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EXl’EKCE AND PROFIT OF LAND

advantageous bargain. I fence a landlord of popular man-ners and a bonevolent disposition, who is known to deal ho-nourably with his dependants, often draws a higher rentfor his estate than the other,—because there is a compe-tition among the farmers, not only for the lands,—but alsofor being placed under such a landowner. For a similar rea-son, land that is favourably situated, easily cultivated, and ofgood character for the fertility of its soil, is eagerly sought af-ter, upon the demise of a farmer, or the expiration of a lease;while land that is not so much favoured by climate, situation,or circumstances, is seldom desired by a substantial and skilfulfarmer, except when the rent is moderate, and the lease of con-siderable duration. It is in no small degree owing to this pre-ference for fertile lands, that comparatively high rents are paidin the 1st district, or South-east Lowlands, and comparative-ly low rents in the 5th district, or North-east Lowlands. Itis said that the best land, even at a very high rent, is gene-rally the cheapest, in every part of Scotland . Very poorland is seldom a good concern, even though only a triflingrent is paid for it; unless it can be improved for laying downto grass. Bad land, except in the vicinity of large towns,where manure can be purchased at a reasonable price, willpay nothing in tillage. Yet such are the advantages of capi-tal, ready access to market, and a constant demand for theproduce of the soil, that not only much more profit is madein the first district, where rents are very high, than is general-ly made in the fifth district, where the rent, even of fertilesoil, is moderate. But the farmers in Berwickshire and theLothians must be induced both by a low rent, and a longlease, to rent a farm in the North-east Lowlands; and thisinducement must become higher, before they will take thelease of a farm in the northern or Highland counties. Inevery county in Scotland , there is a wide difference betweenthe profits of one who has an old lease, and consequently amoderate rent; and the profits of another farmer who has anew lease, and whose rent is consequently much higher.