ARATOR; BEING A SERIES OF AGRICULTURAL ESSAYS, PRACTICAL & POLITICAL: IN SIXTY-ONE NUMBERS

Georgetown, Columbia: Printed and published by J.M. Carter, 1814. Second edition, revised and enlarged. 12mo. (4), [9]-279, (1) pp. Sabin 94484. American Imprints 32909. Haynes 18131. Sowerby 814 (with a long note pertaining to the first edition and Jefferson's relationship with Taylor). Poor "Catalogue" 255 (for the sale of Jefferson's copy of this edition). Rink 1167. Previous owner's bookplate and old institutional stamp on front and rear pastedowns, some foxing and browning to text; still a good solid, untrimmed copy in the original binding. Original printed blue-green paper covered boards (mottled, spine perished). The first copy in original printed boards that we have seen and we haven't been able to locate another; the text on the binding prints information not available on copies in the usual calf, including "Price $1.39 in boards," a note mentioning Richards & Mallory as printers and publishers in addition to Carter, advertisements for other books printed by Richards & Mallory, and a more specific publication date of "April, 1814" for this title. (#6256). "A farmer himself, [Taylor] strove to improve agricultural methods on his own estate and in 1803 published a series of essays in a Georgetown newspaper to explain his methods and ideas. These were later reprinted ... in 'Arator' whose central idea was the restoration of lost fertility to the soil by what Taylor called 'enclosing.' He believed that plants drew on the atmosphere for life and that as a result of plowing under crops and applying manure soils would regain lost fertility ... he rejected tobacco, the overseer system, and the use of unprofitable slaves" (DAB).