-sect. in. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 97 



they amount to the same. Upon the whole, 

 this plan seems to be perfectly fair and equitable 

 for both parties. If the prices shall exceed the 

 calculation, the master, indeed, as is reasonable, 

 "has a share of the advantage ; but the tenant is 

 a gainer on that part of the produce which be* 

 longs to himself, to the amount of the excess of 

 the prices above his expectation. If the prices 

 shall, at any time, fall below the calculation, the 

 whole loss does not fall upon the tenant, The 

 amount of what the price of the stipulated vic- 

 tual rent is below the original calculation, is born 

 by the landlord. Neither party, therefore, can 

 have any just reason to complain. 



Formerly, when less labour was bestowed up- 

 on land, and the operations of husbandry ad- 

 mitted of longer intervals, especially in the sum- 

 mer months, when the farmer's servants and 

 horses had little else to do, than the former to pull 

 thistles and the latter to eat them, the burden of 

 personal services was slightly felt. But, under 

 the present system, when every season, and eve- 

 ry part of the season, has its own particular task, 

 which, in general, cannot, without risk, be ne- 

 glected or delayed, they must be considered as a 

 great hardship. To call for the farmer's reap- 

 ers, when his own corns are ready to be cut 

 down, or to demand his horses and servants, 

 when the critical moment of sowing, fallowing, 

 &c. is present, may cause him lose the proper 

 season, derange his plans, and subject him to 

 material damage. These services, however, 

 have seldom been rigidly exacted, and will, it is 

 presumed, be in time entirely given up. 

 N 



