Cultivation of Moorland. 367 



at the west of Ens^land fences, although they may have been well 

 intentioned, are wrong in the main. We must not forget the 

 Atlantic gales. 



In corn countries it is no matter how few and how low the 

 fences are, but in a moist, windy, and elevated district, suitable 

 for tlie production of stock alone, which naturally requires shelter 

 against such elements, good stoned and ditched banks, with 

 healthy beech-plants upon them, are no small adjunct to the ca- 

 pabilities of a west of England hill-farm. 



Tlie Af/recment. — The letting of moorland upon equitable 

 terms embraces an extensive range of topics for consideration. 



First, we have the " lord of the soil " to consult, and next to find 

 a suitable tenant for tlie work to be done. These parties either 

 do or should meet upon equitable terms, in the character of two 

 men meeting to make a bargain, the result being, " If you will do 

 this, I will do that." 



'J he first business will be to arrange the general principles of 

 the bargain. The landlord will probably agree to erect suitable 

 buildings, fences, to make roads, &c., and to perform all drainage, 

 the tenant paying a proper percentage for this latter outlay. The 

 tenant will then have to reclaim all lands and wastes (worthy of 

 cultivation) under suitable covenants. 



The carriage of materials is usually thrown upon the tenant, or 

 in other words it forms a part of Ins agreement towards the 

 matter. This is a stipulation which I have long thouglit, at least 

 upon this class of farms, objectionable, and it would be well at 

 any rate to postpone bringing it into operation, for the tenant 

 will have enough to do with his teams, during the first {e\\ years 

 of his tenancy, in reclaiming these rough and rugged lands. 



In after years this subject may be more fairly pressed, and 

 thus made agreeable to both parties, by the tenant doing the car- 

 riage for future permanent improvements, and so encouraging 

 the landlord to keep pace in his outlay with the progress of 

 land cultivation. 



With sucli an understanding clearly defined, every possible and 

 prudent encouragement should i)e given to tlie tenant. First, by 

 a long lease with l)reaks in it, to allow the tenant to quit at the 

 end of a certain number of years, should he wish it. Second, by 

 a proper tenant-right for unexhausted improvements at the end 

 of either term, to prevent tlic farm being run out towards the 

 end of the term. Third, bv tlu* adoption of the plan of a "scale 

 of rents," commencing at the lowest possiljle figure in the outset, 

 and increasing every four years to the end of the term, as the 

 farm improves in value. 



To illustrate this last point we may suppose a case, viz. — tl:at 

 a farm is let for 20 years ; that the tenant may quit at the end of 



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