| The Revolution In British Agriculture Essay, Research Paper
To what extent was there a revolution in British agriculture
between 1750 and 1815? The Oxford English Dictionary defines the
word "revolution" as "any fundamental change or reversal of
conditions". In the context of British Agriculture between 1750 and 1815
there was a change but it was slow and really a continuation of improvements
which go back much further. To call these changes "revolutionary" is
probably misguided. However, there was a gradual dissemination of new ideas and
methods. The factors which brought about the greatest changes in the existing
system were the adoption of new farming techniques, machines and methods and
the enclosure of open fields. New farming techniques consisted of
improvements in crop rotation, soil fertilisation, and selective breeding
allied with the development of new machinery. Four names are commonly
associated with these innovations; Jethro Tull (1674-1741) is best remembered
for the invention of the seed drill which planted in rows rather than
broadcasting, thus allowing hoeing between the rows. (Tull’s book
"Horse-Hoeing Husbandry was published in 1733.) Charles Townshend
(1674-1738) introduced marl – a mixture of clay and lime – to his sandy Norfolk
estates. He advocated the use of turnips as fodder as an addition to traditional
rotational crops. Robert Bakewell (1725-1795) pioneered selective breeding and
developed quick-fattening sheep for mutton. Thomas Coke (1752-1842) set out to
educate farmers in new methods. He initiated agricultural shows and encouraged
his tenant farmers to improve their methods by granting them long leases. The
real achievement of all of them was the publicity their innovations attracted. These new ideas spread slowly. Many had
originated in Holland and taken root in Norfolk and the eastern counties. There
was however a marked difference between the east and west of England. The
potential for progress was greater on the eastern sandy soil. In the west the
lighter soil was found on higher ground and once it could be fertilised cereals
could be grown there more cheaply than on the heavy clays of the lowland areas
which required more labour-intensive ploughing. On lower ground the working
season was shorter, root-crops did not grow as well, and it was too wet for
livestock in winter. During the 18th century there was a marked expansion into
formerly barren uplands while the clay lowlands were turned to grass, providing
more land for fattening and dairying cattle which would previously have been
slaughtered at the beginning of the winter. This in turn meant fresh rather
than salted beef. Improved methods of manuring also improved crop yields. New
crops such as turnips, root vegetables and legumes like clover, sanfoin,
trefoil and lucerne meant that more stock could be kept, producing more dung
which improved soil fertility. Soil was dressed with clay-marl, sand, or chalk,
depending on the soils natural deficiencies. Near the coast seaweed was used,
near textile-centres waste rags, around Sheffield bone and horn waste from
making cutlery handles, and from the large cities came the street sweepings and
the catchword of privies. In 1750 much of the British countryside was
farmed by an open field system. This suited a system geared to subsistence
farming. Large open fields were divided into strips either owned by freeholders
or rented from the local squire by tenants. However, open field farming was
wasteful. It often meant long walks between a farmer’s different parcels of
land and the loss of acreage to paths and tracks among the fields. It
encouraged the spread of weeds and plant diseases. Fields were susceptible to
damage from unfenced animals which also made selective breeding impossible. This open field system was not found
everywhere. Enclosure meant joining the strips of open field to make larger compact
pieces of land. Half the country was already enclosed, especially the areas
catering for the markets of large cities such as London. Some farmers had
bought or exchanged land in order to facilitate enclosure. The extent of this
enclosure is difficult to document as opposed to the later Parliamentary
enclosures which were the climax of the transformation of British agriculture.
There were two great periods of enclosure -the 1760s and ’70s and the period of
the Napoleonic Wars from 1793-1815. In both cases the timing was due to the
opportunities for greater profits due to high cereal prices and the initiative
was taken by large landowners. Prior to 1740 most land was enclosed by
agreement between the major landowners but where smaller landowners opposed it
an Act of Parliament had to be obtained. After 1750 this became the accepted
practice. However, obtaining an Act of Enclosure could be a lengthy and
expensive procedure. The effects of enclosure were both economic
and social. Enclosure facilitated new agricultural methods and led to more land
under cultivation. It enabled livestock farming to work in tandem with arable
farming and encouraged selective breeding. However, it meant a decline in the
number of small landowners and cottagers and many farm labourers left for the
industrialising cities. This migration away from the land was compensated for
by the increased volume and regularity of employment for those who remained.
There was still little labour saving machinery and enclosure meant work putting
up fences and hedges, building new farms, and making roads to transport the
increased volume of produce. The numbers engaged in agriculture rose from 1.7
million in 1801 to 2.1 million in 1851, but this did not match the increase in
agricultural output. This meant that farm labourers were becoming more
productive, which coupled with the rise in population, released workers from
the land. When assessing the changes in agriculture
between 1750 and 1815 it is also important to look at its relationship with
industry. In fact there were no direct links – both helped each other. True,
the growth in population created a greater demand for agricultural products but
at the same time farmers embraced new methods and often helped to finance
improved transport systems which allowed them to feed the workers of the
ever-expanding industrial cities. Landowners exploited the mineral deposits
under their land, or used it for developing urban estates. Money was also moved
from country banks to the cities. At the same time some industrialists invested
in agriculture, sensing the possibility of high profits. In conclusion it can be seen that in as
much as there was an agrarian revolution between 1750 and 1815 it was a slow
one, and a continuation of earlier changes. There was a diffusion of new ideas
, but it was hindered by the considerable regional differences in agricultural
practice. However, the uniquely English system of landholding was well suited
to change. Large landowners had the capital to invest in innovation. It was in
the interest of the tenant-farmers to change their existing methods and there
was a large rural labour force on hand to carry out the changes. The end of the
open field system and the enclosure of previously unusable land meant that
during this period the acreage of cultivable land increased. Finally, all this
meant that agriculture was able to sustain the increased demand for food caused
by the growth in population, while itself reaping some of the rewards of The
Industrial Revolution. (1233 words.) SOURCES.
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