An example of earlier change: English Agriculture:

Transcription

1 An example of earlier change: English Agriculture: taken from: Agricultural Revolution in England the transformation of the agrarian economy by Mark Overton Cambridge University Press, 1996 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 1

2 Estimates of English Agricultural Output Population - in millions (previous limit 5-6 mln people) 3 Population (millions) Output - population method Output - volume method - value of total ag. output (crops, meat, dairy) in million at 185 prices Output Index 17= % of pop. in agric. for own family % of pop. in agric. for markets Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p.75& p.8 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 2

3 A Rising Demand for Food % of total population Agricultural population Rural non-agric l population Towns >5, excl London London the impact of London on the demand for food was greater than these figures indicate because average consumption per head in London was at least double the national average. Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p138 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 3

4 A Changing Social Structure England & Wales % of ownership Black Plague 1348, 135s, 137x Dissolution of Monasteries 153 Crown Church Yeomen freeholders Gentry (Eng) Civil War 164s Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p.168 & 25 c.169 c range of estimates (Eng.) for 169 Great owners The pioneers of new methods in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were not the great landowners but smaller farmers the most dramatic advances in output and land productivity came in those areas (such as Norfolk) where lordship was relatively weak. c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 4

5 The Development of Markets < decline of market regulation Local markets, in 8 market towns; strong reg., no middlemen allowed rise of middlemen Trade between mkt towns s? weekly grain prices published 1663: reselling & storing allowed 7 mi rivers 9 mi rivers : London Corn Exchange private market g by samples of grain weak enforc t of reg. rivers linked Grain traded nationally & in N. Europe 179: end of domestic market reg. 15, miles turnpikes 2, miles turnpikes Middlemen indispensable 1838: 6 million letters sent 1846: Corn Laws repealed Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, passim c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 5

6 Controlling the Use of Land by Enclosures South Midlands ,85,866 total enclosed acreage pre undated post 185 % of enclosed acreage County Durham ,733 total acreage enclosed : Modern Law of Mortgage From the mid-eighteeth century the most usual way in which common rights were removed was through a specific act of parliament for the enclosure of a particular locality. Moreover the majority required for enclosure was calculated in terms of acres rather than landowners the major upsurge in agricultural output and productivity came after the mid-eighteenth century: this coincides with the major burst of parliamentary enclosure. Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p & p. 167 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 6

7 Value of Enclosures In short, the farmer on enclosed land, in Kalm s words, could in a thousand ways improve his property and earn money. [because] the return on investment made in that land by an individual would accrue to that individual and not to the community as a whole. Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p & p. 167 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 7

8 Development & Diffusion of Technology < DIFFUSING LEARNING Upsurge in ag. writing 1664 Royal Society studies ag. practices 177s Jethro Tull seed drill imitated 179s R m plough made in local foundaries 1767 Royal Lancashire Ag. Society 177s 1st local farmers assoc. Norfolk system* spreads widely 1835 scythes widespread 183s ag. engin g indus. dev d 1845 Circencester Ag l College 1838 Royal Ag. Society of Eng local farmers assoc % of wheat harvest d with scythes 185s seed drill widely used 185s wide range of farm g journals: 17, readers local farmers assoc. INTRODUCING 1731 Jethro Tull s seed drill 15s designs for seed drills published 163 turnips* known as fodder crop 165s clover* appears as fodder crop 173 new R m plough patented 1799 scythes introduced in S. Engl d Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, , passim c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 8

9 Changes in Farming Techniques Norfolk % 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% % land in turnips % land in clover % land in legumes 4% 3% 2% 1% % Use of arable sown land, excluding fallow Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p12 & p. 16 % land in grain 2/3rd soil nitrogen lost by 185 => need to manage soil nitrogen Partly because these integrated mixed-farming systems comprised so many mutally dependent components their evolution took time. Hence the long lag between the appearance in England of clover, turnips and the other components of the Norfolk four-course system and the perfection of the system itself, whose widespread diffusion must be dated to the first half of the nineteenth century. c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 9

10 Larger Farms, Fewer Farmers percent of all estate acreage The Example of the Leveson-Gower estates Farm Size >2 acres 1-2 acres 2-1 acres -2 acres Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p174 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 1

11 The Sequence of Change Spread of technical knowledge & use 5. New property rights secure benefits of investment 4. Regulations adapt to informal market realities 3. Development of informal markets to meet need 2. Fluidity in social structure; willingness to experiment 1. A rising demand/need c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 11

12 Time Lags in the Agricultural Revolution Partly because these integrated mixed-farming systems comprised so many mutally dependent components their evolution took time. Hence the long lag between the appearance in England of clover, turnips and the other components of the Norfolk four-course system and the perfection of the system itself, whose widespread diffusion must be dated to the first half of the nineteenth century. Mark Overton, 1996 Agricultural Revolution in England Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p12 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 12

13 detailed back-up slides follow c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 13

14 The Sequence of Change Spread of technical knowledge & use diffusion of agricultural techniques 5. New property rights secure benefits of investment Parliamentary Enclosure Acts 4. Regulations adapt to informal market realities 175 London Corn Exchange; 179 Domestic mrkt reg. ended 3. Development of informal markets to meet need: corn traded between market towns 2. Fluidity in social structure; willingness to experiment 164s Civil War 1. A rising demand/need 152 demand rising c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 14

15 Changes in Norfolk Farming Wheat Yields & Animals 1% Use of Arable Sown Land* % 8% % % % % 2 3% 1 2% 1% Livestock ratio** Draught beasts*+ **Livestock units/1 acres *+ Oxen & horses/1 sown acres *Bushels of wheat/ acres Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p12 Wheat Yields* % % Land in turnips % Land in clover % Land in legumes % Land in grain *Excluding fallow land c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 15

16 English Land Use & Yields = Arable Sown arable Meadow & pasture Total 2 15 Cereal yields 1 5 Wheat yields Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p. 86 c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 16

17 Enclosing the Land Enclosures in South Midlands Enclosures in County Durham % of total enclosed acreage undated post pre (2,85,866 total enclosed acreage) (184,733 total acreage enclosed) Mark Overton, Agricultural Revolution in England , 1996, p c B.J. Heinzen 1998 p. 17