THE BROWN CORN. 275 



The whole crop on the acre, in ears, weighed eight 

 thousand and fifty-one pounds. We shelled both of 

 the traced and the untraced, to get the amount in 

 bushels : of that which was traced, seventy pounds 

 made a bushel ; of that which was not traced, sixty- 

 eight and three fourths pounds made a bushel : whole 

 amount, one hundred and sixteen bushels. We first 

 went over the piece and selected all that was suitable 

 for seed, which was over one half in weight. 



Mr. Lamprey measured his the usual way, by meas- 

 uring all in a basket and shelling one basketful, and 

 had one hundred and thirty-one bushels, for which he 

 obtained the first premium. Mr. Pilsbury, on Cow 

 Island, measured his in the same way, and had one 

 hundred and thirty, and took the second premium, 

 there being but two premiums offered by the society. 

 But the committee on crops, considering the exact 

 manner in which I obtained the measurement, and 

 superior quality of the specimen which I presented, 

 recommended in their report to award me a premium, 

 which was accepted, and I obtained a premium for the 

 excellence of my corn. It seemed to be the opinion of 

 many before harvest, that I should have most on an 

 acre ; but the season being more suitable for their 

 ground, it being dryer than mine, partly accounts for 

 the result, and the manner they measured, which can- 

 not be so exact as that of weighing, will also partly 

 account for it. By ploughing in the manure very deep, 

 I did not probably get so much of the strength of it as 

 if the season had been dryer ; but I would not dis- 

 courage the practice of deep ploughing, and well mix- 

 ing the manure with the soil. I still think it the best 

 way : if in some seasons we do not get so much of its 

 strength, we retain the manure and enrich the soil. 

 I am yours with respect, 



John Brown, 2d. 



