A somewhat similar system is in operation in North Caro- 

 lina. Exclusive shooting privileges over farm lands are se- 

 cured by the sportsman either by paying the owner a certain 

 sum per acre, or by paying all taxes on his real and per- 

 sonal property. The sportsman or the sportsmen's club may 

 thus lease several farms. The lease does not interfere in any 

 way with the rights of the owner to cultivate the land, or 

 with his residence thereon. Planting is encouraged. Many 

 of the lessees furnish the farmers with cow peas or grain for 

 planting, that the quail may have better food and cover, and 

 this planting is often carried out on a large scale. Some of 

 these lessees employ gamekeepers to destroy the natural 

 enemies of the game and to keep watch for law breakers. 

 Thus the farmer is relieved from some of the trouble and 

 annoyance of guarding his property and prosecuting poachers. 

 This system has become very popular among the southern 

 farmers, and the game is regarded as one of the assets of 

 the farm. In Guilford County more than 150,000 acres 

 have been leased out in this manner, and there are in the 

 State some large preserves, varying in size from 9,000 to 

 more than 18,000 acres. This system, as applied in the 

 south, has a tendency to better the condition of the agricul- 

 tural population, and to give the children of the farmers 

 better educational facilities. Under the laws of North Caro- 

 lina special taxes are imposed for the support of the school 

 system, and the farmers, realizing that their taxes are paid 

 by the sportsmen, are more likely to vote additional funds 

 for school purposes. Thus the game helps to educate the 

 children.^ This system has brought additional prosperity to 

 the region, and has increased the numbers of game and birds. 

 It gives the farmer opportunities to furnish boats and teams 

 to the hunters, and he and his boys receive some employment 

 as guides and helpers. 



This system has not made much headway in Massachusetts, 

 but farmers who have given it a trial are well satisfied with 

 the result. A number of farmers in southeastern Massa- 

 chusetts, who have learned the value of the bob-white, find 



1 Some of the South Carolina lands are poor and rather barren, and where the rights for such 

 lands are taken by the acre, the annual rental averages only about 6 cents per acre, — a sum 

 which would look small to Massachusetts farmers. 



