I asked by what means he had been able to accomplish so much?
He answered, "By industry, and by hiring all the convicts I could get to work in their leisure hours, besides some little assistance which the governor has occasionally thrown in." His greatest impediment is want of water, being obliged to fetch all he uses more than half a mile.

He sunk a well, and found water, but it was brackish and not fit to drink.

If this man shall continue in habits of industry and sobriety, I think him sure of succeeding.
Reached Ruse's farm,* and begged to look at his grant, the material part of which runs thus: "A lot of thirty acres, to be called Experiment Farm; the said lot to be holden, free of all taxes, quit-rents, &c.

for ten years, provided that the occupier, his heirs or assigns, shall reside within the same, and proceed to the improvement thereof; reserving, however, for the use of the crown, all timber now growing, or which hereafter shall grow, fit for naval purposes.

At the expiration of ten years, an annual quit-rent of one shilling shall be paid by the occupier in acknowledgment." [*See the state of this farm in my former Rose Hill journal of November 1790, thirteen months before.] Ruse now lives in a comfortable brick house, built for him by the governor.
He has eleven acres and a half in cultivation, and several more which have been cleared by convicts in their leisure hours, on condition of receiving the first year's crop.