farm

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Fearme, Ferm, Firm, (L. Lat, Firma; from Sax. fearme, feorme, food or provisions). In English Law. The rent of land under lease, anciently reserved and paid in provisions, (in eduliis), Spelman, voc. Spelman; 2 Bl. Comm. 42. A term; a lease of lands; a leasehold interest. 2 Sharswood, Bl. Comm. 17; 1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law, 301, note; 6 Term R. 532; 2 Chit. PI. 879, note (e). The land itself, let to farm or rent. 2 Bl. Comm. 368. It is usually the chief messuage in a village or town whereto belongs great demesne of all sort. Cowell; Cunningham; Termes de la Ley. A large tract or portion of land taken by a lease under a yearly rent payable by the tenant. Tomlin.s. From this latter sense is derived its common modern signification of a large tract used for cultivation or other purposes, as raising stock, whether hired or owned by the occupant, including a messuage with outbuildings, gardens, orchard, yard, etc. Plowd. 195; Touch. 93. In American or Modern Law. A tract of land devoted, in part at least, to cultivation, without reference to its extent, or to the tenure by which it is held. 132 111. App. 277; 18 Pick. (Mass.) 553; 2 Bin. (Pa.) 238; 47 How. Pr. (N. Y.) 446.

A certain amount of provision reserved as the rent of a messuage. Spelman, Gloss. Rent generally which is reserved on a lease; when it was to be paid in money, it was called blanche flmne. Spelman, Gloss.; 2 Bla. Com. 42. A term. A lease of lands; a leasehold interest 2 Sharsw. Bla. Com. 17; 1 Reeve, Hist. Eng. Law 301, n.; 2 Chit PI. 879, n. e. The land itself, let to farm or rent. 2 Bla. Com. 368. A portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part Winn v. A body of land, usually under one ownership, devoted to agriculture; either to the raising of crops, or pasturage, or both. It is not understood to have any necessary relation to, or to be circumscribed by, political subdivisions. A farm may consist of any number of acres, of one quarter section or less, or many quarter sections; of one field, or many fields; may lie in one township and county, or in more than one: People V. Caldwell, 142 111. 434, 32 N. E. 0&3. See Kendall v. Miller, 47 How. Pr. (N. Y.) 446. Usually the chief messuage In a village or town whereto belongs a great demesne of all sorts. Cowell; Cunningham, Law Diet.; Termes de la Ley. A large tract or portion of land taken by a lease under a yearly rent payable by the tenant. Tomlin, Law Diet, From this latter sense Is derived its common modern slgnlflcation of a large tract used for cultivation or other purposes, as raising stock, whether hired or owned by the occupant, including a messuage with out-buildings, gardens, orchard, yard, etc. Plowd. 195; Touchst. 93. In American law, the word has almost exclusively this latter meaning of a portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part. Com. V. Carmalt, 2 Blnn. (Pa.) 238; Winn v. Cabot. 18 Pick. (Mass.) 553; Wheeler v. Randall, 6 Mete. (Mass.) 529. By the conveyance of a farm will pass a messuage, arable land, meadow, pasture, wood, etc., belonging to or used with it; Co. Litt 6 a; Shepp. Touchst. 93; 4 Cruise, Dig. 321; Plowd. 1C7. In a will, the word farm may pass a freehold, If it appear that such was the intention of the testator; 6 Term 345; 9 EJast 448. See 6 East 604, n.; 8 id. 339.

n. A certain amount of provision reserved as the rent of a messuage. Spelman. Rent generally which is reserved on a lease; when it was to be paid in money, it was called, "blanche flrme." Spelman; 2 Bl. Comm. 42. A term, a lease of lands; a leasehold interest 2 BL Comm. 17; 1 Reeve, Eng. Law, 301, note. The land itself, let to farm or rent. 2 Bl. Comm. 368. A portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part. The original meaning of the word was "rent," and by a natural transition it came to mean the land out of which the rent issued.

In old English law. A lease of other things than land, as of imposte. There were several of these, such as "the sugar farm," "the silk farm," and farms of wines and currents, called "petty farms." See 2 How. State Tr. 1197-1206.

