Precedents of clauses from leases in different parts of the country, providing compensation, have been given, so as to guide those who desire to frame agreements which, while extending the Act, will yet give the tenant fair and reasonable compensation. The Author trusts that this Edition may have the same favourable reception as the former one met with, and, while he can hardly hope that it may act as a guide through all the difficulties that the Act has created, yet it may, at least, serve to place persons on their guard against the many pitfalls the Act contains. LINCOLN'S INN, 11th October, 1883. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THE Agricultural Holdings Act having made so great a change in the relation of Landlord and Tenant, the Author has endeavoured in the following pages to state what those changes are, and what the law now is. As the Book, if it meets with a favourable reception, will mostly be used not by lawyers but by laymen, it has been thought well not to cite any authorities on the subject of the validity of custom, but rather to make the Book not so much a legal treatise as a practical guide to those who will have to carry out the Act. With this end in view, reference has not been made to a single case, and discussion as to the probable effect of the somewhat abstruse points arising under the Act has been avoided as much as possible. As a guide to those who may be called upon to value improvements under the Act, some space has been given to a digest of the existing customs, to help them in assessing claims for compensation, and also to enable persons who claim compensation to ascertain if they had better proceed under the Act or under custom. This digest has been taken from the Report of the Central Chamber of Agriculture on Unexhausted Improve ments, which is the latest and best source of information on the subject. A large number of forms have been inserted in the Appendix, which it is hoped will comprise all the common forms required for carrying out the Act. The Author is indebted to Mr. W. P. G. BOXAll, of the Common Law Bar, for very valuable help and assistance. LINCOLN'S INN, November, 1875. |