pie of taking one-fifth, to deprive at least 200 families of 

 all means of subsistence, and to beggar the rest on whom 

 they must depend either for voluntary or legal support. 



But there are other valuators who reject as absurd the 

 idea of establishing any fixed proportion between the rent 

 and the gross produce, and profess to be guided solely by 

 their own judgment and experience. Some of this class 

 may occasionally be not far from truth in their valuations, 

 but the difficulty is, that as all of this class are not gifted 

 with the same experience or intelligence, there must of ne- 

 cessity be a great difference in the results of their labours; 

 and that the deplorable effects described in the previous 

 chapter are sure to be traced in any country where valua- 

 tors follow the uncertain guidance of their own unassisted 

 opinions. 



Some intelligent writers recommend a sliding scale of 

 proportion between the rent and produce, which would be 

 adjusted according to the capabilities of the soil, and would 

 give the landlord one-third of the produce on the best 

 lands, one-fourth on medium, and one-fifth or less on in- 

 ferior soils. This scheme is plausible, and, if necessity 

 existed for the establishment of any proportion between 

 rent and produce, would deserve attention. 



Some educated professional valuators having ascertained 

 the letting value of land, by a due consideration of the 

 capabilities of the soil and the market prices of its produce, 

 provide a mode for re-adjusting their valuation by the mar- 

 ket averages of the district; thereby affording the landlord 

 an increased rent if those averages exceed the prices on 

 which the valuation was made ; and equally relieving the 

 tenant, by reducing his rent should those averages fall 

 below the original scale. This principle, being extensively 

 adopted in Scotland, will deserve more ample elucidation. 



There is another principle which possesses claims for 

 consideration: that the profits of husbandry should be 

 divided between the proprietor and the farmer in the ratio 

 of the time, skill, and capital respectively employed; the 

 landlord's share being the marketable value of his land; 



