At least twenty days before bringing the action provided for in this act[*], the owner of the leased land, either by himself or herself or by his or her agent or attorney, shall demand of the holder of the lease (if such demand by ordinary diligence can be made in this state) that said lease be released of record. Such demand may be either written or oral. When written, a letter-press or carbon or written copy thereof, when shown to be such, may be used as evidence in any court with the same force and effect as the original.