XVIli INTRODUCTION.

methods of augmenting the produce of their farms, left the advantages fhould be reaped by others. Even a leafe of twenty-one years, in many fituations and under different circum ftances, is not fufficient to allow the farmer to undertake improve-

a) ments of confiderable magnitude, as he can neither conduct them in the moft economical way, nor reap the full advantage of them. Befides, where money to

any great amount is ex pended in the beginning of fucha term, the farmer is often, in order to nike einity himfelf, where he has not a prof; fpeQ of remaining, induced

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to run out and exhauft the land at the latter end of his leafe; which is a practice of the moft prejudicial tendency to the proprietors of fuch farms, and the communit

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as well as the interefis of agrict ilture. fe

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it is evident, therefore, that the farmers of land fhould in a// cafes have fuch a

curity for the pofiefiion of it as will enable them to introduce the moft improved

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of management, and excite them to adopt the beft means of improvement. Che length of leafe that may be moft fuitable and bef adapted for thefe important purpofes is not eafily afcertained; it ought probably to vary accor ding to the par-

ticular circumflances and the nature of the improvements that are to be earried into

execution®. In fuch leafes many clanfes muft of‘courfe be requifite: but they

fhould be fuch as are plain and fimple, and fuch as may not too greatly deftroy the

independence hike farmer, but leave him much at liberty io follow his own pians ef

of cultivation; while they afford effeCtual fecurity to the proprictors, by cautioufly

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guarding againft the introdu@tion of fuch fyftems of hufbandry as would be injuri-

ous or im oe

There are aby other caufes of this kind that operate unfavourably for the ex- tenfion of agricultural improvements; but as they are either confined to particular

circumftances, or only poflefs a local influence, it is not neceflary to confider them with a view to the Brae object.

From what has been obferved, it is evident that different circumftances muft be attended to, in order to bring the ftate of agriculture to that degree of perfection which its utility demands. It will not only be neceflary that the principles of the art be ren- dered more clear.and eafily acceffible to the cultivator, but that the various proceffes

* Mr. Donaldfon, after making a variety of ufeful obfervations on the advantage of leafes, and the length of time that may have the moft beneficial effets in promoting improvements, concludes, that «‘ that duration of leafe which entitles the tenant to commence his improvements with fpirit, and is not of fuch a length as to induce him, from any fortuitous circumfiances that may take place, asa rife in the nominal price of produce, ora fail in the value of money, to flacken his attention, may be confidered upon the whole as beft; and Dae! twenty years is as equitable a term as in the prefent ftate of Britith

acriculture can well be fixed upon.’

+ See Section on Leafes, in Appendix.

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