LAND OCCCPIEU BY FARMERS

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thoroughly understand the principles above stated, which in-deed have been deduced lrom their practice. But, on theother hand, there are many proprietors, in other respectswell informed, who insist on inserting a number of minuterestrictions in their leases, when they really are unneces-sary, and even sometimes oppressive; and there are manyenterprising and skilful farmers, especially in the south-ern districts of Scotland , where correct agriculture is bothknown and practised, who are averse to restrictions in anycase, and who will not submit to such limitations as may benecessary to protect waste land lately reclaimed, or poorarable soil, that has been lately filled with calcareous matter,from being completely exhausted by severe cropping.

2. The regulations of cropping, manuring, and other im-provements. —The right of the proprietor to regulate the ma-nagement of his own land, cannot be questioned; but, howfar it is expedient to exercise this right to a greater or lessextent, must depend upon a variety of circumstances, respect-ing which no general rules can be laid down. Much mustdepend, 1. Upon the condition of the farm;—whether it is ina high or in a progressive state of improvement, or whether itconsists of barren land to be reclaimed; 2. Upon the charac-ter and capital of the fanner, and the confidence to be placedin him; and, 3. Upon local circumstances;—for instance, aprohibition of selling straw, though a proper covenant in alease of a farm that is remote from manure, would be ab-surd, if inserted in the lease of a farm near Edinburgh orGlasgow , where night-soil or street-dung can be purchasedin great quantities, and straw can be sold at very high prices.There are, however, some general regulations which are com-mon to all leases that have been drawn up judiciously; suchas, that the farmer shall never be allowed to take more thanone white crop in succession; that he shall always have a cer-tain proportion of his land in sown grass; and that he shalladopt a particular course of cropping during the last four years