chap. XrT. THE COUNTY OE FIFE. 



350 



under proper management, and let on the terms 

 just now mentioned, stand but a poor chance of 

 ever being improved at all. 



The plan which I have ventured to recom- 

 mend, it is to be observed, is not meant for 

 farms of every description, but chiefly, if not 

 solely, for those lands that are in an open, waste, 

 and uncultivated state ; and, therefore, have sug- 

 gested those terms and conditions only which 

 appeared to me 'most necessary and best calcu- 

 lated to accelerate and perfect the improvement 

 of such lands, and to which, at the same time, 

 neither proprietor nor tenant could have any 

 reasonable objection. 



When land is once brought into a complete 

 state of cultivation, the endurance of leases will 

 then be a matter of less importance. If the pe- 

 riod is not less than 19 or 20 years, the tenant 

 can have no reason to complain, as he enters to 

 his farm in high condition, and can be subjected 

 to no extraordinary expences to put or keep it 

 in order. On the other hand, if the rent be fix- 

 ed in kind, it is of no consequence to the land- 

 lord, so far as rent is the object, whether the 

 land be let for 20 or for 200 years. For, as the 

 -land is supposed to be in a complete state of im- 

 improvement, and consequently cannot be ex- 

 pected to yield a greater increase at any future 

 period than at present ; and as the stipulated 

 rent is supposed to be a fair and full proportion 

 of the produce, the proprietor can never expect 

 any further rise of rent, than what may be occa- 

 sioned by the rise of prices ; and this, by the te- 

 nor of the lease, he enjoys to the last, how long 

 soever its endurance may be, 



