436 
Farming of Cornwall. 
unfettered ; remembering that it Is the interest of all parties, and 
more particularly the farmer, who has a fair term in the estate,* to 
raise the greatest possible produce from the land, without affect- 
ing its permanent fertility, by the most economical means. 
55. It is imagined by many that the obstacles to a more rapid 
diffusion of agricultural improvement will be gradually overcome 
by the application of the sciences to its various practices. There 
are a few persons who entertain a higher opinion as to the bene- 
ficial effect with which chemical science and mechanical ingenuity 
may be profitably applied, in increasing and varying the produc- 
* Farms are generally let for terms of 7, 14, and 21 years. The first is 
objectionable in every respect, and is a very great defect in the Cornish 
system of husbandry, which, combined as it was formerly, and is now 
occasionally practised, with the system of letting estates by " tender " to the 
highest bidder, forms the very acme of folly. The effect of this system is 
to introduce a class of tenantry on estates without either skill or capital, 
such persons being always ready to enter on a farm at an extravagant 
rental, and " contriving to shufHe through their term," by racking the 
estates in every possible way. 
The "term" commences at Michaelmas, when the farm changes hands 
from the old tenant to the new one. 
The landlord preserves a right to enter on the estate the last year of the 
term, and takes the ground next in turn for tillage, and prepares the same 
for wheat, turnips, and grass seeds, the tenant being paid reasonable 
compensation for the same. 
The old tenant has the use of the barn and mowhay a sufficient time to 
enable him to dispose of his corn ; the live stock and implements being 
generally sold by auction ; the straw and dung belonging to the landlord. 
There is a something wrong in this system : the tenant should be so 
situated that he could employ his capital to the best advantage up to 
the termination of his lease, for few farmers care about putting anything 
into the estate during the last 2 or 3 years of the term, but contrive to get 
all they can out of it. It has been recommended that where a lease of 
21 years is given, there should be a renewal clause at the end of 14 years; 
or in a lease of 14 years, the clause should come into operation at the end 
of 7 years. Where there is a fair understanding between landlord and 
tenant, and which we are happy to say is more frequent than otherwise, 
this method would remedy a deal of the mischief complained of, for the 
farmer, let him be ever so rich, will be certain to proportion his expendi- 
ture to his interest in the land ; for when he feels assured that he Itas a 
life interest in his farm, he will cast his whole lot in i1, and will be certain 
to employ all his capital and skill in cultivating it to the highest point to 
which the improving state of agricultural science can direct him. Tenants 
in (Cornwall pay generally tithes, land-tax, and all county and parochial 
assessments. Hy the leases they are bound to keep everything in repair 
except the walls and roofs. They also pay the expense of the leases. 
The average rate of poor-rates is estimated at about 2s. in the pound 
on the rental. This rate presses, however, very unequally throughout the 
county. In the agricultural parishes it varies from M. to Ia". (id., whilst 
on the same description of laud, where the mines prevail to any extent, 
it amounts to 2s. 6d. and 4s. ; the wear and tear of roads in tiie mining 
jiarishes being very considerable. The highway-rate also varies in the 
same ratio. 
