State of Agriculture in Northumberland. 157 



provements are contemplated, the term of fifteen years has been 

 adopted, which is very suitable for farms where the five- course 

 rotation prevails, as giving the tenant three full courses over all 

 his land. Some few exceptions do exist, and those in high quar- 

 ters, to the granting of leases ; but wherever this is the case, the 

 lands bear evidence of the evil, by the obvious absence of the 

 spirited and improved style of management which other parts of 

 the county exhibit ; buildings, fences, and roads are found 

 neglected and disorderly. The crop of the present year may be 

 cared for; but every outlay, the remuneration for which would 

 only be received in future years, is avoided ; and lands which 

 grew rushes fifty years ago are growing rushes still. With the 

 exception of church-lands, v/here all things conspire to their 

 stationary sterility, estates held by annual occupancy partake 

 least of the advance in ao-ricultural improvements, make the worst 

 returns to their owners, and contribute in the smallest degree to 

 the welfare of the country. There are but two sources from 

 which the outlay needful to effect extensive, or indeed any im- 

 provements, are to be derived — those of the landlord and of the 

 tenant. If undertaken by the landlord, except in conjunction 

 with the tenant, it requires little sagacity to anticipate the jobbing 

 and waste, as well as the inefficient execution, which the absence 

 of due vigilance and personal attention will engender ; and if by 

 the tenant, w^hether alone or aided by his landlord, it is obvious 

 that he must be secured in his possession for such a term of 

 years as will afford him the prospect, upon a fair calculation, of 

 being remunerated for his expenditure, time, and attention. It 

 may seem that I have dvv elt at unnecessary length upon this head, 

 but my apology is to be found in the importance which I attach 

 to it, believing as I do that to the custom of letting land on long 

 leases, more than to any other cause, though of course in conjunc- 

 tion with other causes, this county is indebted for its rapid im- 

 provement and high state of cultivation. 



The size of farms in Glendaleward is various, but they are 

 generally of considerable extent, ranging from 300 or 400 to 

 1000 or 1200 acres; and in cases where the tillage-land at the 

 foot of the Cheviot range is held in connexion with mountain- 

 pasture, farms may be found to contain 2000 or 3000 acres. This 

 is perhaps, of all others, the kind of occupation which possesses 

 the greatest variety and interest, and is attended vvith the least risk. 

 Upon strong lands, if the wheat crop should fail, or the prices be 

 low, the farmer has little else to rely upon for his rent and ex- 

 pences, and therefore it is a bad year with him ; but, in the case 

 in question, the arable land is fertile, and the mountains supply 

 sweet herbage and healthful pasture for sheep — the low^ grounds 

 fatten the flocks which the high lands rear ; and instead of de- 



