GREAT CROPS OF INDIAN CORN. 55i^ 



and death, though conductod with gi-cat earnestness and abihty. What can be oxpec ted by 

 men who are not tnie to themselves? 



I would with great dctercnce suggest, too, that Associations should be formed in every elec- 

 tion district in the Stjite, to demand from Congress the patronage that is due to Agincultur© 

 in view of the number that pursue it, and the value of its products. Among the first official 

 acts of Presidents ^V;^shington and Jefierson were empliatic recommendations to Congress 

 to " encourage Agriculture." Virginia's share of the proceeds of the public lands wciTxd in 

 a few years diffuse over the whole State a knowledge of the principles on which the pro- 

 ductiveness of Agi-iculture depends, that would soon result there, as it has done in England 

 and Scotland, according to the most accurate and competent obsen'ers, in nearly doubling 

 the amount of her produce. 



Should it be in my power to accept your invitation, you Fhall have timely notice fix)m, 

 gentlemen, your obliged and grateful friend, J. S. SKINNER. 



To MeBBfB. John Bruce, W. V. Kookhk, D. W. Babton, Robt. Y. Conead, and E. T. Smith. 



GREAT CROPS OF INDIAN CORN FOR THE LAST FORTY YEARS, 



WHY OFFER MORE PREMIUMS » 



The interest of Agriculture in no way that it can be viewed any longer re- 

 quires that premiums should be offered merely for largest crops of corn ! for, in 

 the results, there is not likely to be anything new or useful. As to mere quan- 

 tity to the acre, why should Societies throw away their means on an object after 

 the desideratum sought has been obtained ? Is there to be no end to the col- 

 lection of mere facts ? Why pile these mountain high ? of what use are facts 

 but for the establishment of principles? It was very well, twenty-five years 

 ago, to ascertain, as was done, what could be produced by a reasonable and prof- 

 itable application of labor and manure ; but when nothing more that is new or 

 valuable is to be expected, surely reason would suggest the application to some- 

 thing else of the funds applied to this object and all other similar purposes. To 

 show how futile, to say the least, is all farther offer of premiums for particular 

 crops, (since we have long since reached the maximum to be had by all prudent 

 and economical means and processes,) we will give here, once for all, and for the 

 special Qse of all Premium Committees hereafter, a list of crops of Indian corn 

 that have been made, and that, of course, can be made again ; and we would re- 

 spectfully recommend that no premium be given for a crop less than the largest 

 of these ; for let us even suppose that by fifty bushels more of manure and one 

 more genial shower, some lucky fellow should eke out a peck more to the acre, 

 what proof would there be in that of superior skill or merit? What valuable 

 principle would it bring to light whereby the same result might be achieved with 

 more certainty and economy for the future? In reference to this list of crops, 

 which we derive from ttfe Cultivator, vol. x., page 123, it is worthy of remark, 

 that while every Agricultural Society in the Union has since been offering pre- 

 miums for the heaviest crops on patches of corn, the largest here recorded was 

 produced in this Slate (New- York) as far back as twenty-three years ago ! and 

 that the first crop recorded was 132 bushels, in 1819, and the last recorded, 

 1842, was precisely the same ; and, farthermore, it is demonstrated that in the 

 interval there has been Jio average increase. Is not this exhibit enough to sat- 

 isfy all reasonable curiosity as to what can be done, and all hope of farther use- 

 in 2^) 



