20 Of Leases. 



more negligent and less inclined to exertion *. Indeed if a lease- 

 holder for life become at any time an invalid, there is an end of all 

 idea of improvement. He is necessarily tempted, seeing "the preca- 

 riousness of his life, to extract from the soil all that he can, whilst he 

 has it in his power. 



5. Leases for three lives, unless there be a rise of rent with each 

 life, are deservedly reprobated. The occupier, secure in his posses- 

 sion, grows indolent, neglects the cultivation of his farm, thereby in- 

 jures the community, and impairs the interest of his successor f. It 

 has been remarked, that neither are the roads so well managed, nor 

 is the land in such good condition, on farms leased on lives, as even 

 where no lease whatever is granted . Leases on lives were former- 

 ly given, to induce tenants to take farms, when little of the spirit of 

 agricultural improvement existed ; but they are no longer necessary 

 on that account. 



6. Leases upon fines are likewise justly objected to. The sum 

 paid down by way of fine, drains the tenant of his capital, and pre- 

 vents him from improving his farm. Such leases also, partake too 

 much of the nature of a lottery, and the calculations are too intricate 

 for a common farmer || . The frequent recurrence and magnitude of 

 the fine, and the expenses attending it, are likewise extremely severe 

 upon the tenant ; and require a greater degree of economy and fore- 

 sight, than is always to be met with, particularly in youth. If the 

 fine were diminished, and the reserved rent increased, the interests of 

 both parties would be consulted ^[. On the whole, leases on fines are 

 found to be so extremely injurious, that landlords see the necessity of 

 permitting such tenures to run out, and that mode of letting land, will 

 soon in a great measure disappear **. 



It is said, that in grazing farms, a long tenure is not so necessary ; 

 for as they require less labour and expense than arable farms, they 

 may be occupied to advantage, even on a lease of very moderate du- 

 ration. But even in such cases, it would be better to grant a term of 10, 

 15, or 21 years, with a rise of rent at certain periods, by which the 

 tenant would not be compelled, continually to shift from place to place, 

 and perhaps change his stock from time to time, by which his inte- 

 rests would be materially affected ff. 



In arable farms, which are already much improved, and in a high 

 state of cultivation, it is contended, that long leases are unnecessary, 

 because it requires less labour and expense to crop them ; and it is 

 supposed, that in the course of ten or twelve years, the tenant may 

 have an adequate return, and an ample profit on his capital expended. 



* Husbandry of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 216. 



f South Wales Report, vol. ii. p. 172. 



\ Shropshire Report, p. 136. 



Stirlingshire Report, p. 101 ; Derbyshire Report, vol. ii. p. 35. 



jj South Wales Report, vol. i. p. 171. 



\ Berkshire Report, p. 54 ; Oxfordshire Report, p. 40. 



* Holt's Lancashire, p. 26. 



ft General Report of Scotland, vol. iii. p. 378. 



