CHAPTER XII. 



COLLECTION OF RENTS. 



EACH estate has generally its own fixed time for the payment of the 

 rents. In England it is usual for a tenant to pay his first moiety six 

 months after his entry, and at the end of his first year's tenancy he pays 

 a second moiety : this is where a tenant takes possession of a farm at 

 Lady-Day. On some estates in Scotland the tenant takes possession of 

 the arable land at the November term, and to the grass-land and build- 

 ings in six months afterwards namely, at the May term: in this case 

 the farmer pays his first half-year's rent at the May term, and the re- 

 mainder in the November following. Again, on a great many estates in 

 Scotland we find that where the tenants enter as already stated, they do 

 not pay their first half-year's rent till the November following, when they 

 have had the farm in possession one year, and have had the advantage 

 of reaping their first crop from it. Each system has its advantages. 

 Where the first half-year's rent is due six months after entry, it requires 

 a tenant to have capital at command to meet it ; on the other hand, 

 where the first half-year's rent is not due till the tenant has had a crop 

 reaped and time to thrash it, he does not require to have money to meet 

 the rent when he takes the farm, as he can generally meet it from the 

 proceeds of his harvest. There is no doubt that there is greater compe- 

 tition for farms which are let on the condition that the first half-year's 

 rent is not due till the full year is out, because, as I have already stated, 

 a farmer can take such a farm with less capital than he could where the 

 first half-year's rent is due at the end of the first six months. 



When the rents are paid, receipts should always be given. It is a 

 practice on many estates not to give receipts to the tenants, and I have 

 often known mistakes and misunderstandings caused by this very unbusi- 

 ness-like practice. The following is a form of receipt which I have used : 



the .................. day of ......... ......... 18 ........... , 



of Mr .................................................................... ..... the Sum of 



\ 



on account of Rent due at ............................... . ..................... last 



to 



