LAND-IMPROVING SCHEME. 77 



Instead of the 6J per cent, which they receive 

 from the tenant, they may grant an assignation 

 to 10 per cent, out of their rentals, when that is 

 necessary in order to procure annuities at a 

 shorter date. Or, for every 20007. which they 

 borrow, they may add a WOOL from their rental, 

 making the sum invested in the soil 3000/., for 

 which they would be entitled to interest from 

 the tenant. This would give them 5^ or 5| per 

 cent, to go towards redeeming the 20007. bor- 

 rowed from the funds of the establishment. 



In some instances, again, landlords may take 

 tracts of improveable land into their own hands, 

 and by investing money in draining, trenching, 

 and buildings, realise 10 per cent, and upwards. 

 These, however, are exceptionary cases, and 

 cannot be brought forward as grounds on which 

 to establish a general rule. In the majority of 

 cases, tenants are at present requiring assistance 

 from such improvements, as formerly noticed, 

 in order to enable them to discharge the increas- 

 ing obligations which the present state of 

 society demands of them ; and hence they cannot 

 be fairly expected to return the landlord the 

 whole of the benefit derived from the soil in the 

 shape of interest. For instance, improvements 



