GW: Kids
Questions — Farmer George
The original Farm Reports were handwritten by Washington's manager. We have transcribed them, which means to try to figure out what they say and then type them so others can read them more easily.
1. Nearly all of the Farm Reports begin the same way, with a chart like this. Use it to answer the questions below.
[12-18 February 1797] A Meteorological account of the Weather Kept at Mount Vernon |
|||
| Feby 1797 | |||
| 12 In the Morning | 47 N.W. clear | 49 W. clear | 50 S. clear |
| 13 | 46 E. cloudy | 48 E. raining | 48 N.E. raining |
| 14 | 45 N. raining | 46 N. rainy | 45 W. cloudy |
| 15 | 45 S.w. clear | 47 W. clear | 45 W. clear |
| 16 | 36 N.W. clear | 42 W. clear & Blowing | 40 W. clear |
| 17 | 40 S. & cloudy some showers | 42 S. cloudy | 40 S. cloudy & raining |
| 18 | 41 E. Rain | 42 N.E. Rain | 40 N.W. clear |
*link here to see the real thing!*
- What would have been the best day to take a long walk around Mount Vernon?
- What would have been a good day to stay inside and read? To fly a kite?
- What was the average temperature in the morning for this week (the second column)?
- How does this weather compare to your weather now?
- Why might Washington want this record of the temperatures?
2. Now look at this chart which lists the livestock at each of the five farms.
|
Cattle.
|
Calves
|
Total
|
Sheep
|
Lambs
|
Tot.
|
|
| Mansion |
15
|
15
|
8
|
8
|
||
| Mudy hole |
37
|
2
|
39
|
49
|
10
|
59
|
| River Farm |
84
|
6
|
90
|
203
|
67
|
270
|
| Union Farm |
81
|
2
|
83
|
118
|
118
|
|
| Dogue run |
69
|
1
|
70
|
138
|
1
|
139
|
|
286
|
11
|
297
|
518
|
78
|
594
|
|
*link here to see the real thing!*
- Which of the five farms listed above seems to be the largest and why?
- Now, check you answer by reading the legend to the map that Washington drew of his plantation. Link here.
3. Browse through the part of the Farm Report below, which is a list of the jobs performed at River Farm for the week. Look for answers to these two questions:
- What type of work are the slaves doing at this farm?
- What prevents slaves from working?
| Dr. | River Farm for the Work of 27 Hands Amot. per Week | 162 days |
| Cr. | By ploughing 28 days & fencing 15 days | 43 |
| " hauling wheat & Corn to Mill | 4 | |
| " Loading Carts & Hauling Straw | 8 | |
| " Hauling wood 2 days & Manure 2 days | 4 | |
| " Spreading Manure | 8 | |
| " Grubing 26. And attending to Stock 12 days | 38 | |
| " Stoped by Rain | 25 | |
| Sick John 1 day & Agnes in Child bed 6 days | 7 | |
| 162 | ||
*link here to see the real thing!*
Chart #1: Meterological Report February 12-18 [back]
Chart #2: Livestock at the Five Farms [back]
Chart #3: Work at River Farm [back]
