Il8 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY OF chap. V. 



equitable, that the allowance should be com- 

 mensurate with the duration, as well as the ex- 

 tent, of the damages done. 



In some instances, proprietors have proposed 

 a clause to this Affect, that in case the tenant 

 shall, at any time, be one term's payment in 

 arrear, when the next term's rent falls due, the 

 lease shall, in that event, be at an end, arid the 

 tenant shall have no power to purge the irri- 

 tancy, but be obliged to remove without any 

 process whatever. This is a very dangerous 

 clause, especially when combined with an early 

 payment of rent, and, in many instances, may 

 prove ruinous to an honest industrious farmer ; 

 as sickness, the loss of cattle, or a bad crop, may 

 occasionally prevent a punctual fulfilment of trie 

 obligation. In such circumstances, it may be 

 said, he has it in his power to prevent the mis- 

 chief, by borrowing from some of his more weal- 

 thy neighbours. But to whom can he so na- 

 turally look for indulgence and relief, in times 

 of distress, as to the roaster for whom he labours, 

 and who shares the profits of his industry. 



In some late leases, tenants are prohibited from 

 sowing above 10 pecks of lintseed in any one 

 year, from an apprehension that the culture of 

 flax is injurious to the land. How far this ap- 

 prehension is well founded, will be considered 

 afterwards ; in the mean time, it appears extra- 

 ordinary that the Board of Trustees for the en- 

 couragement of Manufacturers, &c. should have 

 so long held out premiums for the culture of a 

 plant, which is found to be so injurious to the 

 soil. These gentlemen, many of whom are not 

 behind the advisers of this restriction, either in the;- 



