by the conditions under which they offer half the cost of county scholarships.

RENT.

It has been suggested in the course of this inquiry that for many years previous to 1875, rents had been unduly raised. The weight of evidence, however, satisfies us that such a practice was exceptional, especially on large estates, and might be attributed in a great measure to imprudent competition on the part of tenants. It would also seem that this competition was to a considerable degree encouraged by the employment of capital in the shape of advances made by country bankers on personal security, as well as by cattle dealers, salesmen, and others. The sudden withdrawal of such accommodation, and the calling in of loans so made, have in our opinion, greatly contributed to the late difficulties of the tenant farmers.

Upon the important question of the effect of rent upon agricultural depression, several witnesses have communicated their views.

While we strongly object to any legislative interference with arrangements on the question of rent between landlord and tenant, we are of opinion that it will be for the interest of both parties that rents should be so fixed by voluntary agreement as to enable farmers to meet the difficulties of their position.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES (ANIMALS) ACT.

The evidence to which we have already referred, proves that the effect of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act has been most beneficial. Wherever the local authorities have carried out its provisions with strictness, it has been successful in checking the spread of disease. The general effect is shown by the diminished number of outbreaks, and of animals attacked with foot-andmouth disease during the last eighteen months, compared with former periods when the disease prevailed.

Pleuro-pneumonia is steadily and rapidly declining throughout the country.

These diseases, which are both of foreign origin, are brought into the foreign animals wharves from time to time. Although every precaution is taken, there can be no doubt that foot-andmouth disease has been introduced into this country from abroad by these means. This has led to the demand for the exclusion of live stock from infected countries which has been urged by so

many of the witnesses to whose evidence upon the subject we have already referred.

The evidence as to the discouragement which was given to the breeding of cattle and sheep in Great Britain, and the diminution in the supply of meat which arose from extensive disease in the country, appears to us to be conclusive.

Looking to the great importance of the home supply of meat as compared with the supply of live animals from abroad, and to the facility with which dead meat can be imported in the place of animals that are alive, we recommend that the landing of foreign live animals should not be permitted in future from any countries as to which the Privy Council are not satisfied that they are perfectly free from contagious disease.

In the course of this inquiry four other subjects have been more especially brought under our notice, and various suggestions with reference to them have been submitted to us:— Defects in the land laws;

Want of security and of compensation for tenants' improvements;

The operation of the laws of distress and hypothec, and

Restrictive covenants,

have all been referred to, either as causes of agricultural depression or as tending to aggravate it.

LAND LAWS.

We have already called attention to the fact that owners in fee farming their own land, and having sufficient command of capital have suffered not less than life tenants, or occupiers of holdings under ordinary covenants. If, therefore, we refer to certain proposed changes we would not be understood to imply that any different condition of land tenure or of occupation would have materially mitigated the severity of the recent depression or would prevent its recurrence.

The "Settled Land Bill," presented by Earl Cairns to the House of Lords, and sanctioned by that branch of the legislature, appears to us to be a bold, comprehensive, and most valuable measure. The ample powers which it confers upon life-tenants will, if it becomes law (a), obviate many of the objections that

(a) This bill became law in 1882 under the title of the "Settled Land Act, 1882."

have been urged against the existing system of English land laws

That measure not only confers upon the tenant for life large powers of sale, exchange, and partition, as well as of leasing, but also provides for the due application of all purchase and other capital money.

Suggestions have been offered to us by many witnesses on other matters connected with the Land Laws, which are not comprised within the range of the Settled Land Bill. They seem to us to lie beyond the scope of the Commission.

Changes have indeed been suggested with a view to encourage the establishment of a peasant proprietary.

While we deem it highly expedient to facilitate and cheapen the transfer of land, we are of opinion that no special facilities should be given to stimulate the artificial growth of a system which appears to be ill adapted to the habits of the people or to the condition of agriculture in this country.

CULTIVATION OF LAND.

