduce one, among the many informants, who have reported those effects to me, as an instance to found some farther argument upon.

A Person who has spent a Long Life in the service of a wealthy Man, & is looked up to with a kind of veneration by the sons, may well be admitted for authenticity. This Gent. informs me that he once cleared a field, in the middle of which was so poor a Glade, that he deemed it unfit to produce any Crop: Not willing to leave it in a rude state, and to avoid a slovenly appearance, he resolved to plant it in Pease. He continued the Crop for ten successive years; and at the end of that took off a valuable one of Tobacco.

Some Persons suppose that this extraordinary effect is brought about by the falling of the vine upon the Land: But I think so very small quantity of vegitable matter, can scarcely be supposed that competent agent; without imparting to it the magical effects of the Talisman. The closer fermentation be confined, the greater proportion of the volatile matter of vegitable food may be expected: Therefore that which it is known to undergo in the Animal stomach, produces the most efficient manure. The fallen vine lies, the most possible, open to the Sun and air; the fermentation is the slowest, cont[in]uing the whole time in which it decays; the time of evaporation which is during clear weather bears a great proportion to the rain that falls; it may be then concluded that a very small quantity of the emitted matter sinks into the Earth: If therefore the vine falling upon the Land, does work the end obtained from the Pease Crop, it must operate in a manner resembling the Royal touch for the cure of the King’s Evil.2 Should it be contended that The vine protects the Land in the winter, I will join issue there with full conviction; but I, judging that bad oeconomy, will prefer another kind of Covering, which will be found to have the advantage, for being a closer one. I will carry my Vine into my Farm yard—it is excellent food for Cattle, and will render me a better manure. I will place, in the room of that vine, a growth of grain spread close over, to shelter it from Cold & heats alternate operations: By this husbandry the Land is still employed, & still improoving.

I will divide the Topic, to arise from your queries, into various Letters; with a view to avoid tediousness, as well as to induce a longer intermission in your part of the Correspondence: Being aware of your present, intricate, avocations, I wish to give you as few occasions to bestow your attentions on me as possible: The Letters I shall now write you, containing the connecting train, will lie by you, to be taken up in your hours of relaxation: you will at some future day honor the author of them with your notice, when your co[n]venience will better suit with your indulgence.3 In the mean time I hope you will consider me Your faithfull well wisher and most respectfull Hmble servt