Farming Customs and Covenants of England. 
103 
prevail to thoso existing in Cumberland, except that the takings 
are usually on the (kh April instead of Candlemas ; but in the 
south the outgoing tenant claims an away-going crop of wheat, 
being two-thirds of the crop raised on fallow, and one-half that 
raised on a " brush " crop. With this exception the customs 
are nearly like those of Cumberland. 
WlliTSiiiHE. — Tenancies commence at Lady-day and at 
Michaelmas, but by far the greater number at the latter period. 
The incoming tenant has usually the right of pre-entry to pre- 
pare and sow the turnip-crop ; otherwise the outgoing tenant 
does the labour and is remunerated for it. The incomer can 
also enter to sow the clover-seeds with the outgoer's last crop of 
Lent corn ; and at Midsummer he can enter on the second year's 
ley to prepare for wheat. Manure belongs to the incomer. The 
outgoer claims the use of a portion of the house, stable, and 
yards, with the barn, until the Midsummer following, to consume 
the straw and fodder. In some places near Swindon, where the 
entries are at Lady-day, the incomer has a pre-entry to a portion 
of the arable land to sow vetches, and the outgoer retains the 
arable land sown with corn until the Michaelmas following the 
termination of his tenancy. 
The tenant does the repairs, the landlord finding materials 
(except straw, lead for windows, and glass), within a certain 
distance. Hay and straw must be consumed on the premises. 
We are indebted to Mr. W. Spearing, of Kennett, near Marl- 
borough, for a revision of the above customs, 
Worcestershire. — In the middle and southern parts of the 
county with few exceptions Michaelmas tenancies prevail. In 
the north and north-eastern parts of the county there are many 
Lady-day tenancies, and west of the Severn many of the farms 
change hands at Candlemas, but these are gradually being con- 
verted into Michaelmas tenancies. The customs, except as to 
Michaelmas tenancies vary very much. The prevailing custom 
on a Lady-day tenancy is for the outgoing tenant to take an off-going 
prop of wheat from one-third of the tillage, which he thrashes at his 
own convenience, leaving the straw for the incomer, and he retains 
possession of the house, buildings, folds, and a " boozy pasture " 
until the 1st of May ; he must, however, provide accommodation 
for the horses, and two rooms in the house for the men of his 
successor. He is also paid for the seeds planted with the Lent 
grain in the previous year, unless they have been stocked subse- 
quently to Michaelmas. The incoming tenant has no right to 
enter before Lady-day to plough, &c., unless by agreement, nor 
can the outgoing tenant recover for acts of husbandry performed 
by him. The customs attending a Candlemas entry are much 
the same as the above. Upon the termination of a Michaelmas 
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