In American law. "Farm" denotes a tract of land devoted in part, at least, to cultivation, for agricultural purposes, without reference to its extent, or to the tenure by which it is held. In re Drake (D. C.) 114 Fed. 231; People ex rel. Rogers v. Caldwell, 142 III. 434, 32 N. E. 691; Kendall v. Miller, 47 How. Prae. (N. Y.) 448; Com. v. Carmalt, 2 Bin. (Pa.) 238.

In American law. A tract of land devoted in part, at least, to cultivation, whatever its extent, or the tenure by which it is held; a messuage with land, wood, etc., belonging to or used with it for purposes of agriculture.

In old English law. The rent of land held under ciently in provisions, and later in money; a term itself so held; a lease of a thing other than the thing itself so held.

<A certain amount of provision reserved as the rent of a messuage. Spelman, Rent generally which is reserved on a lease; when it was to be paid in money, it was called “blanche firme.” Spelman; 2 Bl, Comm. 42. A term, a lease of Jands; a leasehold interest. 2 Bl.Comm.17; 1 Reeve, Eng. Law, 801, note. The land itself, let to farm or rent. 2 Bl. Comm. 363. A portion of land used for agricultural purposes, either wholly or in part. 18 Pick. 553; 2 Gin. 238. The original meaning of the word was “rent,” and by a natural transition it came to mean the land out of which the rent issued, In old English law. A lease of other things than land, as of imposts. There were several of these, such as “the sugar farm,” “the silk farm,” and farms of wines and currants, called “petty farms.” See 2 How. State Tr. 1197-1206. In American law. ‘“Farm” denotes a tract of land devoted in part, at least, to eultivation, for agricultural purposes, without reference to its extent, or to the tenure by which it is held. 2 Bin. 238.

