Tenure, whether in Property or on Lease. 47 



tion of the owners, who think they may take any liberty with 

 their own property, that in many districts, the crops of wheat, 

 do not exceed an average of seven or eight bushels per 

 acre ( l59 ). How different is the case in this country, where 

 the owner, instead of cultivating his own fields, lets them to 

 another ! A careful landlord, indeed, considers himself as a 

 trustee for his family, and for the public. He will not suf- 

 fer his fields to be exhausted, by improper management or in- 

 judicious rotations ; and when he grants a lease to a tenant, 

 it is either to a person in whom he can safely place confi- 

 dence, or under such covenants, which in fact are rent, as 

 are the most likely to prevent, that great source of public 

 wealth, the soil of the country, from being injured by im- 

 provident management. It must be admitted, however, that 

 such covenants are often very injudiciously drawn up. 



When a tenant also, has a rent to pay to a landlord, it 

 has a strong tendency to render him industrious. Without 

 that spur to exertion, he would not take half the pains he 

 usually does, to cultivate his farm, or to supply it with 

 stock. The burden of rent is likewise attended with an- 

 other advantage ; for in order to be enabled to pay it, the 

 farmer finds it necessary to supply the markets more re- 

 gularly. When persons have no such stimulus, they are 

 induced to keep up their produce, that they may enhance its 

 value. 



Besides, a tenant who cultivates the soil as a profession, 

 has but one object in view ; and he is therefore more likely 

 to manage the concern better than a proprietor, who has 

 often other avocations to distract his attention. Not only 

 is the tenant necessarily more attentive to his business, but 

 he carries it on at less expense ; his cattle and servants do 

 more work; the produce of his farm is more carefully 

 looked after ; and no money is expended, without the 

 prospect of an adequate return. Expensive improvements, 

 such as erecting commodious buildings, making roads, in- 

 closing, draining, irrigating, and perhaps a very great ap- 

 plication of calcareous manures, may be advantageously exe- 

 cuted by the landlord ; but in regard to raising the products 

 of the soil, by judicious rotations of crops, complete ara- 

 tion, abundant manuring, selection of the best seeds, &c. an 

 intelligent farmer has evidently an advantage ( I(J ). 



As a proof of the justness of these doctrines, it is a well- 

 known fact, that small proprietors, when they are men of 

 sense and ability? frequently let, or sell their own estates, 

 and take the lands of others on lease; knowing well, that if 



