1860. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Ill 



done at that time, while I can almost always make 

 one-half more grain of any kind than I did then 

 — of oats or corn far more than double. High 

 feeding and high manuring did all this." 



By affixing his own signature to these publica- 

 tions, the name of John Johnston has long been 

 familiar to the readers of agricultural papers, and 

 he is sometimes called the "Great Tile Drainer," 

 of New York. 



The presentation of a service of plate to such 

 a man, by a number of the most respectable citi- 

 zens of a great State, we regard as an event of 

 interest to farmers generally, as indicating a wil- 

 lingness on the part of the public to hoj.cr those 

 who introduce improvements in the cultivation of 

 the soil, and to admit them to rank among the 

 benefactors of the race. 



The Tribune gives the following description of 

 the articles presented to Mr. Johnston : 



"The testimonial consists of a massive silver 

 pitcher and two goblets, on all of which are en- 

 graved and embossed appropriate agricultural em- 

 blems. On one shield of the pitcher is represent- 

 ed a reaping field as it appears in our daj^, on 

 another a mowing machine at work, and the third 

 bears the following inscription : 



Presenterl to Jonx Johnston, in recognition of his services 

 to lbs Agriculture of New Yorlv, by his fellow-citizens. 



John A. King, and 19 others. 



The goblets bear the representation of men lay- 

 ing tiles for drains, a ditch-digging machine, tile 

 machine, and all manner of small tools used in 'the 

 stupid burial of crockery' — as an English lord 

 was pleased to term tile draining a few years ago." 



For the New England Farmer. 



MODES OY TAXTIvTG PKOPERTY. 



Mr. Editor : — Your correspondent R. M., 

 asks your interposition as a legislator, to modify 

 the law, as to the assessment of taxes. I do not 

 understand him to say that jiropcrty should not 

 be taxed equally and proportionately wherever it 

 is found. It would certainly be difficult to legis- 

 late that one thousand dollars should be taxed in 

 the possession of one man more or less than in 

 the possession of another. Nor would the inequal- 

 ity be relieved by shifting the burden of taxation 

 from the mortgager to the mortgagee, becavise 

 all this would be guarded against by the mortga- 

 gee when he received his mortgage. 



If a provision could be made for a full disclo- 

 sure of property by those v.ho hold it, under a 

 penalty of a forfeiture of the property, if not dis- 

 closed for the purposes of taxation, this would be 

 as effectual a mode of bringing it out as could be 

 adopted by law. I am of the opinion that the poor 

 man's homestead not exceeding one thousand dol- 

 lars in value should be exempted from taxation, 

 as well as from debt. This would greatly lessen 

 the number of persons liable to be taxed, and 

 leave the burden upon the holders of properly, 

 who are the persons mainly benefited by taxes be- 

 ing paid. p. 



January, 1860, 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DITCHING PLO'WS— TILE DRAIKTS. 



Mr. Editor : — In an article on drainage pul 

 lished in the N. E. Farmer some time since, I fiu 



b- 

 fiud 

 the following remark : "Care should be taken 

 not to move with loaded teams on the surface of 

 the field so as to jar the tile fi"om their places." 

 Now I wish to inquire if this is so ? Can it be 

 that tile are so easily displaced as this ? I should 

 think that ])erhaps they might be disturbed in this 

 way when laid in swamps, but I had supposed up- 

 on uplands it Avas not needful to use such precau- 

 tions. I have never yet used tile, l)ut have recent- 

 ly laid a consideral)le amount of stone drains, and 

 having found these to be rather costly, I have 

 been thinking of giving tiles a trial. 



Have any of the new ditching plows yet been 

 used in this vicinity ? I mean such as are de- 

 scribed in the Register of Eara^ Affairs for 1S60. 

 Can they be obtained in Boston ? if so, where ? 

 and at what price ? and which patterns ? 



One great reason why drain tile are not more 

 used is, because the makers charge an exorbitant 

 profit upon them ; they are sold in England for 

 about one-half the price which is demanded here. 

 If some one in this vicinity would go into the 

 manufacture of tiles, and sell them at a moderate 

 ])rice, he might do well for himself, and greatly 

 increase the use of tiles. w. D. 



Jan. 3, 1860. 



Remarks. — If tiles are well laid as low as they 

 ought to be, viz. : between three and four feet be- 

 low the surface, we cannot believe that there is 

 danger of displacing them by passing over them 

 M'ith loaded teams. 



We are not aware that the ditching plows are 

 either made, sold or used in this vicinity. Drain 

 tile is sold at too high a price, but we hope the 

 multiplication of machines will reduce it. A sim- 

 ple machine will soon be furnished at a very low 

 price, and one that can be put in use upon any 

 farm where clay is found, and the tile made by 

 the most inexperienced persons. So we are told. 



New Hampshire State AcaiicuLTURAL So- 

 ciety. — At a recent meeting of the above society, 

 the following persons were chosen officers for the 

 ensuing year : 



President — Wm. F. Estes, Dover. 



Secretary — Aaron Young, Dover. 



Treasurer — Frederic vSmyth, Manchester. 



Directors — Dana Woodman, North Hampton ; 

 Nathaniel White, Concord; Alfred Hort, Dur- 

 ham ; John Preston, New Ipswich ; John S. Walk- 

 er, Cloremont. 



Ohio Farmer. — This paper enters upon the new 

 year with some typographical improvements. It is 

 a sterling journal, — its editor having a good heart 

 as well as an intelligent head. He is one of the 

 Browns, surnamed Thomas, and does his work 



up B in the most thorough manner. Long 



life and prosperity to himself and his paper. 



