336 SITUATION or TENANTS. 



in farming as in most other manufactories, and a very short 

 trial of tenants without capital, however they may live, will 

 prove this position by the altered fertility of the soil, which 

 is illustrated by the state of Irish agriculture. In Ireland 

 farm produce is the result of nature and imperfect labour ; 

 but in East Lothian the results of capital, skill, and improved 

 labour enter into the combination ; and in the latter the pro 

 duce of land is much greater than in the former. But the 

 landholders of Ireland are perhaps more wealthy than those of 

 East Lothian, compared with the people of the respective 

 countries. A crowded and agricultural population will pay 

 rent in proportion to its degradation, or, at least, aiford in 

 such a ratio influence and rank to landholders. This rule is 

 not, however, applicable to Britain, where commerce and 

 manufactures flourish, whose profits of stock and wages of 

 labour ultimately affect those of agriculture, and the selfish 

 attempts at degrading the farmers of East Lothian will recoib 

 on their authors. For a time tenants without capital can pay 

 high rents, by extracting from the soil the means of fertility 

 imparted to it by others ; but the deteriorated condition of the 

 farm is ultimately a loss to the landholder and the community. 

 The capital which is required to put the operations of an 

 East Lothian farm in full motion, the tenant maintaining 

 himself and reaping a crop without the aid of credit, may be 

 stated at seven pounds sterling, or nearly thirty-five dollars 

 per imperial acre. The rent which is stipulated to be paid, 

 and the capital expended in fertilizing the soil, renders the 

 step which he takes a serious speculation. If a bad crop or 

 two occurs at the commencement of the lease, the tenant will 

 be unable to pay the rent, and he is then deprived of the 

 lease, or allowed to continue a dependent on the estate. 

 Being bound for nineteen years, he has not the option of 

 removing from the farm, and is very seldom permitted to do 

 so while a tangible farthing of his funds remain. At all times 

 he leads an anxious life without bodily toil, and is seldom 

 remunerated for his exertions and risk of capital. Industry 

 and enterprise may enable him to struggle to the end of his 

 lease. Should he die and leave a wife and young family, the 

 unexpired years of the lease would in all probability ruin 



