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George Washington List
In celebration of the country's bicentennial, Alan Fusonie and Donna Jean Fusonie compiled and edited A Selected Bibliography on George Washington's Interest in Agriculture.[i] This work is particularly useful because the Fusonie's consulted the holdings of the Washington Collection at the Boston Athenæum and the National Agricultural Library and, thus, were able to provide detailed annotations that describe many of the agricultural works owned by Washington, giving researchers a sense of the books' contents without having to locate copies of these rare books.
As relatives and friends of the Washington's, the Calverts admired and respected the first president, stopping at Mount Vernon for two nights on their wedding trip.[ii] Although Washington died shortly after George and Rosalie married, George Washington and George Calvert would have likely had similar interests in agricultural literature given their practical as well as experimental curiosity in farming, their support of agricultural societies, and their social standing.[iii]
A Selected Bibliography is divided into the following categories: Books in George Washington's Library; Published Reports Submitted to the British Board of Agriculture in George Washington's Library; Agricultural Society Publications in George Washington's Library; General Works about George Washington and Agriculture; and Articles in Periodicals. Provided below is a list of the titles that appear under "Books in George Washington's Library," all of which were selected for inclusion in the Calvert Library.
Abercrombie, John. The Hot-House Gardener On the General Culture of the
Pine-Apple, and Methods of Forcing Early Grapes, Peaches, Nectarines,
and Other Choice Fruits, in Hot-Houses, Vineries, Fruit-Houses, Hot-Walls,
&c. With Directions for Raising Melons and Early Strawberries. London:
Printed for John Stockdale, 1789.
Allen, Matthew. The Farrier's Assistant: Or, An Essay on the Nature and Proceeding of Distempers Incident to Horses. Viz. I. Of Internal Diseases. II. Of Visible and External Distempers. III. Reasons why the Farsey, Humours in the Eyes, and Fevers, are more predominant this present Year 1736, than usual. IV. A General Remedy for most Distempers in Horses; it's Virtues, Manner of Operation, and how used and applied. V. A Collection of Cases relating to the Distempers here treated of. London: Printed for Edward Symon, 1737.
Anderson, James. Essays Relating to Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Vols I, II. Edinburgh: Printed for John Bell and for G. Robinson, 1784. Fourth edition of Vols I & II. London: Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1798. Vol. III. Edinburgh: Printed for Bell & Bradfute, 1796.
Anderson, James. A Practical Treatise on Draining Bogs and Swampy Grounds, Illustrated by Figures; With Cursory Remarks Upon the Originality of Mr. Elkington's Mode of Draining. To Which Are Added, Directions for making a New King of Strong, Cheap, and Durable Fence, for Rich Lands; for Erecting, at little Expence, Mill-Dams, or Weirs upon Rivers, that shall be alike Firm and Durable; for effectually Guarding against Encroachments by the Sea upon the Land, and for Gradually raising Drowned Fens, into Sound Grass-Lands. As Also, Disquisitions Concerning the Different Breeds of Sheep, and Other Domestic Animals; Being the principal Additions that have been made to the Fourth Edition of Essays relating to Agriculture and Rural Affairs; published separately, for the Accommodation of the Purchasers of the former Editions of this Work. London: Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1797.
Anderson, James. A Practical Treatise on Peat Moss, Considered as in Its Natural State Fitted for Affording Fuel, or as Susceptible of Being Converted into Mold Capable of Yielding Abundant Crops of Useful Produce; with Full Directions for converting it from the state of Peat into that of Mold, and afterwards cultivating it as a Soil. Edinburgh: Printed for Robinson and Sons, 1794.
Bordley, John Beale. Sketches on Rotations of Crops, and Other Rural Matters. To Which Are Annexed Imitations on Manufactures; On the Fruits of Agriculture; And On New Sources of Trade, Interfering with Products of the United States of America in Foreign Markets. Philadelphia: Charles Cist, 1797.
