economy 1.4

• crops such as artichokes, asparagus and clover were introduced
• with the increase in veggies there were improvements in soil fertility
• the market garden had required new and more efficient techniques as they would feed london
• in 1700 per agricultural family they had worked 405 days compared to 266 in 1450
• agricultural production in britain had took over all european countries apart from holland
• the poor‘s diet was still predominantly bread based
• enclosure would begin by consolidating scattered holdings into blocks of land and would then begin by fencing them off
• as a result of this land was reserved for a single landowner or tenant
• this limited crop duplication and a reduction in rivals
• majority of enclosure agreements were informal affairs and there were loose agreements between landowners, tenants and families
• enclosure had led to protests by landowners and peasants if it was difficult for them to access land
• for an efficient farm to be ran as much land had to be utilised and this would reduce the number of fields left fallow
• crops were selected on their suitability for different soil types
• the main technique that was used had been crop rotation
• one field out of three was left fallow in order for nutrients to be restored to the soil
• in 1420 just over 7 million acres were given to arable farming and 3 million were left fallow
• in 1700 this had increased to 9 million acres and 1.8 million were left fallow
• irrigation and cultivating new crops were done by dutch immigrants
• cornelius vermuyden was commissioned to drain the fens of east anglia after he had been knighted by charles I
• water meadows had diverted water from a nearby river or stream to a field
• this diversion had been regulated by a network of gates and dams
• the main aim was to not flood the ground but to provide soil with water to keep it damp
• this had reduced the chances of frost and meant that animals were well-fed
• around 630,000 horses were being used on farms this is because they were quicker than oxen’s
• different regions could specialise in types of farming which are more suited to local conditions
• the warmer, drier south east was more suited to arable farming
• the north and west was more suited to the feasting of livestock as there was higher levels of rainfall
• the main group which had benefited was the yeomanry
• 240,000 people were involved in skilled crafts
• after the 1662 settlement act it was easier for landowners to hire labourers from other parishes
• job security was poor for those who did not serve a seven year apprenticeship
• in 1688 there were 364,000 families of labourers
• majority of investment was done by the higher gentry
• they were able to buy land from neighbouring farms, enclose it and invest into new crops
• after 1650, the large farms flourished as population growth slowed down and deflation had meant that landowners could improve their estates
• in the south midlands in 1700, 53.6% of agricultural land was part of large estates of over 100 acres
• in east anglia some farms were over 500 acres in size
• it was more profitable to work as a large tenant farm
• Cornelius Vermuyden


  A Dutch engineer who specialized in land drainage
• Overview of the Economy, Trade and Empire 1625-88

  
  

  
  

  (L43 agricultural techniques and specialised farming)

  - 1688 Britain's economy was in a strong position considering difficulties faced earlier in the century

  - the British state and those engaged in trade were wealthier than ever despite over 40 years of war, revolution and religious conflict

  - in 1688 Edward LLoyd began inviting merchants and ship owners to his coffee house in London, where he shared shipping news/ insurance deals

  - this evolved to be the oldest insurance market in the world, Lloyds Bank

  
  

  - as the population increased, to avoid famine there was a need to change agricultural techniques

  - there was an increased investment in agriculture

  - new methods and crops from abroad meant the fear of a bad harvest was less of a problem

  - new skills/ techniques were evident in the cloth industry

  - these included new methods, fabrics and skilled workers

  
  

  - improved trading conditions improved the economy, especially after Civil War hostilities in 1650

  - Britain fought the 1st Anglo Dutch war in 1652 leading to the Dutch having to accept Britains control of the sea

  - 1674 war began, the Dutch defeated Charles' navy

  - an advancement surrounding these wars was the passing of the Navigation Acts, these boosted British trade at the expense of the Dutch