FORMS OF LAND TENURE IN THE UNITED STATES 273 



of the fields and buildings for economy of labor, the size of 

 the farm, whether it will give full scope to the energy of the 

 tenant, the water supply, and the sanitary conditions of the 

 home. Ascertain if there has been any sickness in the family 

 or disease among the animals of the former tenant. The fair- 

 ness of the rent asked should be looked into by the tenant. 

 By making inquiry of the outgoing tenant, the neighbors, the 

 thrasher man, and the operator of the local creamery or cheese 

 factory, the prospective tenant can get information on many 

 of these points and at the same time ascertain the amount of 

 the income, the expenditures, and other factors which will show 

 the possibilities of the farm. 



The farm being found satisfactory, make sure that the land- 

 lord is a fair-minded man, capable of giving good advice but 

 not overfree with his suggestions nor overinsistent upon his 

 own notions being followed in detail. A nagging landlord 

 makes the day long and the work tiresome. 



The landlord should try to see the situation from the view- 

 point of the tenant as well as his own and then strive to be 

 fair. This will pay not only in the satisfaction that results 

 from being decent with one's fellow-men, but also in greater 

 returns from the farm. The landlord who takes advantage of a 

 tenant who is striving to do the right thing, and " grinds him 

 down," may gain a few cents in the beginning, but he will 

 lose dollars in the end. He will gain the reputation of being 

 a grasping landlord. Good tenants will avoid him, for it is 

 true not only that the efficient farmers tend to get the most 

 productive land, but also that the honest tenant tends to get 

 the honest landlord. 



What the lease should contain. The lease should contain a 

 description of the land (the description found in the deed to the 

 land), the buildings, and such other property belonging to the 

 landlord as may be involved in the agreement. 



Uses of property. The uses and the limitations upon the 

 uses to which the property may be put by the tenant should 

 be stated specifically in the contract. For example, the land 

 to be retained in permanent pasture should be described, the 



