8 On the Imj^rovemenh in West Norfolk. 



subsequent meeting. This liberality, not only in the prizes he 

 offered, but in the magnificent hospitaHty of these meetings, con- 

 gregated men from all parts of the civilised world. None but 

 agricultural subjects were discussed : on these the most conflict- 

 ing opinions were freely given, and as freely canvassed, but every- 

 thing political was excluded; and thus, although the political 

 opinions of Lord Leicester and of most of his personal friends 

 were not only very decided, but for a great period, and that the 

 most brilliant era of the Holkham meetings, unpopular with the 

 great majority of those connected with the landed interest, yet 

 men of every shade of political opinion were heartily welcome, 

 and confident that, although they might hear some favourite 

 theory of farming ridiculed, they never would find anything hurt- 

 ful to their political feelings advanced. The sheep-shearing of 

 1822, indeed, was an exception; political topics were then intro- 

 duced — it was a bad omen. This sheep-shearing was the last. 

 By means of these discussions the correct theory of agriculture 

 was improved and made known : by theory I mean, Avhat it 

 always should mean, the combination of the results of the best 

 practice in various circumstances; not the fanciful schemes of 

 clever but unpractised projectors, well informed perhaps on other 

 subjects, but deriving the data from which they deduce their 

 plans from the speculations of their own minds, and not from the 

 results of practical experiments. But though the theory was thus 

 made known, its practical effect would have been little upon the 

 improvement of West Norfolk had it not been proved to be right 

 by the experience of men engaged in the cultivation of the dis- 

 trict itself. 



This was effected by the well-considered covenants introduced 

 by Lord Leicester into his leases. Long leases are advantageous 

 if properly regulated ; they give the tenant a security, which he 

 cannot otherwise obtain, that he will reap the benefit of any out- 

 lay of capital which he may make upon his farm : but long leases 

 existed in West Norfolk w^hen its agriculture was in the wretched 

 state which I have described. A prejudiced or an ignorant oc- 

 cupier will gain nothing by having a lease ; and an unprincipled 

 one, though sufficiently skilful, may leave his land so deteriorated 

 in value, by an exhausting system, at the end of his lease, that it 

 will be without value to his landlord, and unproductive of any 

 benefit to the country, for years after the lease has expired. For 

 this reason it is that the combination of judicious covenants with 

 his long leases has enabled Lord Leicester to effect such great 

 huprovement not only on his own estate, but, by the example 

 thus set, to the whole district in which he resides. 



Covenants, skilfully drawn, while they secure the landlord, do 

 not interfere with the husbandry of a good farmer, and are 



