

TENANT-FARMERS. 31 



proprietor may safely go on with, and carry out, the improvements of his 

 estate. In such a case as this, the newly-introduced tenant-farmers 

 would show the others an example, which, for their own interest, would 

 carry them on from one step of improvement to another, till they had 

 become nearly as efficient as the new incomers, and in this way the 

 proprietor would have attained his object. 



It has frequently come under my observation that really good farms 

 could not be let to a superior class of tenants, from the fact that the 

 farms had been allowed to get into such a backward and wretched state 

 that good tenants were unwilling to undertake them. In a case of this 

 land there are two modes by which the farm may be got into condition 

 previous to letting it to a tenant. One way is for the proprietor to take 

 the farm into his own hands and have all the necessary improvements 

 carried out and finished before letting it. After he has had it in his own 

 management for some time, and completed all the necessary drainage, 

 fencing, roads, buildings, and general improvement of the soil, it would 

 then be in a condition to let to a superior tenant, and at an advanced rental. 

 In a case of the kind referred to, the proprietor could also if he did not 

 wish to take the farm into his own hands carry out the greater portion 

 of the improvements while the old tenant was still in possession of it, 

 but independent of him. I have improved farms under both circum- 

 stances, but I have found that the farms were got into better condition 

 in a shorter time under the proprietor's own management than when the 

 tenant continued to reside on the farm. At the same time, this mode of 

 improving farms has its disadvantages when there are many farms on an 

 estate requiring extensive improvements ; it takes a large outlay of 

 capital for some years, and, unless the farm-bailiff is sharp and active, it 

 is very apt to be a very expensive operation. The only drawback to 

 improving a farm while the tenant still holds it is, that he does not 

 usually keep the farm up in condition, nor does he voluntarily do any- 

 thing to improve it, and he is very apt to throw obstacles in the way of 

 improvements on his landlord's part. But if the tenant will leave every- 

 thing to be done according to the agent's plans, then the farm can be got 

 in order in this way. 



It would be superfluous to add much more on this subject ; I shall 

 only state, therefore, with reference to what has been said, that in filling 

 the places of inferior tenants, whom the proprietor may find it necessary 

 to remove, and in bringing new tenants to the property, from that or any 

 other cause, he should be very careful to make arrangements, as far as 

 possible, only with such men as have received *a proper practical training, 

 and are in possession of such an education and general qualification as 

 will enable them to conduct their business with skill and intelligence. 



