288 REPORT ON THE AGRICULTURE OF DUMFRIESSHIRE. 



it by auction. When the entry is a Whitsunday one, the rent is 

 payable in November, but it is not usually taken until January 

 or February. 



And, thirdly, there is the Martinmas entry. Under this system 

 the tenant gets possession of the whole farm at Martinmas, with 

 the exception of that portion of it on which turnips are growing ; 

 but the owner of these is bound to have them removed or con- 

 sumed in time to allow the land to be ploughed for the succeeding 

 white crop. The one party is generally bound to hand over to 

 the other so much of the unthrashed grain crop as may not have 

 been consumed, with the view of preventing the straw being re- 

 moved from the farm. The rent could be legally demanded at 

 Whitsunday, but it is not customary to require payment of it 

 before August. 



The Martinmas entries are not numerous, Lord Mansfield's 

 estate being the only large one on which it is found. The re- 

 mainder of the county is almost equally divided between the 

 Whitsunday and Candlemas systems, the former being slightly 

 the more numerous. The entries on the Annandale estate and 

 on most of the estates in Mthsdale are at Whitsunday, whereas 

 on the estate of Jardine Hall, and on the estates in middle and 

 lower Annandale, Candlemas is the term of entry. In the case 

 of all sheep farms, the entry is at Whitsunday. But although 

 the Whitsunday entry is so general, it is, we think, the least 

 favourable for the tenant. Under it he must have a larger 

 capital than would be necessary under either of the other two 

 systems, as he is nearly eighteen months in possession before he 

 reaps a grain crop. At all events, that long period elapses before 

 he can dispose of any considerable portion of it in the market. 

 He has thus only his green crop and pasture during the whole 

 of that time, and both of these together will do little more than 

 defray the working expenses of the farm. The Martinmas and 

 Candlemas entries are evidently the most advantageous for the 

 occupant, as under them he reaps the first white crop, and has 

 no outlay in connection with it, except the expenses of ploughing 

 and seed. The very fact that it requires a large capital to enter 

 upon a farm at Whitsunday, is what recommends this entry most 

 strongly to landlords. They believe that under this system they 

 get more substantial tenants, and that, therefore, they have a 

 greater security for their rent than when the entry is either at 

 Martinmas or Candlemas. But many high authorities are of 

 opinion that the security is as good as could be desired when 

 you have in the offerer personal character and practical skill, 

 along with the possession of a moderate amount of capital. 

 However, there are obvious difficulties of a serious nature in the 

 way of changing the term of entry in the case of any farm which 

 passes directly from one tenant's possession into that of another. 



