148 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



necessaries of life are obtained at producers' 

 prices, and a freedom from that need to study 

 the feelings and prejudices of customers to which 

 most professions and trades are exposed. The 

 farmer is master of his position, has a certain 

 weight in his parish and neighbourhood, and is 

 looked up to by the people in his employment. 

 Men in all ranks of life in these islands are 

 attracted by the occupation of a country life. 

 When they become rich enough they buy land, 

 or if they cannot afford to buy they hire it. 

 There is thus a constant pressure of competition 

 to which the tenant-farmer is exposed, and from 

 which, as years go by, it is impossible he can 

 escape, except by becoming an owner of land, 

 or by securing himself in a lengthened leasehold 

 tenure. No tenancy-at-will, or with a year's 

 notice, however favourable the conditions of 

 compensation for unexhausted improvements, 

 can give the farmer security beyond the year. 

 The Agricultural Holdings Bill, with two instead 

 of one year's notice, would be a vast improve- 

 ment on the common practice of yearly tenancy, 

 and, if made compulsory, would place land- 



