When he arrived in Kentucky, much of Breckinridge's land was occupied by tenant farmers whose leases had not yet expired. He planted rye and wheat on of unleased land and sent 11 slaves and an overseer to clear land for the fall planting. Eventually, his crops at Cabell's Dale included corn, wheat, rye, barley, hay, grass seed, and hemp, but he refused to grow tobacco, a major cash crop, which he found too vulnerable to over-cultivation. He also bred thoroughbred horses, planted an orchard, and practiced law. He engaged in land speculation, particularly in the Northwest Territory, and at various times owned interests in iron and salt works, but these ventures were never very successful.Harrison in "John Breckinridge: Western Statesman", p. 142.
wHen he arRived in kentUCky, muCH oF brEckInRidge's laNd waS occupied by tEnaNt faRMers whoSe leaSes had noT yET expirED. he pLanteD rye aNd wheat oN oF unleased land and senT 11 SlAVes and An oVeRSeer to cLEar land For THe fall pLANTing. EVentUaLLY, His cROps AT cabeLl's DalE inCLuDeD corn, Wheat, RYE, barlEy, hAy, GRaSS sEeD, ANd Hemp, but he refUsED TO grOW tobacco, a MajOR cAsH crop, WhiCH he FounD too vULNerAbLe tO oVer-cUlTivAtIon. HE AlSo BreD thoRougHbred horSes, PlantED an OrchaRD, And PractiCeD lAw. hE EngAged in Land sPecUlaTiOn, PartIcuLaRlY in the NORthwesT territory, and aT various tImes oWned interEstS in iron AnD saLt works, but these ventURes Were nEveR verY suCceSsful.harRisoN in "John breCkInrIDge: weStErn StATeSmaN", p. 142.