Among the suggestions that have been made for the amelioration of the prospects of the tenant farmer, the extension of the growth of market garden crops on a portion of the farm, and as a part of one or more of the courses in the usual rotation, deserves notice. The extent to which this suggestion is applicable varies necessarily in different country districts; but it seems probable that on some farms, hard fruit, and the less tender kind of vegetables might be grown to advantage, if sufficient capital were applied to the fertilisation and cultivation of the land, and an adequate amount of attention were given to the management of the crops. But the success of husbandry of this description must mainly depend upon suitability of soil and climate, as well as upon facility of railway carriage and proximity to large centres of population. Where these conditions are wanting, small farming, the petite culture of continental countries, has but slight chance of success.

DAIRY FARMING.

There appears to be a general agreement that although agricultural depression has been less intense in dairy than in arable districts, the yield of milk was much diminished, and the quality deteriorated owing to the inferiority of grass due to the continuance of wet weather during the past few years.

The price of ordinary cheese has been seriously lowered by unusually large imports from abroad.

Sufficient attention does not appear to have been hitherto devoted to first-class dairy products, and thus many dairy farmers have suffered considerably.

The production and sale of milk are largely on the increase; it is now sent by railway in considerable quantities to London and other populous centres, and this branch of farming is assuming much larger proportions. The growing demand for milk has apparently had great influence in directing the attention of landowners and farmers to the importance of dairy farming as possibly a profitable branch of husbandry, and to the desirableness of laying down land to grass.

ADULTERATION.

Of the difficulties with which farmers have to contend in the pursuit of their business, not the least formidable is the adulteration or falsification of such articles as artificial manures, feeding stuffs, and seeds (a); whilst farm produce has to compete with imitations, such as artificial butter, spurious cheese, and materials other than malt and hops for brewing beer. The Royal Agricultural Society of England, the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, and other local societies, have done much to protect their members from such practices, but we think that the same protection should be given to farmers by including in the duties of the county analysts that of analysing such of the articles referred to as are not now the subject of analysis by them. (b)

We also recommend that steps should be taken to ensure that all agricultural products, whether manufactured at home or abroad, for consumption by the public or for use by the farmer in his business, should be sold under such designations as will accurately indicate their true composition.

COMPENSATION FOR UNEXHAUSTED IMPROVEMENTS.

We are of opinion that notwithstanding the beneficial effects of the Agricultural Holdings Act, there are many parts of Great

(a) See Adulteration of Seeds Act, 1869 (32 & 33 Vict. c. 112), and Adulteration of Seeds Act, 1878 (41 Vict. c. 17).

(b) See Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 63), and Sale of Food and Drugs Act Amendment Act, 1879 (42 & 43 Vict. c. 30).

Britain in which no sufficient compensation for his unexhausted improvements is secured to the tenant. In many cases landlords have not offered, and tenants have omitted to ask for the fair compensation which we believe it is the interest of both that the tenant should enjoy, and to which we think he is entitled.

In some counties and districts this compensation is given by established customs, in others such customs are insufficient, or do not exist.

Upon the most careful consideration of the evidence before us, we have arrived at the conclusion that further legislative provision should be made for securing to tenants the compensation to which they are equitably entitled in respect of their outlay, and we recommend that the principles of the Agricultural Holdings Act relating to compensation should be made compulsory in all cases where such compensation is not otherwise provided for.

It would, however, in our opinion, be advisable so far to amend the provisions of the Act as to make the compensation depend upon the additional value given to the holding. And we wish it to be understood that no compensation should be required to be paid by the landlord or incoming tenant except for outlays which are valuable to him in the future cultivation of the farm.

It having been represented to us that in Scotland difficulties arise connected with arbitrations between landlord and tenant on a change of tenancy, and between outgoing and incoming tenants, and in view of these arbitrations taking a wider scope, should the suggestion we make become the law of the land, entitling tenants to be paid compensation for their unexhausted capital left in the holding, or for permanent improvements made by them, we think it would be advisable, while leaving parties interested free to make choice of any of the modes by which arbiters are chosen and appointed at the present time, to have in each county a certain number of thoroughly qualified men named by the Sheriff Principal, one or other of whom shall be appointed by the sheriff or his substitute to act as oversman in the case of the arbiters appointed by the parties failing to agree upon the selection of an oversman, or as sole arbiter, should there be any failure in the nomination of arbiter by the parties. All fees, expenses, &c., connected with such arbitrations to be levied on the parties interested, but to be in such proportion to each as the arbiter may determine, subject to taxation by the auditor of the Sheriff s Court.