The Farming of Cheshire. 
85 
influence of season, or other causes, cheese may be high in price 
when wheat is low ; or the latter may be high when the former is 
low ; but this disparity will in all probability continue but for a 
short time, as I find, by reference to the prices for the last 12 or 
14 years, they have nearly kept pace with each other. 
The usual time for giving up possession of arable lands (Feb- 
ruary 2) is frequently attended with great inconvenience to the 
in-coming tenant, and is of little or no advantage to the out-going 
one. It has therefore occurred to myself, and my opinion is con- 
firmed by the judgment of many practical men, that the 1st of 
November would be the proper period for giving up clover roots 
(where the retiring tenant is allowed the cost of the seed) and all 
tillage land, except that sown, or intended to be sown, with wheat; 
and some consider that March 25th would be a more convenient 
time for quitting houses and buildings than May ; but, having 
given the matter a careful examination, I feel convinced that the 
advantage to be gained by taking possession of the house, build- 
ings, «&c., at that early period, would be more than counter- 
balanced by the inconvenience to which the farmer would occa- 
sionally be put, by removing his stock to a farm where but little 
fodder had been provided, and without any prospect of being 
enabled to turn his cows to grass till after a lapse of five or six 
weeks, and having left at the same time on the farm he has given 
up an ample supply of provision, which, according to agreement, 
must be consumed on the premises ; one-half or two-thirds of its 
value only being allowed by his successor. 
Upon this part of the subject I quote the following statements 
and opinions, with which I have been favoured by my correspon- 
dents : — 
From the Hundred of Eddisbury: — 
" The tenures on which farms are held in this neighbourhood are those 
of yearly occupation, but I am of opinion that leases would be better for the 
farmer, whether at a fixed sum, or regulated by a corn-rent : the latter I 
should prefer, as the fairest arrangement between landlord and tenant." 
From the Hundred of Macclesfield : — 
" We have very few leases or agreements for terras of years in this dis- 
trict ; but many of the farmers have lived long upon their farms, having 
succeeded their fathers in the same occupancy. I think, however, it would 
be better if we had leases. " 
From the Hundred of Wirral : — 
"Yearly tenancies are most prevalent here. There are some instances 
of leases for 7, 14, and even 21 years, and, where these have been granted, 
the tenants certainly appear more industrious and improving, and landlords 
more generous and liberal. The good feeling, which is said to exist between 
landowners and yearly tenants, has been strengthened by the granting of 
leases." 
