The farm of General Washington at Mount Vernon contained ten thousand acres of land in one body--equal to about fifteen square miles. It was divided into farms of convenient size, at the distance of two, three, four, and five miles from his mansion house. These farms he visited every day in pleasant weather, and was constantly engaged in making experiments for the improvement of agriculture. Some idea of the extent of his farming operations may be formed from the following facts: In 1787 he had five hundred acres in grass; sowed six hundred bushels of oats, seven hundred acres of wheat, and as much more in corn, barley, potatoes, beans, peas, etc., and fifty with turnips. His stock consisted of one hundred and forty horses, one hundred and twelve cows, two hundred and thirty-five working oxen, heifers, and steers, and five hundred sheep. He constantly employed two hundred and fifty hands, and kept twenty-four plows going during the whole year, when the earth and the state of the weather would permit. In 1786 he slaughtered one hundred and fifty hogs for the use of his family and provisions for his negroes, for whose comfort he had great regard. ELABORATE APPAREL OF OLD JOHN HANCOCK. APTNESS AT PUNISHING THE PUNCH. Pen Picture of the Revolutionary Statesman Shows Him Garbed Gorgeously in a Blue Damask Gown. Our revolutionary heroes were not all plain-garbed farmers. Indeed, not a few of them were rather dandified--which is not surprising, inasmuch as men dressed more showily in those times than they dress now. John Hancock, whose bold signature is so prominent among those of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, was addicted to rich apparel. One who saw him in 1782 says that he then had the appearance of advanced age, though his years were only forty-five. He had been repeatedly and severely afflicted with gout, probably owing in part to the custom of drinking punch--a common practise in high circles in those days. As recollected at this time, Hancock was nearly six feet in height and of thin person, stooping a little, and apparently enfeebled by disease. His manners were very gracious, of the old style; a dignified complaisance. His face had been very handsome. Dress was adapted quite as much to the ornamental as useful. Gentlemen wore wigs when abroad, and commonly caps when at home. At this time, about noon, Hancock was dressed in a red velvet cap, within which was one of fine linen. The latter was turned up over the lower edge of the velvet one, two or three inches.