FREEDOM OF CROPPING AND SALE 1 75 



in the manner recommended by the Central Chamber, 

 as perhaps the best check on injustice, or fraud, or error. 

 And the power to obtain an interim report by the arbi- 

 trator as to the condition of the farm, as enabhng the 

 landlord to bring a bad farmer to book and promptly 

 stop depletive farming, is of special importance and 

 should in such a system be provided for. 



Freedom of Cultivation and Sale of Produce. 



Much evidence has been laid before us as to the 

 expediency of doing away with covenants restricting 

 tenants as to cultivation and sale of produce. Every 

 shade of opinion seems to have been fully represented. 



On one point there is unanimity — that, whether 

 tenants are to be guided and restrained by covenants, or 

 left to use their discretion, no relaxation is advisable or 

 possible, if the fertility of the soil is not to be fully 

 maintained by adequate manuring and adequate working 

 of the land. 



There is much striking evidence that in the depressed 

 districts landowners are largely at the mercy of farm 

 wreckers, who deliberately run out the land by mis- 

 cropping and selling off everything. In many cases, 

 where there is no dishonesty, farmers are driven to sell 

 hay, straw, and roots when, owing to loss of capital, they 

 are no longer able to consume their crops at home. 

 Unless such sale is accompanied by restorative treatment 

 of the land, it must be the beginning of the end. 



But it seems probable that the worst cases of depletive 

 farming are occurring on estates where restrictive cove- 

 nants are to be found in every agreement, and the 

 question^ naturally arises whether these covenants really 

 are the best and most effective means of promoting good 

 cultivation. 



The covenants are stated to be retained " as safeguards 

 to be used in extreme cases when a bad tenant deliber- 

 ately sets about damaging his farm." The evidence is 

 conclusive that restrictions have been almost everywhere 



