Land Valuing. 
5 
estates, a great deal of land-valuing- is done at that period of the 
year, 
I trust I have now pointed out the leading features by which 
the qualities of soils can be recognised ; but nothing but extended 
observation and experience can enable a valuer to arrive at certain 
results. I have often heard the remark made by farmers that no 
man can tell the quality of land by only seeing it once. This 1 
do not wonder at, because those who have expressed this opinion 
have been men who were accustomed to judge of land rather by 
what was upon it than by the land itself. But if an examination 
of the soil itself is relied on, which is the only safe method, I 
believe one careful inspection is quite sufficient ; a careful one it 
should be, and it is idle to suppose that any man can detect the 
numerous, and in some districts very sudden, variations that occur, 
by merely riding or driving hastily over the land, as is sometimes 
done. 
Having ascertained the quality of each field, there are yet a 
number of circumstances to be considered affecting the value of 
the farm. The extent and an'ane'ement of the agricultural build- 
ings very materially affect the value ; the situation of the lands 
with respect to each other, and to the homestead, and how far 
each field is approached by a hard road, are material points, as 
affecting the expense of horse-labour ; as are also the distance 
from a market town, and the quality of the public roads, and the 
supply and price of labour in the district. 
W here lands are situate so near to a large town as to partake 
of anything approaching an accommodation character, of course 
this must be a most important point ; but in ordinary situations, 
Avhere corn and meat are the stable products, the price of these 
commodities will not vary so much as greatly to affect the value 
of the land. 
To allow for the parochial and other charges upon a farm, is a 
mere matter of calculation, I believe the most convenient method 
in practice is to value the land as tithe-free, and as subject to 
average parochial rates, say 85. in the pound, on an assessment of 
two-thirds of the full value, and afterwards to deduct the tithe 
rent-charge, and allow for any excess or otherwise in the average 
parochial rates. 
I now come to " the estimates which ought to form the basis 
of calculation in fixing the rental of land." 
From the wording of the Society's notice, I presume that a 
similar idea was entertained to that expressed by Mr. Robert 
Baker, in his edition of ' Bayldon on Rents and Tillages,' page 59, 
where he says that the fair rent, " it is presumed, may be obtained 
by estimating the expenses incurred and the profits arising during 
the whole course of one rotation of crops on different soils," and 
