The Country Ge7itlemai{s Magazine 



Caution will, however, at present, I fear, be 

 little attended to, so numerous are applicants 

 for farms almost any terms are acceded to, 

 regardless of future consequences ; never- 

 theless, sooner or later, overwhelming diffi- 

 culties are sure to be the result in very many 

 cases of this reckless competition. It cannot 

 be that farming is such a profitable occupa- 

 tion to induce these injudicious bargains. 

 All tenant-farmers, unless especially favoured, 

 know that arable land farming, the past few 

 years, has been anything but remunerative. 

 I believe, taking the three adjoining coun- 

 ties of Wilts, Hants, and Berks, a profit of 

 5 per cent, on the capital employed has not 

 been realized. I do not wish to dishearten 

 young tenant-farmers, but I must say the 

 future prospects, considering the high rent 

 (no doubt promoted by unwise competition), 

 increased and ever increasing taxes, and 

 parochial rates, increase of outlay for 

 labour, and mechanics' charges : I repeat that 

 tlie future prospects of farming are anything 

 but promising. We frequently hear it stated 

 the landlord is really the ratepayer ; how this 

 statement is in accordance with facts I have 

 yet to learn, for instead of abatements being 

 made for increasing rates, whenever a change 

 in proprietorship or tenantry occurs, it is a 

 common practice to have a new survey, osten- 

 sibly to adjust the rent equitably with regard 

 to changed circumstances. But whoever 

 heard of a surveyor valuing a farm without 

 setting the rent up ? It is a generally under- 

 stood thing a valuation is intended to increase 

 the rent, which the extraordinary and unac- 

 countable competition for farms encourages. 

 A reaction with regard to such competition 

 might be deferred for a period, but I feel 

 assured that at no distant time such a result 

 will be a fact. No class of men, not even 

 tenant-farmers, will foolishly long continue a 

 profitless occupation, and too many will from 

 necessity relinquish their farms. I believe a 

 great number of tenant-farmers are in a hope- 

 less state of difficulties. It possibly might be 

 inexplicable to many how it is tenants do 



not at once relinquish unprofitable oc- 

 cupations. A little reflexion and inquiry 

 would, I think, demonstrate the fact that too 

 many are similar to a dilapidated building — 

 an occasional propping might keep them up 

 where they are, but a removal would be a 

 " concluding catastrophe." With regard to 

 leases I think a long one indispensable. A 

 term of eight or ten years is not suffi- 

 cient, and does not give a tenant scope 

 for his skill and outlay to be remu- 

 nerated, for the following reasons, namely : — 

 A farm taken when out of proper tillage 

 would take at least four years to get it in 

 proper working order, and to induce perma- 

 nent improvements a legal guarantee for a 

 considerable period is undoubtedly neces- 

 sary. Life with all is uncertain, even the 

 young or middle aged, not unfrequently from 

 accident or other unexpected circumstances, 

 die before an opportunity to reap the ad- 

 vantages of improvements has occurred. 

 Under such circumstances a change of 

 tenantry frequently follows, and unless a lease 

 is existing, either the landlord or succeeding 

 tenant reaps the advantages of previous out- 

 lay, to the exclusion of the family or sur- 

 rounding relatives of the departed tenant. 

 When a new survey is made — either in con- 

 sequence of a change of proprietorship or 

 decease of tenant — the surveyor, as a matter 

 of course, looks to the present condition in 

 every particular, and assesses the rent with- 

 out reference by whom improvements were 

 made, and thus the skilful improver or his 

 heirs are unjustly treated, and deprived of 

 due recompense for expended capital. I 

 cannot help thinking the general interests of 

 agriculture would be much assisted if Cham- 

 bers of Agriculture were increased in number, 

 so as to give more convenient opportunities 

 to many remote localities for personal at- 

 tendance. 



A resolution to the effect that long-leases 

 were most advantageous to both landlords 

 and tenants was, after some discussion, 

 adopted. 



