Book IV. LAND STEWARDSHIP. 69S 



Name of the farm and its number of acres. The eligibility of the plan and circumstances of 



The name of the tenant and the existing rent. the farm. 



The tenancy ; if on lease, the term of expiring. The eligibility of the occupier. 



Any extraordinary covenant of the lease. The eligibility of the present rent. 



The number of cottages let with the farm. The state of the buildings, fences and gates, roads. 



The number of timber trees growing on it. and watercourses. 



The number of orchard trees growing on it. The state of cultivation, and condition of the Jivt 



stock. 



4291. Add, among other things, the following, viz. 



The repairs more immediately wanted. With any other incident or occurrence respecting 



The improvements of which the whole is suscep- the farm or its occupier, that requires to be re- 



tible. membered ; and with references to the books and 



The agreements entered into with the tenant. papers which may pertain to the several particulars j 



The permissions granted him. thus having at one view a complete abstract of the 



The injunctions delivered to him. history and present state of every farm, together 



With a hint as to his personal character, and the with the particulars of attention whic'h each will 



number and general character of his family. require. 



4292. The trouble of forming an abstract of this kind, or of renewing it, when filled, 

 or in order to adapt it to the varying circumstances of the several farms, is inconsider- 

 able, compared with its uses; which are not only obvious to theory, but are fully 

 established in practice. On returning to an estate, after twelve months' absence. 

 Marshal has generally found, that, by consulting a register of this sort, and, through its 

 means, making systematic enquiries respecting the incidents that have occurred on the 

 several farms during his absence ; he, in this summary way, and before he entered upon 

 a fresh view, became better acquainted not only with the general interests but with the 

 more ordinary business, of the estate, than the acting manager, who had constantly 

 resided upon it, without such a remembrancer. This abstract or remembrancer, he says, 

 ought not to comprehend tenanted farms only ; but should comprise woodlands, quarries, 

 the demesne, &c., in hand; as well as the more important improvements going on: 

 each of which ought to have its separate folio assigned it. To a proprietor, or his con- 

 fidential friend, wlio only goes over his estate occasionally, such an intelligent com- 

 panion is essentially serviceable. He cannot profitably direct, nor safely advise with, 

 an acting manager, or other agent or officer of the estate, until he has consulted so 

 infallible an oracle. The utility of such a register, while a proprietor is absent from his 

 estate, if he can be said to be so, with such a faithful mirror in his possession, is too 

 obvious to require explanation. 



4293. Among the instruments necessary fur a manager's office, may be included those 

 requisite for surveying, mapping, levelling, measuring timber, and every description of 

 country work, together with boring machines, draught measurers, weighing scales, some 

 chemical tests, models, and such other articles as may be required or rendered useful by 

 particular circumstances. 



4294. An agricultural library may be considered an essential requisite ; including 

 works on rural architecture, the prices and measuring of work, and other fluctuating 

 matters ; and one of the best Encyclopaedia's of universal knowledge. We have 

 already (4243.) suggested an important use to which such a library might be applied. 



4295. Such an establishMent and place of business as has been described, we agree with 

 Marshal in thinking many will consider as in some degree superfluous or extravagant. 

 In many cases we admit it would be so ; but it is impossible to be determined what 

 things can be done without, unless a particular case were given. Such a minute register 

 of farms, for example, would be quite ridiculous on an estate in East Lothian, where 

 tenants are of sufficient wealth and respectability of manners to be treated as men ; and 

 not watched and schooled like those which Marshal seems generally to have in view. 



Chap. IL 

 Of the Duties of Managers of Estates^ 



4296. The Darious duties of the manager, or the proprietor of a landed estate, may be 

 considered under the heads of general business, business with tenants, and auditing 

 accounts. 



Sect. I. Of the general Principles of 13usiness considered relatively to Land-Stewardship^ 



4297. The first and most general principle, in this and every other department of 

 business, is to embrace readily the several matters as they occur : and not, on the con- 

 trary, to put them off" from time to time, until they accumulate ; and render the task 

 of transacting them difficult and irksome. The only artifice, it may be said, which a 

 man of character can well einploy in business, is that of endeavouring to render it 

 pleasurable. And, by meeting it cheerfully, as it rises, or as it becomes ripe for dispatch, 



Yy 4 



