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holster for their duperies。 I shall leave them； as heretofore； to
grope on in the dark。
Our family at Monticello is all in good health； Ellen speaking
of you with affection； and Mrs。 Randolph always regretting the
accident which so far deprived her of the happiness of your former
visit。 She still cherishes the hope of some future renewal of that
kindness； in which we all join her； as in the assurances of
affectionate attachment and respect。
HORIZONTAL PLOUGHING
_To Tristam Dalton_
_Monticello； May 2； 1817_
DEAR SIR； I am indebted to you for your favor of Apr。 22；
and for the copy of the Agricultural magazine it covered； which is
indeed a very useful work。 While I was an amateur in Agricultural
science （for practical knolege my course of life never permitted me）
I was very partial to the drilled husbandry of Tull； and thought
still better of it when reformed by Young to 12 rows。 But I had not
time to try it while young； and now grown old I have not the
requisite activity either of body or mind。
With respect to field culture of vegetables for cattle； instead
of the carrot and potato recommended by yourself and the magazine； &
the best of others； we find the Jerusalem artichoke best for winter；
& the Succory for Summer use。 This last was brought over from France
to England by Arthur Young； as you will see in his travels thro'
France； & some of the seed sent by him to Genl。 Washington； who
spared me a part of it。 It is as productive as the Lucerne； without
its laborious culture； & indeed without any culture except the
keeping it clean the first year。 The Jerusalem artichoke far exceeds
the potato in produce； and remains in the ground thro' the winter to
be dug as wanted。 A method of ploughing over hill sides
horizontally； introduced into the most hilly part of our country by
Colo。 T。 M。 Randolph； my son in law； may be worth mentioning to you。
He has practised it a dozen or 15 years； and it's advantages were so
immediately observed that it has already become very general； and has
entirely changed and renovated the face of our country。 Every rain；
before that； while it gave a temporary refreshment； did permanent
evil by carrying off our soil： and fields were no sooner cleared than
wasted。 At present we may say that we lose none of our soil； the
rain not absorbed in the moment of it's fall being retained in the
hollows between the beds until it can be absorbed。 Our practice is
when we first enter on this process； with a rafter level of 10 f。
span； to lay off guide lines conducted horizontally around the hill
or valley from one end to the other of the field； and about 30 yards
apart。 The steps of the level on the ground are marked by a stroke
of a hoe； and immediately followed by a plough to preserve the trace。
A man or a lad； with the level； and two small boys； the one with
sticks； the other with the hoe； will do an acre of this in an hour；
and when once done it is forever done。 We generally level a field
the year it is put into Indian corn laying it into beds of 6 ft。
wide； with a large water furrow between the beds； until all the
fields have been once leveled。 The intermediate furrows are run by
the eye of the ploughman governed by these guide lines； & occasion
gores which are thrown into short beds。 As in ploughing very steep
hill sides horizontally the common ploughman can scarcely throw the
furrow uphill； Colo。 Randolph has contrived a very simple alteration
of the share； which throws the furrow down hill 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
it's bar as on a pivot； so as to lay either share horizontal； when
the other becoming verticle 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。 I enclose a bit of paper cut into the form of
the double share； which being opened at the fold to a right angle；
will give an idea of it's general principle。 Horizontal and deep
ploughing； with the use of plaister and clover； which are but
beginning to be used here will； as we believe； restore this part of
our country to it's original fertility； which was exceeded by no
upland in the state。 Believing that some of these things might be
acceptable to you I have hazarded them as testimonials of my great
esteem & respect。
ERA OF GOOD FEELINGS
_To Lafayette_
_Monticello； May 14； 1817_
Although； dear Sir； much retired from the world； and meddling
little in its concerns； yet I think it almost a religious duty to
salute at times my old friends； were it only to say and to know that
〃all's well。〃 Our hobby has been politics； but all here is so quiet；
and with you so desperate； that little matter is furnished us for
active attention。 With you too； it has long been forbidden ground；
and therefore imprudent for a foreign friend to tread； in writing to
you。 But although our speculations might be intrusive； our prayers
cannot but be acceptable； and mine are sincerely offered for the
well…being of France。 What government she can bear； depends not on
the state of science； however exalted； in a select band of
enlightened men； but on the condition of the general mind。 That； I
am sure； is advanced and will advance； and the last change of
government was fortunate； inasmuch as the new will be less
obstructive to the effects of that advancement。 For I consider your
foreign military oppressions as an ephemeral obstacle only。
Here all is quiet。 The British war has left us in debt； but
that is a cheap price for the good it has done us。 The establishment
of the necessary manufactures among ourselves； the proof that our
government is solid； can stand the shock of war； and is superior even
to civil schism； are precious facts for us； and of these the
strongest proofs were furnished； when； with four eastern States tied
to us； as dead to living bodies； all doubt was removed as to the
achievements of the war； had it continued。 But its best effect has
been the complete suppression of party。 The federalists who were
truly American； and their great mass was so； have separated from
their brethren who were mere Anglomen； and are received with
cordiality into the republican ranks。 Even Connecticut； as a State；
and the last one expected to yield its steady habits （which were
essentially bigoted in politics as well as religion）； has chosen a
republican governor； and republican legislature。 Massachusetts
indeed still lags； because most deeply involved in the parricide
crimes and treasons of the war。 But her gangrene is contracting； the
sound flesh advancing on it； and all there will be well。 I mentioned
Connecticut as the most hopeless of our States。 Little Delaware had
escaped my attention。 That is ess