|l6 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. r. 



and the clause in question introduced into every 

 lease, then, during all that time, there could be 

 no room for experiment or discovery, for the 

 practical application of improved skill, or the 

 introduction of more perfect systems of hus- 

 bandry. The hands of the farmer are tied up, 

 and he must move on in his present shackles to 

 the end of his lease. Wise proprietors will, 

 therefore, be cautious how they introduce con- 

 ditions of this 'kind. Restrictions respecting 

 cropping and management ought to be general, 

 and rather of a negative kind, restraining the 

 tenant from \vhat is palpably wrong ; but at the 

 same time, leaving a clear opening for the exer- 

 tions of genius, of enterprize, and of progressive 

 knowledge. To take measures for preventing 

 the deterioration of the ground towards the end 

 of the lease, to which tenants may be tempted 

 by a principle, the force of which every man 

 more or less feels, is certainly proper and ne- 

 cessary. But it is surely best to refer the ma- 

 nagement to their own judgment during the 

 preceding period. In this age of growing in- 

 dustry and knowledge, tenants, in general, are 

 sufficiently attentive to their own interest, and 

 sufficiently intelligent not greatly to mistake the 

 means of securing it ; and therefore there is lit- 

 tle danger of gross mismanagement, for it is 

 impossible for the occupant to injure his farm 

 without hurting himself. 



It may be proper to observe, likewise, that 

 every prestation agreed to by the proprietor at 

 the original bargain, ought to be distinctly men- 

 tioned in the lease, unless it be fulfilled before 

 the lease be extended, and nothing left to verbal 



