Search for New Crops 1770-1840


bounties were offered by the Pennsylvania and New Jersey
assemblies-through Franklin's influence, it is thought. While
in England, Franklin gathered information on silk for the
Colonies, and, in 1773, auctioned off a shipment of American
silk.

 GEORGE WASHINGTON
 Washington is credited with no "first introduction," probably
because he did not go abroad as Franklin and Jefferson, and
did not indulge in the same scientific interests. However, he is
thought to have made the first recommendation that a branch
of the National Government be organized to care for the interests
of farmers. Washington's letters show that he wanted plants
for trial and for the improvement of his estate at Mount Vernon.
In them, he comments on agriculture in Virginia and its depend-
ence upon Britain for leadership in that field.
 A letter Washington wrote in 1786 requested Arthur Young,
an English agriculturist of Bury in Suffolk, to procure for him
"implements of husbandry, seeds, 8cc." This letter, which was
addressed to Wakelin Welch of London, Washington's business
agent in England, reveals that Young had offered to procure
these articles for Washington. He accepted because Young was
careful that the seeds were "good of their several kinds; a thing
of much consequence, and which does not often happen with
seeds imported into this country from Europe."
 Washington asked Welch to have the captain of the vessel
keep the seeds in the cabin and out of the ship's hold where
they would heat and spoil. (4) The next day Washington wrote
Young himself, listing the seeds and implements he desired:

 A little of the best kind of cabbage-seeds, for field culture
 Twenty pounds of the best turnip-seeds, for ditto
 Ten bushels of sainfoin-seeds
 Eight bushels of the winter vetches
 Two bushels of rye-grass seeds
 Fifty pounds of hop clover-seeds

 He also wanted burnet, if Young thought it valuable as an
early food, or any other kinds of grass seeds of value, especially
for early feeding or cutting.
 Several months later, Washington again wrote Young request-
ing: