George Washington Papers

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 Listing 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 once harrowed at do do 281 281 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 234 702 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 XXX 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 2d 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 Sundries 234 Pumpns 2d 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. Wht 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 Neg[roes] 3/ 468. 0.0 Flax 100 Bls 3/6 17.10. 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. seed 1/ 37.10. 3991. 5. 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 Negros 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/ 18.15.0 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 6 Hoeing ditto 1st time 12. Ditto Ditto 2d time 12 Pease 75 acs hilled 6 Wed 1st time 5 Do 2 do 5 Do 3 do 5 Tobaco 36 Acs Hilled—large & well 4 feet distance 5 Plantd in May 2 replanted Do 1 Weeding Do in June 4 Ditto do July 4. Ditto Do Augt 4 Ditto the Beds at sundry times 4 Warming & Succouring Do 5. Scarcity 8 acs Planting 1 Weeding &ca 3 difft times 3 Pumpions 8 acs Hilling 1 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.

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