George Washington as an Inventor and Promotor of the Useful Arts; An Address Delivered at Mount Vernon, April 10, 1891 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1892 Excerpt: ... should take the pains to count the actual number of peas and beans there were in a pint measure of six varieties of them, that he might know the quantity of ground to prepare and the number of hills a bushel of each would plant, as will be noticed from the following taken from his Diaries: --'Monday May 121788 At home all day.--Counted the number of the following articles which are contained in a pint--viz.--of The small & round pease commonly called Gentlemans Pease 3,144. Those bro from York Riv by MajT G. Washington 2,268. Those bro by D? from MTM Dangerfields 1,375. Those given by Hezh Fairfax 1,330. Large and early black eye Pease 1,186. Bunch hominy Beans 1,473. Accordingly--a bushel of the above, allowing 5 to a hill will plant the number of hills w0? follow.--viz "i5: kind 40243 2 Ditto 29030 3--Ditto 17200 4--Ditto 17024 5. Ditto 15180 6. Ditto 18854" Another inventor was rewarded by Virginia while Washington was a member of the Assembly for an improvement in the threshing machine. John Hobday of Gloucester county, Va., in 1774 by petition brought to the attention of the House the fact that "he had invented a Machine for getting Wheat out of the Ear clean and neat and with more expedition than could be done by thrashing, or treading with cattle, and that without loss of the chaff, or detriment to the straw; and submitting it to the Liberality and Wisdom of the House to reward his endeavors to serve the community, in such manner as they may think proper. Resolved that the said Petition be referred to the consideration of the Committee of Trade; and that they do examine the matter thereof and report the same, with their opinion thereupon to the House." (Journal of House of Burgesses, May 1gth, 7774.) May 2oth-1774, Mr. Benjamin Harrison reported fr...