iSob. cfthe County of No^thumherland. 315 



dom, to obtain agricultural knowledjre, and have tranfplanted 

 every praftice they thought luperior to thofe they were ac- 

 quainted with, or that could be advant«»geoi!flv purfued in their 

 own (ituation : And fcarcely a year paflfes, without forae of them 

 making extenfive agricultural tours, for the fole purpofe of ex- 

 amining the modes of culture, of purchafing or hirinir the molt 

 improved breeds of (lock, and feeing the operations of new in- 

 vented and moft ufeful implements.' 



* The character of a farmer is here fo refpe6lable, that gentle- 

 men, who poffefs landed property from 500I. to i ^ooL a year, 

 think it no debafement to follow the profeiTion ; and fo high a 

 name have many of the farmers obtained, for their fuperlor know- 

 ledge in rural affairs, "that they are feldom without pupils from 

 various and diftant parts of the kingdom, with whom they have 

 very handfome premiums *. Amongft the prefent pupils may 

 be reckoned the fon of an earl, and the fon of a baronet j — who, 

 from, their abilities, attention, and anxious readinefs to learn and 

 work at every operation, we hope will do credit to the profelTion, 

 and render the moll effential fervices to their refpeiftive oiftrifts.* 



We have feveral obje£l ions again ft the heads nf a lease, pre- 

 fented p. 32. as being beft calculated for promoting ii"nprove> 

 ment and the benefit of landlord than tenant. Thife we ihall 

 iliortiy enumerate. It is with dilTidence we Jiffjr in opinion 

 with fuch experienced agriculturiils. 



\Jiy We do not think it equitable to fubje6t the ten:^nt to 

 the payment of all taxes, feeing that the burden is necelTiriii/ 

 variable, and cannot be afcertained at the commencement of 

 the leafe. ■ idl-jy The prohibition againft felling hay, is rather 

 a hard (hip, in particular cafes, upon the tenant, and detrimen- 

 tal to the public; for, under fuch a covenant, hoAr are inn- 

 keepers, and others unprovided with^ !ani.l, to be fupplied with 

 thib neccilary article \ Z^^y^ We are clearly of opinion, that 

 rellraining the tenant fiom fowing flix, would be highly pre- 

 judicial to the manufacturing interell of the kingdom ; for, 

 if the covenant was univerfal, foreign flax would, in every 

 cafe, tc required, which vvould occafioa a large fum of money 

 to be annually loft to the country. By fowing at leaft a fmall 

 quantity for farm fervants and cottagers, the public intcieitis 

 much promoted, as thofe people work up the pro luce at their 

 leifure hours, which is a conliJerable national fivlng. ^thly. 

 The clauie obliging the out-going tenant to thralh his la it 



crop 



* Generally lool. per annum. 



