THE FARM OF THE FIRST MINISTER. 17 



It is, however, "an ill wind that blows nobody any good." 

 The Farm of the First Minister shared the fortunes of its neigh- 

 bors. On some portions of it the water stood, at its highest, 

 a dozen feet deep. Here and there, undesired coatings of sand 

 were left, together with worthless deposits of brush and wood. 

 But, thanks to its rubbled banks, it lost no land and its low 

 meadows were elevated in places, to their improvement, some 

 four or five inches, by the sand left upon them. 



Those sections of the farm's grass lands which were in best 

 condition were most benefited by this inundation. The pro- 

 portion of Timothy to the other grasses was greatly increased. 

 More or less of it grew to the unusual height of four feet and 

 occasional stalks were found which' measured four feet and a 

 half, and some even more. 1 



DRAINAGE. 



An examination of the meadow land of the First Minister's 

 Farm revealed the fact that some fifty acres (47 acres 59 rds.) 

 were either submerged or too wet to produce anything of much 

 value. 2 It also showed that the water table beneath it corres- 

 ponded with the surface of Horse Shoe pond, by which it was 

 partially surrounded, and whose summer level was several feet 

 higher than the river into which its overflow was discharged, 

 at a point two thirds of a mile distant. It was apparent, there- 

 fore, that the sinking of this water-table would drain the lands 

 above it to a corresponding depth, and increase considerably 

 the farm's arable area. 



That this depression of the water-table was practicable was 

 clear. 3 Whether the cost of draining it would outweigh the 

 benefits resulting therefrom was not altogether certain, but as 

 Pope says, " hope springs eternal in the human breast," and in- 

 experienced youth is often bold. It was decided to incur the 

 expense and take the financial chances of the operation. 



J It was generally felt that such a freshet would not be likely to occur again 

 for a century, but in this very March, 1896, on the 1st, 2d, and 3d days there was an 

 ice freshet of nearly equal height. 



2 This was a low section of land occupying an abandoned channel of Merri- 

 mack river, which had been formed by successive deposits of aquatic vegeta- 

 tion and silt. 



3 When a level was run the surface of the river was found to be six feet lower 

 than that of the pond. 

 2 



