THE LETHEN SHEEP-WINTERING REGULATIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2004, 21 July 1892, Page 8

THE LETHEN SHEEP-WINTERING REGULATIONS.

From Mr W. E. Bear's article on "Tenant Eight" in the newly published volume entitled " Land : Its Attractions and Riches," we (North British Agriculturist) make the following extract : —

" Lawyer-made cropping restrictions are altogether out of date, and should be relegated to the limbo of the dark ages of farming v Let every tenant be fully compensated for all his improvements, and as fully fined for all his deteriorations, and no restrictions as to crop* ping or sale of produce will be required as a rule. As for the exceptions, they would be met by empowering a landlord to stop a tenant from committing obvious waste, as already proposed. The recent bad times have at least done good by getting rid of restrictive farm covenants in thousands of cases, as sensible and prudent farmers have lately refused to take land in hand unless they could act upon their own judgment in making the best use of it» These abominations, however, are not by any means extinct. As recently as last September the North British Agriculturist published a circular sent to the tenants of an estate in Nairnshire in reply to an application from them for the 'privilege' of wintering sheep on their farms. The circular is such a beautiful example of the Scotch idea of holding farmers in leading stiings that I should like to give it in full ; but space forbids. It sets forth, in arrogant and hectoring language, the grudging allowance of the ♦privilege' under the most elaborate of conditions and restrictions. The particular number of a special breed of sheep which each tenant is to be allowed to winter is set forth, as well ai the particular section of each farm on which the sheep are to be kept. The number of shepherds to be employed is also paternally prescribed, and that of 6heep dogs also, both men and animals having to be 'previously approved' by the lawyer-factors who act for the proprietor. As an example of hectoring language, this sentence may be quoted : — ' That while recommending to the proprietor the granting of the privilege of sheep-wintering as herein specified, we expect each of you to do all iv your power to prevent trespass, poaching, or damage ; and if it shall appear to us that any one or more of you are not doing so, the privilege shall be withdrawn from any one or more.' This is the style of address to capitalist farmere which the members of a 'leading firm of lawyer-factors in Edinburgh ' deem proper in this last decade of the nineteenth century."