522 Report on the Farm Prize Competition in 
extensive area of the chalk wolds was similarly turned into 
celebrated examples of high and skilful cultivation. 
Besides all these exhibitions of public and private enterprise, 
there is the still vaster and more important one of the fen drain- 
age, which was the only jiossible means of turning the richest 
advantages of the county to account. The outlay was enormous, 
involving a perpetual rate upon the improved land of from 3s. 
to lis. per acre. The scheme necessitated embanking the] old 
watercourses to improve natural outfalls, the cutting of numerous 
new drains and watercourses, and the erection of very extensive 
steam machinery to lift the water from those lower levels whence 
it could find no natural outlet. No detailed description of the 
enormous and interesting engineering operations of this great 
work can be attempted in the present report, but those wishing 
fuller information upon it cannot do better than consult the 
exhaustive report of 1851, by Mr. J. Algernon Clarke, in Vol. XII. 
of the First Series of this Journal (pp. 259 to 411). 
The counties of Lincoln and Notts have long been associated 
as celebrated pioneers in the support and practice of the just 
principle of Tenant's Right to the residue of such improvements 
as he may have left unexhausted behind him on quitting his 
holding. A custom has long been in use which provides a 
guide and scale to valuers to fix the price of such improvements, 
and under it almost all occupations in the two counties have 
long been, and still are, held on a yearly tenure, with six months' 
notice to quit on either side. Leases are almost unknown. 
The arrangement seems to be in great favour, and certainly 
very capital understandings between landlord and tenant have 
grown up under it ; such as continually lead to the retention 
of land in the same hands for generations. The provisions 
of the recent Agricultural Holdings Act are largely based on 
the above customs, and so much does the offspring resemble the 
jDarent, that the Act is now frequently substituted, with the 
cordial consent of all parties, for the ci'istom, or an amalgamation 
of the two has been substituted. New tenancies usually begin at 
Lady Day in both counties. 
The following slight sketch of the principal details of the 
Lincoln custom may not be out of place : — 
The outgoing tenant is by it often allowed for the erection of permanent 
and suitable buildings which have been put up at his own sole expense, on 
what is called the twenty years' principle, which means that a deduction 
from the prime cost to the .imount of one-twentieth shall be allowed for 
each year following the date of erection. When the material is found by 
landlord and the labour, &c., by the tenant, compensation to be on the ten 
years' principle. Special allowances are made for laying down laiid^ to 
pasture. The cost of underdraining is allowed on a fifteen years' principle 
