25. Fourth Method. Partial colonization
These lands, rendered free at the expence of rent, may yet
change masters, may divide or reunite by means of succession and
sale; and such a vassal may in his turn have more than he can
cultivate himself. In general the rent to which those lands are
subject, is not so large, but that, by cultivating them well, the
cultivator is enabled to pay all advances, and expences, procure
himself a subsistence, and besides, an excess of productions
which form a revenue. Henceforth the proprietary vassal becomes
desirous of enjoying this revenue without labour, and of having
his lands also cultivated by others. On the other hand, the
greater part of the lords grant out those parts of their
possessions only, which are the least within their reach, and
retain those they can cultivate with the least expence. The
cultivation by slaves not being practicable, the first method
that offers, and the most simple to engage free men to cultivate
lands which do not belong to them, was to resign to them such a
portion of the produce, as would engage them to cultivate better
than those husbandmen who are employed at a fixed salary. The
most common method has been to divide it into equal parts, one of
which belonged to the cultivator and the other to the proprietor.
This has given place to the name (in France) of metayer
(medietarius) or cultivator for half produce. In arrangements of
this kind, which take place throughout the greatest part of
France, the proprietor pays all contingencies; that is to say, he
provides at his expence, the cattle for labour, ploughs, and
other utensils of husbandry, seed, and the support of the
cultivator and his family, from the time the latter enters into
the metairie until the first harvest.
