290 RURAL ECONOMY OF ENGLAND. 



system in Ireland, which, though not the entire cause of 

 agrarian outrages in that country, has no doubt been one 

 of their fruitful sources. The law of Scotland has not 

 had exactly large farming for its effect, that being rather 

 the exception there than the rule; but it has in some 

 measure put a stop to too great a division, and encou- 

 raged a spirit of industry. The younger sons of a farmer, 

 knowing that they have no title to share in their father's 

 lease, seek a livelihood in other ways, while the oldest 

 prepares himself at an early period for the heritage which 

 awaits him. This is a new and successful application of 

 the right of primogeniture in matters relating to the soil, 

 and it is favourable to that natural movement which, in 

 a society in a state of progress, diverts the surplus popu- 

 lation from rural occupations into other channels. With- 

 out this law the tendency to division might have been 

 dangerous to Scotland ; but there is less risk of this in 

 England, where manners and conventions incline rather 

 in the opposite direction. 



In most of the Scotch leases, especially on grain farms, 

 the rent is not a fixed money-rate, payable under any 

 circumstances, but variable, wholly or in part, according 

 to the current value of grain ; that is to say, it is repre- 

 sented by a payment in kind, converted at the market 

 price, with a maximum and minimum limitation for 

 periods of scarcity or abundance. In this way the 

 farmer is protected against sudden fluctuations in the 

 value of his commodities, as well as in that of money. 

 This clause has been widely adopted in England since the 

 crisis, and is considered to be an improvement on the 

 principle of a fixed rent. 



Finally, all gratuities or grassums are done away with, 

 as well as all extra expenses on entry, and indemnity to 

 the outgoing tenant, called in England tenant right, of 



