SCOTLAND. 289 



labour. The farmers for the most part work themselves ; 

 their capital likewise is rapidly increasing. Besides that 

 saving propensity which is one of their characteristics, 

 they have proportionately a larger share in the distribu- 

 tion of the produce. The profit, which in England does 

 not exceed half the amount of the rent, in Scotland 

 reaches commonly two-thirds, and sometimes equals the 

 rent itself.""" This is peculiar to Scotland, and forms one 

 of the most striking features in its rural economy. This 

 proportion, so favourable to the progress of farming, may 

 be attributed to the system of long leases, which pre- 

 vents the proprietor coming in so often to participate in 

 the benefit arising from improvements as under annual 

 leases. It is but justice, also, to ascribe it to a spirit of 

 moderation and good sense on the part of the Scotch pro- 

 prietors, who, having less need for show and expense than 

 the English proprietors, can afford to be less exacting in 

 their rents. After all, and this they fortunately under- 

 stand, it is only laying by for the future ; for with the 

 farmer's prosperity the richness of the land is increased. 



The superiority of the Scotch system is apparent in 

 other things. Thus, in England and Ireland the law 

 considers a lease personal property, and consequently 

 divisible equally among the children of the tenant when 

 he dies. But in Scotland it is looked upon as real 

 property, and as such passes intact to the heir-at-law. 

 Disastrous consequences have resulted from the former 



* Though the average capital employed in the cultivation of land in Scotland, 

 from the larger proportion of inferior soil, cannot fail to be under that of Eng- 

 land, we believe it will be found that, upon farms of a similar description, the 

 amount expended by the Scotch occupier is fully equal to the English. Our 

 experience has rather taught us that rents, in the properly rural and best agri- 

 cultural districts of England, are under those of Scotland generally. M. La 

 vergne seems afterwards to admit this to some extent. We are not aware that 

 farming is more profitable in Scotland ; and if the Scotch farmer makes more 

 money than his neighbour of England, it is because he spends less. 



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