J 0 U E N A L 
OF THE 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY 
OF EXGLAO. 
I. — On Land Valuing. By Philip D. Tuckett, F.G.S., 
Land Agent and Surveyor. 
Prize Essay. 
Such striking inequalities are constantly observable in the rentals 
at which farms are let throughout the country, that it is by no 
means surprising that the Royal Agricultural Society should 
desire to obtain some reliable information as to the principles on 
which the rental-value of land should be calculated. Yet the art 
of land-valuing is one that depends so entirely on the individual 
judgment and experience of the valuer, that it is really impossible 
to lay down any rules that can materially assist those who do not 
possess these requisite qualifications. 
It is probable that these pages do not contain so much of 
detailed calculation as may be expected by the Society, it being 
my conviction that such detailed estimates, although often ex- 
tremely interesting, can never be relied on for practical purposes. 
The following observations are offered as the result of the expe- 
rience of the last twelve years, during which I have been employed 
in valuing land in thirty-nine of our English and Welsh counties ; 
and it has been my object (neglecting minute details) to enumerate 
the main considerations that must influence the practical valuer. 
In arriving at the rental value of land, the duty of the valuer 
may be considered under three heads : — 
1st. Accurately to ascertain the quality of the soil. 
2nd. To take into account the various other circumstances 
that affect the value. 
3rd. To assess the value in money. 
The various indications of the fertility and barrenness of soils 
are so ably discussed in Mr. Bravender's admirable paper in the 
5th volume of the Society's Journal, that it would be superfluous 
again to go over the several points there enumerated ; but it 
appears to me that, in reading so long and minute a description 
ot these various indications, there is some danger of forgetting 
VOL. XXIV. . B 