Bordley, John Beale. A Summary View of the Courses of Crops, In the Husbandry of England & Maryland; With A Comparison of Their Products And a System of Improved Courses, Proposed for Farms in America. Philadelphia: Charles Cist, 1784.
Bordley, John Beale. Essay and Notes on Husbandry. Philadelphia: Printed by Budd and Bartram for Thomas Dobson, 1799.
Bordley, John Beale. Queries Selected from a Paper of the Board of Agriculture in London, on the Nature and Principles of Vegetation: with Answers and Observations. [n.p., n.p.], 1797.
Boswell, George. A Treatise on Watering Meadows: Wherein are Shewn Some of the Many Advantages Arising From that Mode of Practice, Particularly on Coarse, Boggy, or Barren Lands; and the Method of performing the Work. Also Remarks on A Late Pamphlet Upon That Subject. London: Printed for J. Debrett, 1792.
Bowler, Metcalf. A Treatise on Agriculture and Practical Husbandry. Designed for the Information of Landowners and Farmers. With a Brief Account of the Advantages Arising From the New Method of Culture Practised in Europe. Providence: Bennett Wheeler, 1786.
Duhamel du Monceau, Henri Louis. A Practical Treatise of Husbandry: Wherein Are Contained, Many Useful and Valuable Experiments and Observations in the New Husbandry, Collected During a Series of Years . . . Also, the Most Approved Practice of the Best English Farmers, In the Old Method of Husbandry. London: Printed for C. Hitch and L. Hawes [and others], 1762. Translated by John Mills.
Evans, Oliver. The Young Mill-Wright & Miller's Guide. In five parts, Embellished with Twenty-Five Plates. Philadelphia: Printed for, and sold by Author, 1795.
Gibson, William. A New Treatise on the Diseases of Horses: Wherein what is necessary to the Knowledge of a Horse, The Cure of his Diseases, and other Matters relating to that Subject, are fully discussed, in a plain and easy Manner, from many Years Practice and Experience; with the cheapest and most efficacious Remedies. London: Printed for A. Millar, 1751.
Hale, Thomas. A compleat Body of Husbandry. Containing Rules for Performing, In the Most Profitable Manner, the Whole Business of the Farmer and Country Gentleman, In Cultivating, Planting and Stocking of Land; In Judging of the Several Kinds of Seeds, and of Manures; and In the Management of Arable and Pasture Grounds: Together With The Most Approved Methods of Practice in the Several Branches of Husbandry. From Sowing the Seed, to Getting in the Crop; and in Breeding and Preserving Cattle, and Curing Their Diseases. To Which Is Annexed, the Whole Management of the Orchard, the Brewhouse, and the Dairy. London: Printed for Tho. Osborne, Tho. Trye, and S. Crowder and Co., 1758-1759.
Hartlib, Samuel. Samuel Hartlib His Legacy of Husbandry, Wherein are bequeathed to the Common-wealth of England, not onely Braband, and Flanders, but also many more Outlandish and Domestick Experiments and Secrets of (Gabriel Plats and others) never heretofore divulged in reference to Universal Husbandry. London: Printed by J. M. for Richard Wodnothe, 1655.
Hendricks, James. Essay on the Various Modes of Bringing Waste Lands into a State for Cultivation, and Improving Their Natural Productions. Dublin: Printed for H. Fitzpatrick, 1801.
Higgins, Bry.[an]. Experiments and Observations Made With the View of Improving the Art of Composing and Applying Calcareous Cements and Of preparing Quick-lime: Theory of these Arts; and Specification of the Author's cheap and durable Cement, for Building, Incrustation or Stuccoing, and artificial Stone. London: Printed for T. Cadell, 1780.
Home, Henry, Lord Kaimes. The Gentleman Farmer. Being an Attempt to Improve Agriculture, By Subjecting It to the Test of Rational Principles. Dublin: Printed by James Williams, 1779.
