Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 45

Crop [. . .] 1795 Diary for 1795.

The fall of 1794. had been fine, yet little ploughing was done, partly the want of horses, partly neglect in the overseers, & a three months confinement by sickness in myself, viz, from Sep. 1. to the latter end of Nov.

Petit came to Monticello about the middle of Nov. & soon after they began to plough on both sides, first with one plough, then 2, then 3. they did get the 4th plough each till the 2d week in Mar. in the mean time 8. horses each had been made up by purchasing 5.

Before Christmas, at Tufton the Highfield of about 35. acres, & at Monticello a part of the River field, to wit about 20. acres, & about 15. acres for Octfield were ploughed, say about 70. as

On the other side about 25. or 30. as of the Square field were ploughed.

1795. Jan.
Feb.		 }

Not a single ploughing day in either of these months. a degree of cold of extraordinary severity, with many little snows, prevailed through the whole of them.

Petit cut down & grubbed about 8. acres between Franklin & Poggio fields, grubbed the S. Orchard. cleaned part of the Hollow & Knob. fds

Alexander grubbed the patches in Square field
employed his men in Mauling & cart in hauling rails to inclose Eastfd & repair the fences in generel.
Mar. 9.

at night. John & his 4. companions have turned over the brick-earth. have cut for firewood 23. cords, & for coal 50. cords.

the mule carts have brought in 403½ hampers of coal.
12. loads of dung from Shadwell to the Lucerne.
19.

P.M. John Etc have cut 86. cords of wood pine & 2 of hiccory, & 28½ of firewood

Alexander has about 90. as ploughed.

Petit about 113, viz. Highfield 30. & 8 as of Hollowfd for corn, 15 as of the Riverfd 30. of Slatefd for wheat, 20 for oats & about 10. as of S. orchd for pees.
Apr. 4.

began to plant corn at Lego.

finished bringing dung to the Lucerne with the Mule carts.

peaches & cherries in blossom.

Martins came to Charlottesville about the 24th of March.
Apr. 1.

began to sow clover. on trial with the box it took 11. gills to the acre. Colo N. Lewis sowed an acre with 12. gills, but not so well done. the sowings are Antientfd and an Oatfield at the head of Slatefd about 15. as also about 4. or 5. acres to compleat Poggio.

at Shadwell began to sow the Upper field about 30. as
6.

the Oatfield has taken 135 gills of clover seed, so, at 11. gills to the acre, there must be about 12¼ acres.
20.

finish sowing clover this day. 15. gallons have sowed Outfield and Infield at Tufton.
May. 6.

the fallowing is finished here to about 10. as
9.

the clover at Poggio in general blossom. begin now only to cut it for green food. it has not been high enough till now
10.

the first lettuce comes to table.
14.

strawberries come to table.
Manuscript (Massachusetts Historical Society, Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, page 45). Scan available online here.

Source Information

Author Thomas Jefferson
Date Jan.-May 1795
Place of Origin Monticello
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