Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/440

 for ten. In York, Mr. Peter Starkey leased landed property, which he owned, for eight years; in the same county, in 1640, a tract of fifty acres was rented for thirteen years. Another tract, which was situated in Henrico, was leased at a later period for six. Fitzhugh recommended that if the owner of an estate desired to rent it to a tenant who would bind himself to make improvements, seven years should be the length of the term.

The provisions of the agreements with reference to what the tenants were expected to do are found to be as varied as the length of time which the leases were to cover. In most instances the rent was to be paid in tobacco; in some, in grain; in others, in part at least, in cider; in others still, in coin.