The Agrarian Revolution: Causes and Developments
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Questions and Answers

What was Jethro Tull's main contribution to agriculture?

  • Popularizing root crops such as parsnips.
  • Developing a plough with an iron share.
  • Creating a seed drill to plant seeds in rows. (correct)
  • Inventing the first threshing machine.
  • What was one of the advantages of the enclosure system?

  • It limited the scope for farming experiments.
  • It eliminated the need for banks in financing improvements.
  • It allowed wealthy landlords to spend less on fencing.
  • It forced many independent farmers to sell their lands. (correct)
  • Who is credited with the invention of the Rotherham plough?

  • Robert Ransome.
  • James Small.
  • Joseph Foljambe. (correct)
  • Patrick Bell.
  • In which year did Robert Ransome establish a factory for agricultural machinery?

    <p>1785</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method of sowing seeds did Jethro Tull aim to improve?

    <p>Broadcasting seeds indiscriminately.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of crops saw increased variety during the eighteenth century?

    <p>Leaf crops and grasses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following machines did Andrew Meikle produce?

    <p>The first practical threshing machine.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which book is most famous for describing Jethro Tull's approach to farming?

    <p>The Horse Hoeing Husbandry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary focus of Robert Bakewell's stock breeding methods?

    <p>Producing meat as the main consideration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which crop is included in the Norfolk four-course rotation system introduced by Charles Townshend?

    <p>Clovers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant contribution did Thomas Coke make to farming practices?

    <p>He introduced the use of bones as manure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the outcome of implementing the crop rotation method by Charles Townshend?

    <p>Doubled the yield per acre</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which crop in the Norfolk rotation system is categorized as a soil exhausting crop?

    <p>Wheat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Charles Townshend enhance animal husbandry on his lands?

    <p>By enabling more stock and manure production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What innovation did Thomas Coke introduce regarding animal feed?

    <p>Oil-cake</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one of Robert Bakewell’s significant shifts in stock breeding?

    <p>To prioritize meat production over wool</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one major issue with the old open field system of agriculture?

    <p>It wasted land by leaving one of the three fields uncultivated each year.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What factor contributed to the increasing need for food during the agrarian revolution?

    <p>The expansion of large industrial towns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the purpose of the Enclosure Acts during the agrarian revolution?

    <p>To consolidate smaller strips of land into larger farms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What transportation improvements supported the agrarian revolution?

    <p>Development of canals, railways, and turnpike roads.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant social outcome of the agrarian revolution?

    <p>The disappearance of the rural class of yeomen.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did the customs of the village affect farming during the agrarian revolution?

    <p>They limited the ability to adopt new agricultural methods.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What motivated industrialists to invest in agriculture during the revolution?

    <p>The potential for a profitable return on investment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was one effect of reallocating land under the Enclosure Acts?

    <p>Poor peasants often sold their small holdings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method did Bakewell use to produce the New Leicester sheep?

    <p>In-and-in breeding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notable characteristic is associated with John Ellman's improved Southdown sheep?

    <p>Fine quality mutton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which breed of cattle did the Colling brothers develop?

    <p>Durham Shorthorn cattle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a primary purpose of the Board of Agriculture, where Arthur Young served as Secretary?

    <p>To encourage good farming practices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What publication did Arthur Young edit from 1784 to 1804?

    <p>The Annals of Agriculture</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did George, known as 'Farmer George', establish at Windsor?

    <p>A model farm</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which years did Arthur Young farm at locations like Bradfield and Sandford Hall?

    <p>1763-1766</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a consequence of Arthur Young's writings on agriculture?

    <p>Support for the enclosure movement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Agrarian Revolution

    • The Agrarian Revolution refers to significant changes in English agricultural methods between the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

    Causes

    • The open field system was inefficient as only two out of three fields were cultivated each year.
    • Land fragmentation (scattered holdings) wasted time, making travel to remote plots difficult.
    • Rigid village customs hindered farmers from adopting new methods.
    • Population growth fueled a demand for more food which could not be met by the old system.
    • The rise of industrial towns further increased demand for food.
    • Commercial attitude toward agriculture grew with farming societies and investors seeking profit.
    • Improved transport enabled farmers to deliver their products to cities with turnpike roads, canals, and railways.

    Developments

    • Enclosure system consolidated fragmented strips of land into larger units, fenced off for individual ownership.
    • Enclosure Acts passed by George II and III facilitated the process by appointing commissioners to reallocate land.
    • While wealthy businessmen purchased land from poorer peasants, the yeomen (small landowning farmers) class eventually disappeared.

    Enclosure Impact

    • The English banking system expanded as landlords borrowed money for fencing and improvements.
    • The enclosure system allowed entrepreneurial farmers to experiment with new methods.
    • Many small farmers were forced to sell their land and become laborers or migrate to cities for work.

    Machinery

    • Jethro Tull (1674-1740) was a pioneer in agricultural science.
      • Invented the seed drill for even seed distribution in rows.
      • Advocated for selective seed choice.
      • Published "The Horse Hoeing Husbandry" (1733) on his methods.
    • Joseph Foljambe introduced the Rotherham plough (1730) with an iron share and coulter.
      • Widely used in northern England, requiring fewer oxen to pull.
      • Modified by James Small of Berwick shire.
    • Robert Ransome founded an agricultural machinery factory in Ipswich (1785).
      • Produced cast iron plough shares.
    • Andrew Meikle created the first practical threshing machine (1784).
    • Patrick Bell invented a reaping machine (1826).

    Agricultural Technology

    • Root crops (parsnips, swedes, mangolds) and forage crops (lucerne, clover) gained popularity, reflecting the demand for livestock.
    • Crop rotation (Norfolk system) was introduced by Charles Townshend (1674-1738).
      • Allowed continuous cultivation without fallow periods.
      • Increased yield per acre by rotating turnips, barley, clover, and wheat.
      • Enabled more livestock to be raised, leading to increased manure for better soil fertility.

    Animal Breeding

    • Robert Bakewell revolutionized livestock breeding.
      • Focused on meat production rather than only wool.
      • Selective breeding (in-and-in methods) improved the quality of cattle, sheep, and horses.
      • Created the New Leicester sheep, known for rapid weight gain but with high fat content.
      • Also developed the Longhorn cattle and a distinct breed of black carthorses.
    • John Ellman used in-and-in breeding for the improved Southdown sheep, valued for its fine mutton and suitability for turnip grazing.
    • Charles and Robert Colling developed the Durham Shorthorn cattle (Ketton), producing lean meat and abundant milk.
    • George Culley of Northumbria also bred Shorthorn cattle concurrently with the Colling brothers.

    Royal Patronage and Advocacy

    • King George III supported the movement and established a model farm at Windsor.
    • Arthur Young, a prominent agricultural writer, advocated for new methods.
      • Published works like "A Six Weeks Tour through the Southern Counties" (1768), "The Farmer's Calendar" (1771), and edited "The Annals of Agriculture" (1784-1804).
      • Appointed Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1793) to promote good farming practices for increased food production during the war with France.

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    Description

    Explore the transformative changes in agricultural practices during the Agrarian Revolution in England. This quiz covers the causes such as inefficiencies in the open field system and population growth, as well as key developments like the enclosure system and transportation improvements.

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