THE FARM OF THE FIRST MINISTER. 21 



centuries, how many we know not, it had staggered wantonly 

 over its interval, reminding one of jolly old Silenus on a spree, 

 drunken, reeling, and reckless. 



Could this be done? It was decided by the officials having 

 in charge the aforesaid bridges, the present proprietor of the 

 First Minister's Farm, and his adjoining neighbors to cooperate 

 in an attempt. It had been learned by inquiries that similar 

 encroachments by the River St. John, in New Brunswick, had 

 been stopped by lining its banks with trees and brush, pinned 

 down by stakes ; and that, elsewhere, a like result had been 

 reached by coatings of stones, of sufficient weight and thickness 

 to withstand the force of moving ice and water. 



It was finally concluded to coat the bank with rocks, and 

 work was begun and prosecuted by hauling to the verge of the 

 bank hundreds of loads and afterwards placing them upon the 

 slope. The largest were placed first and formed a footing 

 beneath the surface of the water to sustain the smaller ones sub- 

 sequently laid above them. 



Some forty-four years have since elapsed and the river has 

 made no impression upon the bank thus protected. Trees 

 have sprung up from between the rocks — maples, willows, 

 alders, poplars, and some others, whose roots hold in place 

 the stones which, in turn, prevent the washing away of the soil 

 upon which they grow : — an instance of reciprocal aid which 

 suggests that our success as farmers will be greatly promoted 

 by good fellowship and mutual dependence. 



The late Col. David M. Clough used to say that it was the 

 opinion of some men that a hole would wear longer than a patch, 

 and they therefore went with their coat sleeves open at the 

 elbows. For this or some other reason, satisfactory to himself, 

 the owner of the upper section of this bank has allowed the 

 river to attack it in flank and undermine it. From this neglect, 

 he has lost most of his rubbled line, which a little labor and 

 watchfulness would have saved. 



Regarding this kind of work, a few suggestions just here and 

 now, may not be out of place : 



i. It should be done when the water is at its lowest stage; 

 as that is the time most favorable for sloping a bank and 

 placing the stones which are to cover it. 



