THE FARM OF THE FIRST MINISTER. 25 



well started before the season closes, and all annual weeds, which 

 chance to spring up, are killed by the frost. The next season, 

 from three quarters to a full crop of hay may be expected. 



If land is to be devoted to oats or corn, it is usually broken 

 up in October or November. Grass seed is sown with an oat 

 crop the next spring, and land in corn, as soon as the crop 

 has been removed in the fall. In the latter case, the grass gen- 

 erally reaches the height of an inch or two before the ground 

 freezes. The next year it gives one half or two thirds of a 

 crop not always free from weeds. 



I need not remind so intelligent an audience as this that the 

 best implements attainable should be employed in harvesting a 

 hay crop. Labor is always dear in haying time and the best 

 are the most profitable. 



The first mowing machine introduced to permanent residence 

 in Concord was used by Richard Bradley in 1866 or 1867. It 

 was an early " Ketchum," and was provided with but a single 

 driving wheel. Two years later the present owner put upon 

 the First Minister's Farm a one-horse " Wood " machine, which 

 cut a swath three feet wide and worked well on perfectly level 

 ground. He remembers distinctly the contemptuous remark of 

 his oldest hired man, as he looked at it. Stretching out his 

 muscular arms, he said, " I guess the old-fashioned machine is 

 as good as those of the new sort." It became evident, how- 

 ever, in a few days that he and his associates had pocketed 

 their pride and were willing to allow the " new sort" to do all 

 the mowing it would. 



The next season a two-horse "Wood" mower, much im- 

 proved and having a four-foot cutter bar, was substituted for 

 the one just mentioned. None but" Wood" machines were used 

 for many years and until an " Eastern Star " was purchased and, 

 with one or two successors, did fair w r ork. These, however, 

 gave way in turn to the four and a half cut k * Wood," one of 

 which is still in use. 



Inasmuch, however, as the improved " Buckeye," whose 

 knives driven by an endless chain cut a swath of six feet, has 

 been found to require little more power than the four and a 

 half cut " Wood," it has been welcomed to the farm and 

 allowed to do the largest part of its mowing. 



