146 Farming Customs and Covenants of England. 
The Lady-day oi- Candlemas entry is undoubtedly the best 
time of year for arable farms, especially if the incomer has the 
right of pre-entry to plough : but for grazing farms Michaelmas 
is jierhaps preferable. This (Lady-day) is the principal time of 
entry in the following counties : — Cheshire, Derby, Dorset, Hun- 
tingdon, Leicester, Lincoln, Northampton, Nottingham, Rutland, 
Shropshire, Somerset, Stafford, Warwick, North and East Ridings 
of Yorkshire, and in North Wales. 
It is also prevalent in Bucks, Bedford, Cambridge, Cornwall, 
Cumberland, Devon, Gloucesteishire, Hereford, Northumber- 
land, Nottingham, Surrey, Westmorland, Wilts, Worcester, West 
Riding of York, and South Wales. 
May Day. — There are only two counties in which this is the 
period of entry, viz. : — Durham, and a portion of Northumber- 
land ; and in these cases the customs so closely resemble those of 
the Lady-day entries, that we do not deem any special notice 
of them necessary. 
Michaelmas. — This " taking " undoubtedly allows the outgoer 
the greatest opportunity for fraud, should he be dishonest, as 
it is impossible for the incomer's valuer to ascertain with 
accuracy whether all the work charged for, such as scarify- 
ing, harrowing, &c., has been duly executed ; nevertheless, the 
cost is generally less to the incomer, except when he has to pay 
for manure. 
In this taking the general custom is for the outgoer to prepare 
the fallow and do the summer work, such as planting turnips, 
which the incomer has to pay for, together with the rent, &c., of 
that portion of the farm. The outgoer in some cases holds the 
principal portion of the fold-yards, barns, stack-yards, and house, 
until the spring, to consume his straw ; in others he gives up the 
straw, &c., at a consuming price (usually two-thirds the market- 
value) ; and in some cases the outgoer is paid half the cost of 
fallowing the previous year. Where it can be effected it is 
obviously better for both outgoer and incomer to pay the value 
of crops, and let the outgoer plant them. 
The outgoer is also repaid the bill for seeds, and sometimes 
cost of sowing and harrowing in ; likewise in other cases an addi- 
tional payment if the seeds are good. He is also allowed to 
charge for liming and sheep-folding; but we very much doubt 
whether any claim for corn consumed or for artificial manure 
could be sustained, except by agreement, as the use of these is of 
too modern a date to support a claim by custom. 
In Kent, and a portion of Surrey and Sussex, there is a custom 
to allow also for what are called half-fallows and half-dressings, 
the allowance being made where only one crop has been taken 
since such fallowing or dressing. 
