Of cattle there were in 1793 a total of three hundred and seventeen head, including “a sufficiency of oxen broke to the yoke,” and a dairy was operated separate from the farms, and some butter was made, but Washington had occasion to say, “It is hoped, and will be expected, that more effectual measures will be pursued to make butter another year; for it is almost beyond belief, that from 101 cows actually reported on a late enumeration of the cattle, that I am obliged to buy butter for the use of my family.”

Sheep were an unusual adjunct of a Virginia plantation, and of his flock Washington wrote, “From the beginning of the year 1784 when I returned from the army, until shearing time of 1788, I improved the breed of my sheep so much by buying and selecting the best formed and most promising Rams, and putting them to my best ewes, by keeping them always well culled and clean, and by other attentions, that they averaged me ... rather over than under five pounds of washed wool each.”  In another letter he said, “I ... was proud in being able to produce perhaps the largest mutton and the greatest quantity of wool from my sheep that could be produced.  But I was not satisfied with this; and contemplated further improvements both in the flesh and wool by the introduction of other breeds, which I should by this time have carried into effect, had I been permitted to pursue my favorite occupation.”  In 1789, however, “I was again called from home, and have not had it in my power since to pay any attention to my farms.  The consequence of which is, that my sheep at the last shearing, yielded me not more than 2-1/2” pounds.  In 1793 he had six hundred and thirty-four in his flock, from which he obtained fourteen hundred and-fifty-seven pounds of fleece.  Of hogs he had “many,” but “as these run pretty much at large in the woodland, the number is uncertain.”  In 1799 his manager valued his entire live-stock at seven thousand pounds.

A separate account was kept of each farm, and of many of these separate departments, and whenever there was a surplus of any product an account was opened to cover it.  Thus in various years there are accounts raised dealing with cattle, hay, flour, flax, cord-wood, shoats, fish, whiskey, pork, etc., and his secretary, Shaw, told a visitor that the “books were as regular as any merchant whatever.”  It is proper to note, however, that sometimes they would not balance, and twice at least Washington could only force one, by entering “By cash supposed to be paid away & not credited L17.6.2,” and “By cash lost, stolen or paid away without charging L143.15.2.”  All these accounts were tabulated at the end of the year and the net results obtained.  Those for a single year are here given: 

BALANCE OF GAIN AND LOSS, 1798.

Dr. gained.