Agriculture of Northumberland. 



423 



yearly becoming more understood, a great proportion of the farms 

 in this county are still let from year to year. It will indeed seem 

 strange, that so absurd a custom should be persisted in, when the 

 ruinous consequences are so apparent. 



The usual form of lease, although slightly varying from local 

 causes, has nothing in it peculiar to the district. The time of 

 entry is generally the 12th of May ; the tenant paying no rent 

 until one year in possession, and allowing his predecessor the 

 crop from one half of the land, with the use of barn and stack- 

 yard, for one year after he has left. Upon the estates of the 

 Duke of Northumberland, and a few other landowners, the term 

 of entry is the 25th of March, the entering tenant obtaining pos- 

 session of the whole crop by paying the previous tenant, for seed 

 and labour. It is difficult to say which of these methods is the 

 best, as the best practical men are divided on the subject. In 

 general the owner repairs all outbuildings, the tenants being ex- 

 pected to cart the materials for any new erections required. Few 

 of the tillage farms exceed 1000 acres, and in the neighbourhood 

 of Newcastle there are many not more than 100 acres. The 

 grazing farms are much larger, many adjoining the Cheviot Hills 

 being very extensive. 



Annual Value of the Land. — The figures on the accompanying 

 map will supply every information respecting the value of the land 

 in this county, better than a written description could have done. 



Draining, ^"c. — Draining has been carried to a great extent 

 Vvdthin the last few years. Some landowners charging 5 per cent, 

 on the entire cost, and others supplying the tiles, and the tenant 

 executing the drains. Instances are, however, by no means rare, 

 when long leases are granted, of the tenant executing the whole at 

 his own expense. 



Farm- Buildings, Sfc. — There has been a gradual improvement 

 of late years in the farm-buildings of this county. Those erected 

 by the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, under the direction 

 of J. Grey, Esq., of Dilston, contain every convenience a farmer 

 could desire. There are also many farm-buildings in the north 

 of the county, which cannot be exceeded. 



Tithes. — The late Tithe Act has happily removed many just 

 causes of complaint. 



Poor-rates. — The poor-rates in the agricultural districts of the 

 county are very moderate, relief to able-bodied men being un- 

 known. At the time the New Poor Law came into operation, 

 some of the unions were highly complimented by the Commis- 

 sioners, for the contrast they afforded in this respect to the de- 

 grading practice of the southern counties. 



Highway -rates. — The highway-rates are moderate, and seldom 

 a serious burden to the farmer. 



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