FORMS OF LAND TENURE IN THE UNITED STATES 287 



land. The landlord is willing to exert himself for these purposes 

 because his profits are increased by such activity. 



Another reason often given by landlords for preferring a share 

 of the crop to a cash rent is that, in a country where most of the 

 tenants have little wealth, a share of the product proves more 

 profitable to the landlord, in the long run, because he shares 

 the benefit of an extra large crop and gets something out of the 

 smallest one, whereas in case he is receiving a fixed rent, the 

 tenant gets all the advantage of an extra large crop, but in case 

 of a crop failure the tenant is often unable to pay the fixed rent 

 and the landlord has to stand the losses when the crops are 

 short without getting the advantage of the extra large crops. 

 Where the tenants are men of considerable wealth and can 

 stand a loss from time to time this is a matter of less importance. 



Again, it is said that the collection of the rent is an easier 

 matter where a share of the crop is given. " Farmers will give 

 a fifty cent chicken for a church dinner when they would not 

 think of giving as much as twenty-five cents in cash," says an 

 Iowa farmer who has tried both systems, and he continues, 

 " They will give the landlord his share of the farm products 

 much more cheerfully than pay him cash." 



The share rent adjusts itself to changes in the value of the 

 products without any change in the contract. This is looked 

 upon by some farmers and landlords as a reason of first impor- 

 tance for adhering to the share system. 



Participation of the landlord in the management of the farm 

 is the chief reason for the success of share tenancy in this country. 

 This point has been emphasized over and over again in the 

 communications received from men who are in a position to 

 know. Share tenancy is, as a rule, more profitable to the land- 

 lord only when the farm is under his immediate supervision. 

 If the management must be left entirely to the tenant farmer, 

 the cash system is usually preferable to the landlord. If the 

 tenant is a capable manager, so that the supervision of the 

 landlord adds nothing to the product, then it is better for the 

 tenant to pay a fixed rent, if he has the capital to do so, and 

 secure the extra profits due to his superior ability. 



