From E. L. Sturtevant   4 December 1879

Dear Sir;

I wish to communicate to you briefly the result of an experiment in selection which I do not remember to have seen tried before: selecting in opposite directions.

This spring I planted my corn (maize) field with corn carefully selected for the best. I also planted a small lot with seed of the worst character. The result was:-

1. {300$\frac{1}{2}$ Bus.¹ of ears, of which 9 bus. were defective or about 3 per cent.

2 {181 ears, of which 179 were defective or 99%.

The appearance of the field and the plot offered as great contrast in the grain or earing as the figures show, but in the fodder growth there was no observable difference.

Please not feel it necessary to acknowledge receipt, as I know your time must be very much called upon.²

Sincerely yours | E Lewis Sturtevant