planters liad tilled sixty acres of corn, 

 and, in addition, had vegetables in their 

 individual gardens. Unfortunately, how- 

 ever, the crop was small, due, as has been 

 reported, to imperfect cultivation, owing 

 to the physical weakness of the company, 

 and to having much other work upon 

 their hands, and also to its being stolen, 

 while still unripe, by unruly settlers 

 under Thomas Weston at Weymouth. 

 Some small supplies were happily ob- 

 tained from the natives of the neighbor- 

 hood, and by expeditions made by sea and 

 land to the north and to Cape Cod. 



After the planting of the third season, 

 a severe drought prevailed from that time 

 until midsummer. As a result of earnest 

 supplication to Heaven in behalf of the 

 colony, the abundant rains which soon 

 followed were confidently recognized as 

 the interposition of a special providence. 

 At any rate they received a plentiful har- 

 vest. Moreover, the method they adopted 

 of compelling each cultivator to bring in 

 a competent portion for the maintenance 



63 



