Farming Customs and Covenants of England. 165 
tho arable land. This is usually valued to the incomer before 
liarvest ; the rent, rates, and taxes being deducted, as well as the 
expense of harvesting, «Scc. The straw and chaff belong to the 
incoming tenant. The ownership of the manure varies; on some 
farms the incomer purchases it, on others it belongs to the farm. 
Unexhausted manures and permanent improvements are not 
usually paid for, but the principle of compensation is extending.* 
The tenants usually keep the buildings and fences in repair, 
but not the main walls or roofs, and the landlord provides ma- 
terials in the rough. 
Yorkshire, West Eiding. — Here the farms are generally 
entered on at Candlemas, but where the West Riding abuts on the 
North or East Riding the farms are usually let from Lady-day. 
On the Candlemas takings the tenant does not take possession of 
the buildings until May-day. The custom varies considerably. 
In some instances the outgoing: tenant is even allowed on the 
turnip or summer-fallow one year's rent and taxes as well as for 
all manures purchased, the dressing of the fallows, and the manure, 
making a deduction for the green crops. On the " half-tillage 
land " (seeds, bean and pea stubbles) he is allowed half the 
rent and taxes, the dressings, half the manure, three-quarters for 
bones, and a third for guano, less one half the deduction for the 
last green crop. For wheat he gets the full value, deducting a 
year's rent, rates, &c. ; and on the fallows the acts of husbandry 
and the manure. In other parts there is merely the full allow- 
ance for acts of husbandry and manure on lands which have had 
no crop, and after one crop, then one-half. The manure usually 
has to be taken to by valuation. Purchased manures are paid 
for at full cost if no crop has been taken, but after a crop the 
outgoer receives one-half the value. 
We are indebted to Mr. George Richardson, of 20, King 
Street, Bridlington Quay, for information and revision concern- 
ing the North and East Ridings, and to Mr. Matthew B. Hick, 
of Wakefield, for revision of the customs of the West Riding. 
Leases and Agreements. 
^ Very much has been said and written upon the subject of 
leases, a question which presents itself in so many diversified 
forms, that it is difficult, if not impossible, to lay down any 
general rule. Much depends on the character of the landlord, 
the kind of farm, and the climate. But our experience has 
* In the East Riding it is customary for the incomer to pre-enter and com- 
mence ploughing and preparing the land (which is not included in the one-third 
away-going crop) directly after the 1st of January, the outgoing tenant not inter- 
fering at all with that portion of the farm, but he has generally to provide stable- 
room for the incoming tenant's horses required for working the same. The customs 
iu the North Riding are similar to those in the East. 
