THE AGRARIAN REVOLUTION

 THE AGRARIAN REVOLUTION

Introduction:

The term "Agrarian Revolution" implies the significant changes that occurred in England's agricultural methods during the second half of the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth century. In the course of this Revolution, the open field system disappeared, rotation of crops was introduced, and scientific methods were applied to agriculture.

Reasons for the failure of the Open Field System:

1.  The old open Field system was wasteful of land
2.  The old system of distribution of land was wasteful of time
3.  There was the necessity of conforming to the customs of the village, and this made experiments     in agricultural methods impossible
4.   In the eighteenth century population was increasing, and so more food was needed
5.   Scarcity of food materials led to a rise in prices

Enclosure Act:

When the Enclosure Act was passed, a commissioner was appointed to visit the village concerned and carry out the work of reallocating the land. There were many cases of poor peasants who were not satisfied with the reallocation. Such people sold away their small holdings to wealthy businessmen of the city who were eager to possess lands of their own. The final result of this tendency was that the class of rural inhabitants known as yeomen disappeared.

Jethro Tull of Berkshire:

Jethro Tull of Berkshire was the inventor of a Barill for sowing seeds. He did much important experimental work in connection with the depth to which seed should be sown and the amount which should be sown per acre. He also emphasized the necessity of careful selection of seed if good crops were to be obtained.

Charles Townshed of Norfolk:

Charles Townshend of Norfolk. He adopted Tull's principles in managing his estate at Rainham and paid close attention to the question of crop rotation. He introduced (the four-course rotation of turnips, barley, cloves, and rye-grass and wheat).

Thomas Coke of Holkham:

Thomas Coke of Holkham followed the precepts of Tull and, in addition, fed the soil with manure, including bones. He was one of the first farmers to use bones as manure. He also introduced new artificial foods such as oil-cake and led the way in fattening cattle for the London markets. He held yearly meetings of farmers at his house, and at these meetings, farming topics were discussed, and much advice was given and received.

Robert Bakewell:

Robert Bakewell was revolutionizing English methods of stock breeding. Up to this time, sheep had been valued chiefly for their wool, and the production of mutton had been only secondary. Bakewell was the first to turn his attention to the production of meat as the main consideration of stock breeders. Others who did pioneering work in this field were George Culley, Charles Colling, and John Ellman.

Conclusion:

·                 The enclosure system led landlords to borrow money from banks, helping the banking system grow.
·       Small farmers lost their land and became labourers or moved to cities, often finding no jobs.
·       Many poor people became unemployed and added to urban poverty.
·       Common lands (Commons) were enclosed, which increased national production.
·       Poor peasants lost the right to graze animals and collect firewood, making their lives harder.