42 



Account of Hall Farm 



N.B. — Mr. Cronk, who made out the inventory, states, that in addi- 

 tion to the tillages, &c., valued according to the custom of the county 

 of Kent, a further sum of 300/. should be allowed for the improved con- 

 dition of the farm since 1838. I have not brought this into the account, 

 as I consider it doubtful how far a tenant could be found to pay that 

 sum in addition to the inventory, which amounts to 2043/. 95. Had I 

 done so, the balance would have been 42/. 17s. 2d. in favour of the 

 farm, after allowing 10 per cent, on the capital invested. 



To those who are unacquainted with the inventory system which pre- 

 vails in Kent and Sussex, and some other parts of the country, the fore- 

 going account may appear rather difficult to comprehend ; but as it is 

 not possible to make it out in any other shape, I trust the following 

 explanation may in some measure obviate that difficulty. The amount 

 of the inventory (2043/. 9s.) includes all the ploughings and other pre- 

 paration for the crops of 1846 which had been made by the offgoing 

 tenant previous to Lady-day, 1846; it also includes the implements, 

 manures on the farm, hay and straw on the premises, at a foddering 

 price, turnips unconsumed at Lady-day, 1846, and many other little 

 matters. The incoming tenant ploughs and sows the land for the 

 spring and turnip crops, and takes the whole of the produce of 1846. 

 The difference between the amount of the inventory paid in the spring 

 of 1838 and of that paid in 1846 is no less than 1071/. 6*. 5c/., and 

 arises principally from the additional value of the implements, and also 

 from there being a much greater quantity of hay and straw and manure 

 on the farm at the latter period. The inventory system is most objec- 

 tionable in many respects, as the incoming tenant is too often called 

 upon to pay for acts of husbandry which have been most inefficiently 

 performed ; but still the evil cannot be got rid of unless the landowners 

 will take upon themselves to pay the amount of these inventories. If 

 they were to do so they might fairly charge an additional rent for the 

 land, as much less capital would be required to enter upon a farm than 

 is now the case. 



From a careful perusal of the foregoing account, we find that in 

 taking a farm naturally so sterile and out of condition as this was 

 in 1838, a capital of not less than 1668/. 14.9. 7d, or 7/. per acre, 

 was requisite in the first instance, and that in this case a further sum 

 of 2148/. 17^. 10c/. was required over and above the proceeds of the 

 farm to pay the rent and provide a maintenance for the tenant ; so 

 that in fact the capital invested in the farm in the spring of 1846 was 

 as follows : — 



£ s. d. 



Inventory paid for in 1838 .... 1668 14 7 

 Further amount required to pay rent, and towards 



tenant's living, &c 2148 17 10 



Total amount invested .£3817 12 5 



or about 16/. per acre. We also find that where a sufficient security 

 exists, the most stubborn and unproductive soil, if naturally dry, may 



