380=114 
English Land Law. 
To 3-early 
tenancies. 
Landlord may 
resume pos- 
session of part 
of holding for 
certain pur- 
poses. 
Fixtures. 
Farm 
buildings. 
Steam-engines 
session ; for if the tenancy begins to run from Michaelmas, 
1876, notice cannot be given under the Act until Alichaelmas, 
1877, expiring at Michaelmas, 1878. 
In 1874, before Lord Beaconsfield became Prime Minister, he 
said that, in his opinion, much that was thought unsatisfactory 
in the existing tenure of land would disappear if a tenant-farmer 
could be sure of a two years' notice to surrender his holdin». 
The suggestion was thrown out as an alternative to a plan of 
compensation for unexhausted improvements ; and there is 
therefore no inconsistency in the shorter term of notice fixed bv 
the Bill, supplementing, as it does, provisions allowing such 
compensation. Of course landlords and tenants are free tt 
regulate as they please the length of this notice, like every othei 
part of the contract of tenancy. Unless, however, the landlorc 
and tenant mutually agree in writing to exclude the whole Act 
or this particular provision, every yearly tenancy beginning afte; 
February 14th, 1876, is affected by it. It also applies to al 
yearly tenancies existing at that date, unless within two month 
afterwards one of the parties to the contract of tenancy notifiw 
to the contrary. 
Resumption for Lmprovements. — In the case of holdings let upo 
yearly tenancies, landlords are empowered by the Act to serve 
tenant with notice to quit part only of the holding. This was 
power not before possessed by the landlord, but he can only exei 
cise it for certain objects recognised as being of general importanc 
and utility, that is to say : — 1. Erecting farm-labourers' cottage 
or other houses, with or without gardens. 2. Providing garden 
for existing farm-labourers' cottages, or other houses. 3. A 
lotment to labourers of land for gardens or other purpose 
4. Planting trees. 5. Opening or working any coal, ironstOD' 
limestone, or other mineral ; or a stone quarry, clay, sand, ( 
gravel-pit ; or constructing any works or buildings to be use 
in connection therewith. 6. Obtaining brick-earth, gravel, • 
sand. 7. Making a watercourse or reservoir. 8. Making ar 
road, tramroad, siding, canal, or basin, or any wharf, pier, 1 
other work connected therewith. The Act secures to the tenai 
adequate compensation for being thus deprived of part of h 
holding. 
Fixtures. — We have traced in part the growth of a more liber 
system in English agriculture, mitigating the effect of the o 
rule — Quicquid plantatur solo, solo cedit. A statute passed 
1651 required the landlord's written consent to give the tenant 
qualified property in farm buildings erected by him. Tt 
consent is still necessary to create a valid claim to compensatii 
under the Agricultural Holdings Act. So, also, the tcnai 
before erecting any steam-engine, must still give the landlo 
