The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-02-25
AGRICULTURAL.
Renting Farms.

Inquiries as to the terms upon which farms
should, could or might be rented, are lust
now very numerous. 1t Is plain that in this
respect we are all In transition state, and
are approaching the time and circumstances
wnen the practice of renting farms will be
more general. This is seen to be inevitable,
wnen we consider the rapidly advancing
value OF land, the increasing number of per-
sons who desire to become farmers, and the
large capital now required to stock farm
much more both to own and stock one.
Upon what terms that are fair to owners and
tenants, then, should farm be rented. so
that clear understanding of them can be
had, and disputes avoided?
The manner of renting upon shares is open
to serious objections upon the latter score.
The division of the products becomes COM
plicated by so many unforeseen contingent
cies, that disputes can scarcely be prevented,
and with the best disposition to avoid trouble
one or other party cannot fail to feel ag-
grieved. The owner furnishes land and
house, and usually the stock and feed for
them, the tenans generally supplies only the
labor. The rule which has existed for years
back has been that the land takes one-third,
the stock and tools one-third, and the labor
one-third. Then If either party supplies two
of these three he should have two-thirds of
the gross products, and the other one-third.
But the feeding of the stock is generally the
great difficulty which cannot be overcome.
ln the many cases which are occurring in
this neighborhood where farms are high in
value. there Is almost invariably some dispute
arising out OF this matter of feeding the stock
and how TO get over this has SO far been an
unsolVable problem. Many elements enter
INTO II, and these are SO uncertain, that it
seems impossible to arrive at any satisfactory
arrangement, and consequently few tenants
remain the second year on the same farm.
For instance, II the tenant furnishes half the
cows and other live stock, it is natural to ex-
pect that he would do better by his own ami
mails than by those of the owner, and the
fact that this is generally done or supposed
to be done, Is source of trouble. Ii the
owner furnishes the whole of the stock, the
tenant grudges the salable produce which is
fed to them, as this reduces the quantity
subject to division; and SO on through the
whole catalogue of items. The fact is, do
not think any arrangement can possibly be
made by which all these conflicting interests
can be adjusted satisfactorily to owner and
tenant, both by reason of the multiplicity of
points to be met and arranged for, and the
nature OF these points as well. have had
so much difficulty myself in arranging these
matters that have found it impossible to
let my farm on shares, and am compelled to
continue to hire men at monthly or yearly
wages.
The terms offered were to give the tenant
one third of everything that was sold from
the farm, viz: milk, butter, calves, sweet
corn, potatoes, eggs, poultry, pork, grain,
&C., after the stock had been fed and suffici-
ent reserved to replace the stock on hand
when the bargain was made. All the hay,
straw, and corn fodder were to be fed to
stock which was kept up in number sufficient
TO consume all these. The tenant was 70
find all the labor needed on the farm for the
ordinary work, any extra work, such as new
fencing, ditching, &C., to be paid for by me
He could put in such crops as he wished, and
If there was not sufficient manure for these,
l would purchase fertilizers or such other
manure as could be procured; also all bran
and other extra feed that might think we're
needed for the cows, and for the purpose of
making manure. The farm was stocked
with IA COWS, the milk of which was sold at
z cents qnart, delivered on nearby route.
/ could easily figure up an income to the ten
ant Of 1000 yearly, but / could find none
who would run the risks of taking the farm
for single year. In addition to this possible
$1,000, there was fair house, garden and
fnel provided. The trouble evidently was
that there were so many items to be provided
for, and so many possible contingencies that
could not be provided for, that the result
seemed to be doubtful. During a considera-
bic experience in farming, and among farm
ers, have not yet found one case in which
tenant and owner were both satisfied; there
was always compromise. in, which one OF
the parties thought be suffered, and general
ly both thought so. cannot see any way
clear to get over these difficulties, unless it be
the European system of lease for term of
years at fixed money rent, nor can see
how any plan of dividing the produce, except
upon an exclusively grain growing farm, can
ever be made satisfactory to both parties in
terested. The investigation of this subject is
now pertinent and very important.-Co Corr. of
Country Gentleman.