§55-5-3. Liability of defendant for annual value of premises and damages -- Assessment of damages for plaintiff.

The jury, in fixing and assessing such value and damages, shall estimate against the defendant the annual value of such part of the premises (if any) as was improved and in a state fit and prepared for cultivation at the time he took possession thereof, and also the damages for waste or other injury to the premises committed by the defendant, and shall credit him with the value of all the improvements made thereon, but no charge shall be made against the tenant for the use of any improvements made upon the land by him or for the use of any part of the land cleared by him