Mr. Robbins’ farm lay in what appeared to be an ancient valley, several miles in width, although only a small stream now winds through it to the sea seven miles away.

“So you are from Illinois,” said Mr. Robbins, after Percy had introduced himself and explained the nature of his visit.  “The papers have a good deal to say about the corn you grow in Illinois; but have you noticed that the Government reports show our average yield of corn in New England is higher than yours in Illinois?”

“Yes, Sir,” Percy replied, “I have noticed that and I have come to Rhode Island to learn how to raise more corn per acre.  I have noticed, however, that New England corn does not occupy a large acreage.”

Well, now, we count corn as one of our big crops, next to hay.  You’ll see plenty of corn fields right here in Rhode Island.”

“Would you believe that we actually raise more corn on one farm in Illinois than the total corn crop of Rhode Island?”

“You don’t tell!”

“Yes,” said Percy, “the Isaac Funk farm in McLean County grows more corn on seven thousand acres a year, with an average yield certainly above fifty bushels per acre, and surely making a total above 350,000 bushels; while the State of Rhode Island grows corn on nearly ten thousand acres with an average yield of thirty-two bushels, making a total yield of about 320,000 bushels.”

“Well, I’ll give it up; but I’d like to know how much corn you raise in the whole State of Illinois.”

“Our average production,” said Percy, “is about equal to the total production of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi.”

“Eighteen of us!” exclaimed Mr. Robbins, who had counted on his fingers from New York to Mississippi.  “And you come to Rhode Island to learn how to raise corn?”

“Yes, I came to learn how you raise more than thirty-five bushels of corn per acre as an average for New England, while we raise less than thirty-five bushels as an average in Illinois, and while Georgia, a larger State than Illinois, raises only eleven bushels per acre as a ten year average.  Illinois is a new State, but I call to mind that Roger Williams settled in Rhode Island in 1636 and that he was joined by many others coming not only from Massachusetts but also from other sections.  I assume that much of the land in Rhode Island has been farmed for 250 years, and the fact that you are still producing more than thirty bushels of corn per acre, as an average, is, it seems to me, a fact of great significance.  I suppose you use all the manure you can make from the crops you raise and perhaps use some commercial fertilizer also.  I should like to know what yield of corn you produce without any manure or fertilizer?”