168 EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE. 



direct influence of t his kind would be likely to meet the repro 

 bation of the public. In one case, in England, to my inquiries 

 whether the tenant was not expected to vote with the landlord, 

 the farmer replied that his own politics were opposed to the poli 

 tics of his landlord ; and that, when taking his lease, to his great 

 regret, he had pledged himself to remain neutral, and withhold 

 his vote a course by which many overwise and prudent people 

 think that they escape the responsibility of the duty, whereas, in 

 truth, by so doing they virtually give a vote to their opponents. 

 In another case, the reply of two very intelligent and substantial 

 farmers was, that they were at liberty to vote as they pleased : 

 but it was almost the only way in which they could show their 

 respect to, and evince their sense of the kindness of, their land 

 lord, and they felt it therefore a duty of gratitude to vote with 

 him. We are not beyond this influence even in our democratic 

 communities. The voting by ballot may seem to give a perfect 

 security ; but this is invaded or destroyed when the candidates 

 of a party are publicly prescribed, and the votes given are in a 

 printed form ; so difficult is it, under any circumstances, to main 

 tain a perfect freedom and independence, and in practical life to 

 realize our ideal theories. But politics are not my province ; nor 

 should I have thus far ventured upon them, but as connected 

 with the important relation of tenant and landlord, in which I 

 know my countrymen feel the strong interest of curiosity. I 

 shall, perhaps, excite some surprise in stating my belief that the 

 manner in which farms are held here, on hire for a year, or on 

 lease for a term of years, rather than being owned by the occu 

 pants, is itself a powerful instrument or incentive to agricultural 

 improvement. In the United States, where farms are owned by 

 the occupant, the farmer seldom keeps any account, and it matters 

 not much to him what is the result of the year s management. 

 The effect of this is to render a man negligent and indifferent to 

 success or loss. But when, at the end of every six months, the 

 rent must be paid, it is not a matter of indifference whether his 

 farming turns out well or ill ; for not only the labor employed is 

 to be paid for, but the rent of the farm must be punctually dis 

 charged. This consequently compels him to make every exertion 

 by which he may be assisted to meet his obligations. He finds 

 no room for idleness or neglect ; and the continuance of his pos 

 session depends upon his good management and the punctual 



