100 



quanity of ears to show you when I have opportunity. You 

 will see from the circumstances I have named, that I cannot now 

 ascertain, by weight or otherwise, the quantity produced per acre. 

 I think, from the best means of judging I have had, that on the 

 meadow lands the yield would have been 100 bushels per acre. I 

 picked from some hills which had remained entire till ripe, eight 

 large and well filled sound ears. There was an equally large 

 growth of that raised on the hill land, though I doubt the expe- 

 diency of planting this kind of corn on hill land in this State. 

 Yet I think that, even in common seasons, it might be profitably 

 raised on the White River meadows and other favorable locations 

 for producing corn ; for though it might not all get quite ripe, yet 

 I think enough would to more than equal the average crop of corn 

 usually raised in this State." 



You are aware that most of the corn which was planted in this 

 vicinity came up very poorly, many losing their entire crops, and 

 many having to re-plant. The corn which I sent to Vermont I 

 obtained of our neighbor, Mr. Ruggles, who has become famous 

 for raising large crops of corn ; and while that planted by him 

 came up so badly that he gave up all thought of a premium crop 

 this year. That sent to Judge Marcy came up well, and he states 

 that he believed every kernel which he planted came up, although 

 planted there nearly two weeks earlier than here. Will this give 

 any clue to the reason or cause of corn not coming up well here ? 

 I can think of none except this : — The corn I sent to Vermont was 

 the basket of ears which Mr. Ruggles selected as the earliest and 

 best in his field, and which were intended for the Exhibition at 

 Dedham ; while that planted by himself was taken from his bin, 

 without any knowlededge as to its early or late ripening, or Avhether 

 it was injured by the frost, which affected its vitality without be- 

 ing perceptible to the sight. Now whether this be the cause of 

 failure or not, our farmers will lose nothing from following its sug- 

 gestions, and may gain much. 



Respectfully yours, 



Chares Breck. 



Milton, November 24:th, 1856. 