Kennedy, John. A Treatise upon Planting, Gardening, and the Management of the Hot-House . . . York: printed for A. Ward, 1776.
Langley, Batty. New Principles Of Gardening: Or, The Laying out and Planting Parterres, Groves, Wilderneses, Labyrinths, Avenues, Parks, &c. After a more Grand and Rural Manner than has been done before; With Experimental Directions For raising the several Kinds of Fruit-Trees, Forest-Trees, Ever-Greens and Flowering-Shrubs with which Gardens are adorn'd. To which is added, The various Names, Descriptions, Temperatures, Medicinal Virtues, Uses and Cultivations of several Roots, Pulse, Herbs, &c. of the Kitchen and Physick Gardens, that are absolutely necessary for the Service of Families in general. London: Printed for A. Betttesworth and J. Batley; J. Pemberton; T. Bowles; J. Clarke; and J. Bowles, 1728.
Lisle, Edward. Observations in Husbandry. London: Printed for C. Hitch and L. Hawes, J. Rivington, and J. Fletcher, W. Sandby, J. Rivington, and R. an dJ. Dodsley, by J. Hughs, 1757.
Marshall, William. Planting and Rural Ornament. London: Printed for G. Nicol, G. G. and J. Robinson, and J. Debrett, 1796.
Maxwell, Robert. The Practical Husbandman; Being a Collection of Miscellaneous Papers on Husbandry, &c. Edinburgh: Printed by C. Wright and Company, for the Author, 1757.
Peters, Richard. Agricultural Enquiries on Plaister of Paris. Also, Facts, Observations and Conjectures On That Substance, When Applied As Manure. Philadelphia: Printed by Charles Cist, and John Markland, 1797.
Sinclair, Sir John Bart. The Correspondence of the Right Honourable Sire John Sinclair, Bart. With Reminiscences of the Most Distinguished Characters Who Have Appeared in Great Britain, And In Foreign Countries, During the Last Fifty Years. In two volumes. London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831. [includes correspondence with George Washington]
Sinclair, Rev. John. Memoirs of the Life and Words of the Late Right Honourable Sir John Sinclair, Bart... In two volumes. Edinburgh: William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and T. Cadell, Strand, London, 1837.
Solleysell, Jacques de, Sieur de Clapier. The Compleat Horseman; or, Perfect Farrier. In two parts. London: Printed for J. Walthoe, R. Wilins, J. and J. Bonwicke, S. Birt, T. Ward and E. Wicksteed, P. Osborn, 1729.
Spurrier, John. The Practical Farmer: Being A New and Compendious System of Husbandry, Adapted To The Different Soils And Climates Of America. Containing The Mechanical, Chemical, and Philosophical Elements of Agriculture. With Many Other Useful And Interesting Subjects. Wilmington, [Del.]: Printed by Brynberg and Andrews, 1793.
Tull, Jethro. The Horse-Hoing Husbandry: or, An Essay on the Principles of Tillage and Vegetation. Wherein is Shewn a Method of Introducing a Sort of Vineyard-Culture Into the Corn-Fields, in Order to Increase Their Product, and Diminish the Common Expence; By the Use of Instruments Described in Cuts. London: Printed for the author, 1733.
Turner, Nicholas. An Essay on Draining and Improving Peat Bogs; In Which
Their Nature and Properties Are Fully Considered. London: Printed for
R. Baldwin, and J. Bew, 1784 [citation information from WorldCat]
Notes
i. Alan M. and Donna Jean Fusonie, comps. and eds., A Selected Bibliography on George Washington's Insterest in Agriculture (Davis: Agricultural History Center, University of California, Davis, 1976).
ii. Margaret Law Callcott, ed., Mistress of Riversdale: The Plantation
Letters of Rosalie Stier Calvert, 1795-1821 (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins
University Press, 1991), 20.
iii. George and Rosalie married on June 11, 1799; George Washington died
December 14, 1799.
