English Land Law. 
383= il7 
Act came into operation. Thirdly, the provisions of the 
relating to payment of compensation for unexhausted im- 
ovements, especially those of the second and third classes, 
ive been adopted by special agreement, and in many cases 
e time fixed by the Act for notice to quit has been likewise 
lopted in new agreements, and has thus been extended from 
K to twelve months. Fourthly, the Act, and the debates upon 
in the Houses of Parliament and elsewhere, have caused 
eater attention to be paid by landlords to the compensation 
tenants for unexhausted improvements, and have resulted in 
ore liberal leases and agreements than were formerly granted. 
It may be fairly assumed, on the whole, that, permissive as 
is and all other legislation on this subject is and should be, 
e Act will work, directly and indirectly, unmixed good to 
iidlords not less than to tenants. Hitherto many landlords 
ive been deterred from adopting the Act, from no unwilling- 
!ss to secure equivalent advantages to their tenants, but from 
jprehensions of disputes and of litigation under the compen- 
tion clauses. As the provisions of the Act come to be better 
iderstood, the examples of those landlords who have incor- 
)rated the Act into their agreements will be gradually followed, 
eanwhile the benefits indirectly resulting to agriculture from Indirect 
e Act are already considerable, and must every year increase, g'^^^j^^'j^ 
I the first place, the effect of this statute is to multiply written acrHculture. 
:reements relating to the letting of land, if, indeed, it does 
)t make such agreements universal. The want of a strict 
■finition of engagements between landlord and farmer in this 
untry has often been pointed out, and it will be a consider- 
'le gain to English agriculture if this frequent cause of diffi- 
Ity and dispute can be removed. Then, in many districts in 
ngland, the prevailing agricultural customs have become 
applicable, and yet have the force of law unless they are ex- 
essly excluded by the agreement or are inconsistent with its 
ms.* In the Agricultural Holdings Act a sound rule has 
\v been laid down upon broad lines ; and this rule, permanently 
ibodied in a legislative enactment, is sure in time to be gene- 
Hy followed as the basis of agreement wherever it is applic- 
le.t Again, limited owners up to this time could hardly be 
pected to give their tenants a certain guarantee of compensa- 
'tt for outlay ; but the powers they now possess under the statute 
charge their estates with the amount of compensation removes 
e great hindrance to agricultural improvement. Lastly, there 
an evident desire on the part of landlords to recognise the 
* Speech of Viscount Portman, House of Lords, May 13, 1875. 
t Speech of Lord Henniker, House of Lords, March 12, 1875. 
VOL. XIV. — S. 8. 2 E 
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