1. The rent of land leased; anciently, provisions; white farm: if money. 2. A term of years in lands.

Feartne, Ferm, Firm. [L. Lat. firma; L. Fr. fermt; from Sax. fearme, feomiet food or provisions.] In English law. The rent of land held under lease, anciently reserved and paid in provisions, (i» eduliis.) Spelman^ yoc. Firma, Cowell, voc. Ferme. 2 Bl. Com, 318. Gilbert on Bents, 2. Called by Spelman reditus annonaritis. See Fearme, Feorme, Firma, Reditus, Rent, Rent reserved on a lease of land, payable in money; (L. Lat. reditus pecuniarius; Fr. fermage,) Spelman, voc. Firma, 2 £L Com, 318. Dyer, C. J., and Brown, J., Plowd. 195. " If it shall happen that the said annual rent and farm of £37 Ss. 4d, or any part thereof, be in arrear and unpaid." Fhwd, 131. Called blanche firms, or fearme, white farm, or white rent, {alba firma, firma blanca,) to distinguish it from rent paid in provisions. Spelman, ub, sup, 2 Bl. Com, 42. See Alba firma, Blanche ferme, A term in lands; that is, an estate granted for a definite period, as for life or years, (usually for years,) on payment of a rent; a lease of land; the estate or interest of a lessee; a leasehold interest in lands. Anciently written ferm, (L. Lat. firma,) In this sense, the word (firma) is constantly employed by Bracton. " To let for a ferm or farm," {ad firmam.) Bract, fol. 12 b. "For (to) farm, or for life": {ad firmam, velad vitam,) Id, fol. 41. "He let to (for Si) farm for a term of years;" {dimisit ad firmam ad terminum annorum\) Id, fol. 59. " Saving to the lessee (fermer or farmer,) his/arm and term"; {salvo firmario firma et termino suo.) Id. fol. 166 b. 1 Reeves* Hist, E, Law, 301, note. Ferms and fermors are used in the statute of Marlbridge, c. 23, s. 2. in the sense of terms and lessees, 2 Inst, 145. Doct, d Stud, 233, 234. The old action of tjectione firma ^ was for ejecting one from his/i?rm or farm, that is, his term. See Ejections firm€s. Hence the expression "to let tofarm,^^ that is, for a term. See To farm let, Firma, This has continued to be the proper technical meaning of the word farm in English law, viz.: a term, a lease or leasehold estate; that which is held by a person standing in the relation of tenant to a landlord. Sro, Abr, Grants, 135. 2 Chitty's Bl. Com, 17, note. 6 Term R, 353. 1 Crah Vs Real Prop. 69, § 87. Land itself, let and held for a term on payment of rent, {ipsum presdium elocatum,) 2 BL Com. 318. Spelman, voc. Firma, Grilb, Rents, 2. — A capital or chief messuage in a vill or town, with great demesnes belonging to it, that has been let or demised to another for life, for years or at will. Dyer, C. J., Plov>d, 195. Termes de la ley. Cowell, — In more modem language, a large tract or portion of land taken by a lease under a yearly rent, payable by the tenant. Tomlins, In this sense, ^rm is a collective word, consisting of many things, as a messuage, lands, meadows, pastures, woods, and other things appertaining thereto. Id, Plowd, ub, sup. Hence the common or popular significations of the term, now prevalent in England and America, — a tract of land, with suitable buildings, Ac, taken, or hired for a certain term, at a certain rent, for the purposes of cultivation; — a tract of land, occupied in tillage, or used for cultivation, whether held of another, or owned by the occupant; — ^a tract of land, devoted to other purposes than cultivation, as to the raising of stock, (fee. By the name offarme or ferm, in this sense of a tract of land, houses, lands and tenements might formerly pass; though this is not now its technical meaning in English law. Co, Litt, 5 a. See 1 Crabb's Real Prop, 69, § 87, cited supra. In wills, the word is still construed according to its popular signification. 2 Powell on Devises, (by Jarman,) 191. 1 Jarman on Wills, 713, (609, Perkins* ed.) et seq. In American law, farm denotes a tract of land devoted in part, at least, to cultivation, without reference to its extent, or to the tenure by which it is held. 2 Binney's R. 238. As to what passes by the word farm, see 5 Pick, jB. 512. 18 Id, 553. 0 Metcalfs R, 529. 4 Qreen Uafs R, 14. 2 Billiard*s Real Prop, 338, 343, 345. In old English law. Any other thing than land, wnich is held in lease. Dyer, C. J., Plowd. 195. The present meaning of the word farm is very properly termed by Sir Wm. Blackstone, the result of " a gradual departure from the original sense;" its successive gradations of meaning appearing from the definitions above given, viz.; provisions, — rent paid in provisions, — rent paid in money, or generally, — a term in lands, held on rent, — ^iand itself, held for a term and rent,-— land held or hired for a term, for cultivation,— any land used for cultivation, whether hired or owned. By this process, the idea of cultivation has become the prominent one in the modern acceptation of the term; so much so, indeed, as to have given rise to the modem words now in common use; "to farm,*' to cultivate land; ^' farming,*' the business of cultivation. In England, however, the ideas of a lease, a term, and a rent, continue to be in a great degree inseparable even from the popular meaning of A farm, as they arc entirely so from the legal sense. The ordinary expression " to farm out," is an instance of the perpetuation of the same meaning. That rents were originally and generally reserved and paid in provisions, (feorme,) is very clearly shown by Spelman from the Black Book of the exchequer, Domesday Book, and other ancient sources. The gradations of meaning from this primitive one (already noticed,) do not, however, seem to have followed in the order of time. Ferm (firma) was used in the sense of land Uased Xj a chronicler of the time of William Rufus, A. D. 1089. Spelman, voc. Firma, The same word (firma) occurs in the sense of a lease of land, in the early historian Ingulphus. Id. ibid. And even the Saxon feorme was used in Saxon times to denote a manor. LL, Aluredi, c. 2, cited ibid. Farm, or ferm, has been derived by some from the Lat. firmus, firm, or fixed; as denoting a fixed rent, or term. Lib, Nig. Scacc, cited in Spelman, Cowell, voc. Fenne, Mr. Reeves inclmes to derive it from the Ital. /e?rmo, a bargain or contract. 1 Reeves' Hist, Eng, Law, 301, note. It is clearly, however, the Saxon word fearme OT feorme, (provisions,) with a slight change in the letters. Spelman, voc. Firma, See Fearme,