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former example. Lands znzmproved are eagerly ſought after by farmers, who are willing to pay double the former rents, beſides a per centage for money advanced by the pro- prietor for incloſing and other improvements.

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LEASES.

The duration of leaſes is conſidered by ſome people as a mark by which to judge of.improvements of agriculture in any diſtritt. It generally happens, that if leaſes are very Ihort, as one year, or very long, as tbree or ſour ſucceſſive lives of the poſſeſlors, improvements, if there are any, go on but very ſlowly. By the former, no encouragement is given for exertion, or the laying out of money on the land; and by the latter, a culpable InaCtivity is but too frequently tranſmitted from father to ſon; and if the tenant can only ſcrape together as much as will pay the rent, he ſeeks no more. He indulges himſelf in Noth, Keeps his family half- itarved, and trains up his children in the ſame ruinous and diſgraceful habits. OF this baneful pratice, the county of Stirling, ſome time 290, afforded but too many examples. Landholders, finding that in general few improvements were made on lands held in long leaſes, are unwilling'at preſent to leaſe for a longer term than nineteen Years. Some leaſes however extend to the period of thirty-eight Years, and the lifetime of the tenant in poſleſlion. Farms, abonat half a cen- tury ago, and in one inſtance recently, have been let for three times nineteen years. In leaſing upon long terms, great care ſhould be taken to prefer tenants who have pro- ved themſelves to be induſtrious, intelligent, and diſpoſed to make improvements. Formerly very little attention was paid to preſcribing a proper courſe of huſbandry. It is uſual at preſent to ſtipulate, that 2 certain Portion of the farm ſhall be kept in graſs, and to remain ſo at the EXPINY of the leaſe.

FARM.