JEFFERSON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") [to Tristram Dalton], Monticello, 2 May 1817. 2 full pages, 4to, several small holes at fold intersections neatly reinforced, otherwise fine. [ With: ] A small paper cut-out in the shape of Jefferson's "double share" plow, enclosed with the letter, approximately 75 x 50 mm. JEFFERSON THE AGRARIAN: THE VIRTUES OF THE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE, CATTLE FEED AND HIS DESIGN FOR A NEW PLOW When Jefferson retired to his beloved estate, Monticello, he returned to the agricultural pursuits which he had shelved during his years in office. The owner of more than 10,000 acres of land, he was given to daily horseback tours in order to monitor the current crops and livestock. Jefferson "was and always remained a countryman, rooted in the soil...he still believed that agriculture offered more freedom and happiness than any other activity" (Malone, Jefferson and his Time, p.146). Here, Jefferson writes extensively on various agricultural topics to Dalton, whom he thanks for sending him a copy of the Agricultural Magazine, "indeed a very useful work." Modestly, he writes that "while I was an amateur in Agricultural Science (for practical knolege [ sic ] my course of life never permitted me) I was very partial to the drilled husbandry of Tull [Jethro Tull, the English agricultural author]...but I had not time to try it while young, and now grown old I have not the requisite activity of either body or mind." Regarding cattle feed, he disagrees with the widely recommended crops, finding instead "the Jerusalem artichoke best for winter, and the Succory [chicory] for Summer use. This last was brought over from France to England by Arthur Young...and some of the seed sent by him to Genl. Washington, who spared me a part of it." He proceeds to elucidate the efficiency of the two crops, which thrive on little work. Then, Jefferson shares his "method for plowing our hillsides horizontally, introduced into this most hilly part of our country" by his son-in-law, who "has practised it a dozen or 15. years...its advantages were so immediately observed that it has already become very general, and has entirely changed and renovated the face of our country," by preventing rainfall from doing "permanent evil by carrying off our soil, and fields were no sooner cleared than wasted," by delaying absorption. He lays out the specific plowing dimensions, which: "A man or a lad, with the level, and two small boys, the one with the one with sticks, the other with the hoe, will do an acre of this in an hour, and when once done it is for ever done." Plowing is made difficult, though, by the uneveness of the land, which demands a modified plow: "Colo. Randolph has continued a very simple alteration of the [plow-]share, which throws the furrow downhill both going and coming. It is as if two shares were welded together at their straight side, and at a right angle with each other. This turns on its bar as on a pivot, so as to lay either share horizontal, then the other becoming vertical acts as a mould board. This is done by the ploughman in an instant by a single motion of the hand, at the end of every furrow." To give Dalton a better idea of the invention, Jefferson encloses with the letter a small paper "cut into the form of the double share, which being opened at the fold to a right angle, will give an idea of its general principle." Ending on an enthusiastic note, he writes that the method of horizontal, deep plowing: "beginning to be used here will...restore this part of our country to its original fertility, which was exceeded by no upland in the state." Jefferson's interest in technology is well-known: "Mechanical gadgets fascinated him, and he remained a hopeless addict to them all his life"; (Hawke, Nuts and Bolts of the Past, p.42). He was extremely proud of the invention of the mould-board plow, designed on mathematical principles, and inspired by his observations in France of the awkwardness of current p
JEFFERSON, Thomas. Autograph letter signed ("Th:Jefferson") [to Tristram Dalton], Monticello, 2 May 1817. 2 full pages, 4to, several small holes at fold intersections neatly reinforced, otherwise fine. [ With: ] A small paper cut-out in the shape of Jefferson's "double share" plow, enclosed with the letter, approximately 75 x 50 mm. JEFFERSON THE AGRARIAN: THE VIRTUES OF THE JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE, CATTLE FEED AND HIS DESIGN FOR A NEW PLOW When Jefferson retired to his beloved estate, Monticello, he returned to the agricultural pursuits which he had shelved during his years in office. The owner of more than 10,000 acres of land, he was given to daily horseback tours in order to monitor the current crops and livestock. Jefferson "was and always remained a countryman, rooted in the soil...he still believed that agriculture offered more freedom and happiness than any other activity" (Malone, Jefferson and his Time, p.146). Here, Jefferson writes extensively on various agricultural topics to Dalton, whom he thanks for sending him a copy of the Agricultural Magazine, "indeed a very useful work." Modestly, he writes that "while I was an amateur in Agricultural Science (for practical knolege [ sic ] my course of life never permitted me) I was very partial to the drilled husbandry of Tull [Jethro Tull, the English agricultural author]...but I had not time to try it while young, and now grown old I have not the requisite activity of either body or mind." Regarding cattle feed, he disagrees with the widely recommended crops, finding instead "the Jerusalem artichoke best for winter, and the Succory [chicory] for Summer use. This last was brought over from France to England by Arthur Young...and some of the seed sent by him to Genl. Washington, who spared me a part of it." He proceeds to elucidate the efficiency of the two crops, which thrive on little work. Then, Jefferson shares his "method for plowing our hillsides horizontally, introduced into this most hilly part of our country" by his son-in-law, who "has practised it a dozen or 15. years...its advantages were so immediately observed that it has already become very general, and has entirely changed and renovated the face of our country," by preventing rainfall from doing "permanent evil by carrying off our soil, and fields were no sooner cleared than wasted," by delaying absorption. He lays out the specific plowing dimensions, which: "A man or a lad, with the level, and two small boys, the one with the one with sticks, the other with the hoe, will do an acre of this in an hour, and when once done it is for ever done." Plowing is made difficult, though, by the uneveness of the land, which demands a modified plow: "Colo. Randolph has continued a very simple alteration of the [plow-]share, which throws the furrow downhill both going and coming. It is as if two shares were welded together at their straight side, and at a right angle with each other. This turns on its bar as on a pivot, so as to lay either share horizontal, then the other becoming vertical acts as a mould board. This is done by the ploughman in an instant by a single motion of the hand, at the end of every furrow." To give Dalton a better idea of the invention, Jefferson encloses with the letter a small paper "cut into the form of the double share, which being opened at the fold to a right angle, will give an idea of its general principle." Ending on an enthusiastic note, he writes that the method of horizontal, deep plowing: "beginning to be used here will...restore this part of our country to its original fertility, which was exceeded by no upland in the state." Jefferson's interest in technology is well-known: "Mechanical gadgets fascinated him, and he remained a hopeless addict to them all his life"; (Hawke, Nuts and Bolts of the Past, p.42). He was extremely proud of the invention of the mould-board plow, designed on mathematical principles, and inspired by his observations in France of the awkwardness of current p
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