Every experienced farmer knows the natural poverty of such a soil, and the hard labor to man and beast it costs to till it.
To my great regret, Mr.Mechi was not at home, though he passes most of his time in Summer at Tiptree.

But his foreman, who enters into all the experiments and operations which have made the establishment so famous, with almost equal interest and enthusiasm, took me through the farm buildings, and all the fields, and showed me the whole process and machinery employed.

Any English or American agriculturist who has read of Alderman Mechi's operations, would be inclined to ask, on looking, for the first time, at his buildings and the fields surrounding them, what is the great distinguishing speciality of his enterprise.

His land is poor; his housings are simple; there is no outside show of uncommon taste or genius.

Every acre is tile-drained, to be sure.