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Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 to Tristam Dalton

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07670.01 Author/Creator: Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826 Place Written: Monticello, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 2 May 1817 Pagination: 2 p. : Height: 24.7 cm, Width: 19.9 cm Order a Copy

Thanks him for the copy of Agriculture Magazine he sent. Regarding cattle feed, he states that instead of the widely used crops of carrots, potatoes, and beets, he recommends Jerusalem artichoke and succory (chicory). He describes the merits of these two crops. Shares his method for plowing hillsides horizontally, which he states his son-in-law (Thomas Mann Randolph) has been doing for years with great success because it prevents rainfall from carrying the soil away. Discusses a modified plow which works well on uneven land. Ends by saying that 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." Includes separate cut-out drawing of the modified plow design. Letter is not addressed but recipient is identified in collateral letter, GLC07670.02.

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826
Dalton, Tristram, 1738-1817
Randolph, Thomas M. (Thomas Mann), 1768-1828
National Expansion and Reform, 1815-1860
President
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry
Inventor
Science and Technology
The First Age of Reform

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