THE FARM OF THE FIRST MINISTER. 5 



But our agriculture will be unlikely to improve under any 

 system of tenancy which has hitherto or may hereafter be 

 devised. The changes for the better in its condition, so 

 devoutly desired, can only be secured through the stimulus of 

 personal ownership and the adoption of better methods of farm- 

 ing. The old English system of landlord, tenant, and farm 

 laborer engenders jealousies, supports caste, and keeps all par- 

 ties concerned discontented and unsatisfied. 



While it is to be deeply regretted that twenty-eight per cent, 

 of all the farms in the United States are leased to tenants, we 

 should rejoice that only seven per cent of those in New Hamp- 

 shire are rented. If there be upon this planet any substantial 

 foundation upon which national prosperity can securely rest, it 

 will be found in an intelligent, Christian yeomanry which owns 

 the land which it tills ; such as New England has heretofore 

 produced, and, it is to be hoped, will never cease to maintain. 



THE FOURTH PROPRIETOR. 



In 1853, after it had been leased to tenants for some twenty 

 years, the Fourth Proprietor assumed control of the Farm of 

 the First Minister. He knew no farming, but he had agricul- 

 tural blood in his veins, as a descendant of the seventh generation 

 in a direct line of farmers back to their first Anglo-American 

 ancestor, an English yeoman, who settled at Lynn, Mass., in 

 1630, and believing in gospel and gunpowder, became a mem- 

 ber of the Church of Christ in that town, and a founder of the 

 Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. 

 The farm then consisted of: 



Tillage, 73 acres, 37 square rods. 



Pasture, 68 acres, 12 square rods. 



Low meadow, 47 acres, 69 square rods. 



Forest, 215 acres. 



Water, 20 acres, 70 square rods. 



Amounting to 424 acres, 28 square rods. 



TILLAGE. 



Island 46 acres, 172 rods 



SixAcreLot 6 " 000 " 



Waternummons Field 16 " 105 



HouseLot 3 " 80 " «,.«*. 



73 acres, 37 rods. 



