1046                             Laws of Maryland                      [Ch. 349

crops, which shall not be divested by any sale made thereof by
the tenant, or by any personal representative of a deceased tenant,
or by the assignment of the tenant in insolvency, or by process of
law issued against the tenant; provided, that at the time of the said
renting, the contract by which the said advances are made shall
be written and executed by the landlord and tenant.

8-216. Stripping and marketing of tobacco.

(a)    Whenever tobacco is grown on leased property and the tenant
fails to make reasonable progress within six months from the first
day of September in each year to strip and place such tobacco on
the market, the landlord may, at any time after the first day of
March in each year, strip, pack, ship and sell at the tenant's
expense any and all tobacco grown on the premises by said tenant
in the previous year or years. All expenses paid by the landlord
in the stripping, packing, shipment or sale shall be a first and
prior lien on said tobacco and the proceeds thereof, notwithstand-
ing any agreement or obligation of the tenant or provision of law to
the contrary.

(b)    A tenant, or anyone acting on his behalf, interfering in any
way whatsoever, directly or indirectly, with the stripping, packing,
shipment or sale of said tobacco by the landlord, is guilty of a
misdemeanor, and shall be punished, upon conviction, by a fine
of not less than ninety (90) days nor more than six months, or both
OF NOT LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00) OR
BY IMPRISONMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN NINETY (90)
DAYS NOR MORE THAN 6 MONTHS, OR BOTH.

8-217. Decree for renewal of lease.

A court of equity may pass a decree for the renewal of a lease
which contains a covenant for renewal, including a lease for 99
years, renewable forever. Such a decree shall be binding on such
persons and have such effect as may be prescribed by the Maryland
Rules.

Subtitle 3—Distress: Venue
8-301. Definitions of terms

The following words in this subtitle shall have the meanings set
forth below unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:

(a)    "Court" means the District Court.

(b)    "Defendant" means a tenant.

(c)    "Distress" means an action of distress filed pursuant to
the provisions of this subtitle.

(d)    "Goods" means goods, chattels, grain, crops and produce
and shall include cash money found on the leased premises, regard-
less of where found or located. "Goods" shall not include choses in
action or other forms of tangible INTANGIBLE property, nor shall
it include written contracts, securities, bonds, notes, or other instru-
ments for the payment of money.

8-302. Action at law; jurisdiction; venue.

(a) Distress for rent is hereby declared to be an action at
law which shall be brought as provided herein.