FORMS OF LAND TENURE IN THE UNITED STATES 279 



else than letting their land to tenants. In the United States 

 landowners are so generally retired farmers, whose farms are 

 likely to be sold in the course of a few years to men who will 

 farm their own land, that very long-term leases are out of the 

 question. Compensation for unexhausted improvements is the 

 remedy for many of the evils of short-term leases. 



Amount of rent to be paid. The rent of a farm is the price 

 paid for its annual use either in the form of money or products. 

 The amount which should be paid depends upon the usefulness 

 of the land and the scarcity of farm land of the grade in question. 

 It is not always an easy matter to ascertain exactly what the 

 " square deal " is. The amount of rent which should be given 

 for the use of the land varies with the fertility of the land, the 

 local market prices of products, the distance and character of the 

 roads to the markets, the length of the term, the restrictions 

 under which the land is to be farmed, and the probability that 

 the tenant will improve a farm or bring about its deterioration. 



In figuring on the amount which he can afford to pay, the 

 tenant should compare the opportunities offered and the rents 

 asked for as many farms as possible in order' to select the farm 

 which will enable him, after paying the rent and other expenses, 

 to have left the largest possible returns for his own labor and 

 capital. 



No tenant should sign a contract until he sees clearly sources 

 of income over and above the amount of the rent, sufficient to 

 pay all annual expenses for labor and equipment, support his 

 family in accordance with the standards of the community, and 

 leave a surplus. This surplus is the ground for hope of be- 

 coming the owner of a farm. Every honest and efficient farmer 

 will be able to make a surplus from which to save if he is on 

 the right farm on the right terms. But this statement does 

 not give ground for the belief on the part of every tenant who 

 makes no surplus that his rent is too high. Before coming to 

 such a conclusion let the tenant mak^ sure that he is an efficient 

 farmer. Let him compare his farming in every detail with 

 that of other men who are making a surplus, and this, if care- 

 fully done, will point to the true cause of the lack of profit, 



