The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-04-16

With prophetic wisdom rlvallng
that of the authors of the Declare
ton of independence, the late GEN
eral James Wadsworth more than 100
years ago wrote farm lease which is
still used by his heirs in the manage
ment of about 10000 acres Of land
in the Genesee Valley of New York.
Farms and farming a century ago
were not what they are to-day, and
yet the form of lease which General
Wadsworth studied out and adopted
has not been materially altered in
that time. 1t still answers in that
time. 1t still answers most require
ments. AS originally drawn it out
lined a system which compelled the
practice of profitable agriculture.
1t provided in some measure for the
maintenance as we'll as the improve
ment of soil fertility. 1t aimed at
the highest welfare of the tenant,
giving him all the opportunities and
privileges calculated to inspire his
best endeavors and insure him fair
reward. Experience has proved the
wisdom Of every article in the cove
nant. Under its operation the beauti-
full estate of a, land-loving family has
been gradually raised to a higher ba-
sis of profit, and the tenants have
prospered. A lease which secures
these results and dates back 100
years seems an extraordinary docu-
ment, and many of our readers will
be interested in an analysis of its
chief provisions and in some account
of the results which it has produced
under the intelligent direction of
Hon. James w. Wadsworth, who for
many years has managed the estate
as business.
Globe trotters assert that the Gen
esee Valley is one of the most pictur-
esque and productive spots on the
worlds map. 1t has been compared
to it's advantage with other famed
valleys. We like to think Of it as a
mate to the Miami Valley of Ohio,
which in many ways it resembles.
Central western New York is it's To-
cation. The soil is deep loan with
a clay subsoil Natural drainage is
adequate for the most part, although
much of the land should be tiled.
The borders of the valley consist of
gentle hills heightened by trees of
great age. Trees of historic dignity
stand in companionable solitude In
the valley itself Rich old pastures
of blue grass literally stocked with
cattle and sheep occupy their proper
proportion of the land. To complete
a picture of rich pastoral beauty we
have but to imagine the presence of
the usually clear lively waters of the
Genesee River trickling their way
along shallow banks clothed in grass.
Occasionally this tranquil little
stream, overworked as an outlet for
the water it receives, PUSHES out of its
bed and floods broad stretches of con-
tiguous land When we saw the Cen
esee Valley in June it was at the
height of its fresh green charms
Small grains were in splendid pros
pect, pastures were luxuriant, the
trees were in full vesture, and great
fields of beans were conspicuous.
The Wadsworth estate embraces
the heart of the Genesee Valley. For
three generations this land has been
owned by the Wadsworths. Several
hundred acres have been added al
most every year. A tract of 400
acres was annexed on the day of our
visit. Farms under wise manage
ment invariably grow larger. No
successful farmer ever had all the
land he wanted. Altogether the es-
tate contains about 10000 acres, di-
Vided into seventy farms, varying in
size from about $50 to 700 acres, the
average being about 200 acres. Land
is valued at about $50 per acre in the
valley. Each farm, fully equipped
with buildings, is leased annually.
Among the seventy tenants are men
who have been on the estate for fifty
years, and many for twenty-five
years. Several nationalities are rep
resented, Scotch, English and North
of ireland farmers being in the ma
jority. Under the Wadsworth lease
good farmers are retained and the
other kind eliminated. 1t works au-
tomatically. Every year there is a
long list of names from which to Sc
lect new tenants, but only few are
needed, as when once man who
knows how to farm takes hold of one
of these homesteads he finds it prof.
liable enough to satisfy him. He
sticks. In few cases sons have sue
ceeded fathers as 1essees.
One of the strongest features of the
lease is a provision compelling ten
ants to participate in the activities