Agriculture of Norfolk. 
345 
in favour of the object in view. So is it in the cultivation of land 
in this kingdom, and, I believe, even in a much larger degree than 
in the feeding of stock. The last few shillings per acre laid out 
may so increase the produce as to pay, on that last expense, a hand- 
some per centage, whilst all pre^niously laid out might be swal- 
lowed up by the common demands on the land, and thus pay no 
per centage at all. 
Would we condense into one sentence that which best represents 
the general interest of Britain, it is the most perfect cultivation 
of its soil. Some persons may cavil at this, but few will distinctly 
deny it. At any rate, few, who reflect on the present circumstances 
of this country, will say, that the owner of land is not in duty bound 
to see as much labour employed on his estates, as possible, without 
positive loss to himself or his tenants. In this respect it is undeni- 
able, that property has its duties, as well as its rights. It is evident, 
likewise, that by each land-owner seeing that everything was done 
on his estates likely to return 205. and a fair interest for the pound, 
such an impetus would be given to the general trade and com- 
merce of the kingdom, through all the various branches or chan- 
nels along which this, the original, stream flowed, as would even- 
tually return to the original movers of it an indirect but certain 
benefit. If these positions are well founded, it becomes a very 
important question, how an arrangement can be made between 
landlord and tenant, so that the former shall retain all his privi- 
leges, and the latter apply his capital, time, and energies with the 
greatest benefit to himself and the highest usefulness to the whole 
community? Leases have undoubtedly been more common in 
Norfolk than in many other counties ; and it is quite as certain, 
that great and permanent improvement in the soil has generally 
been observed after their expiration. 
Many landowners admit this, but say, however great improve- 
ments may be made for those who are to possess our estates a 
certain number of years hence, we should be paying dearly for 
them, by sacrificing in the meantime the power we have over our 
own property. This is a very important objection to leases, and 
it is well known that no amount of rent would tempt some land- 
owners to grant a lease of a farm, especially if it were near the 
proprietor s residence : and, it must be confessed, there are few 
cases in which one could, without hesitation, recommend them to 
do so. It becomes, therefore, necessary to inquire into the prin- 
ciples of leases, and the nature of such objections as are raised 
against them, in order to our seeing whether we can, by any other 
means, secure the advantages to be derived from them, without 
drawbacks. Leases are recommended by some on the ground 
that they give a certain degree of security to the tenant for the 
capital he may choose to lay out on the land of another. But, 
