Agriculture

• How much did shipments of grain to London increase from 1605 to 1661?


  From 500,000 quarters to 1,150,000 quarters
• By how much did the price of basic agricultural commodities increase between 1500 and 1650?


  Increased 6 times
• What product did London regularly outbid other counties for?

  Barley
• Which areas were more suited to pastoral farming?

  The North and West
• How many acres were left fallow in 1420 compared to 1700?

  3 million acres in 1420 vs 1.8 million acres in 1700
• Who was able to experiment with specialised farming?

  Yeoman had more land to experiment, while Husbandmen needed a more stable income
• Who wrote a book in 1680 about new agricultural techniques?


  Walter Blith
• How would farmers improve fertilisation?

  They would char the surface of soil and scatter ashes on the soil
• How would farmers make germination more likely?

  They would soak seeds before planting
• How did Dutch migration benefit agriculture?


  Dutch drainage experts drained 300,000 acres of the Fens
• What Act was passed in 1663 and what did it mean?


  The First Turnpike Act made the first toll road for upkeep
• Who made the first road atlas in 1675?

  John Ogilby
• Where was the first stagecoach developed in 1657?

  From London to Bristol and Bath
• Which rivers were dredged and widened to become more accessible?

  Thames, Ouse, and Severn
• How many acts were passed under Charles II to provide local taxes for dredging and widening of rivers?


  15 acts
• What did enclosure allow for in agriculture?


  Selective breeding of animals and reduced risk of duplication
• How much did some enclosed farms in East Anglia grow to?


  500 square acres
• What was crop rotation boosted by?


  Enclosure, allowing more fields to rotate
• What crop was introduced from the low countries?


  Frost-resistant turnip
• What are examples of nitrogen-rich crops and what was their purpose?


  Cabbage, Sainfoin, and Clover provided nutrients to the soil
• What is tenant farming?

  Land rented out to tenants who pay high rent to maximize profits
• By 1700, what percentage of agricultural land was under tenant farming?


  53.6% compared to 32% 100 years earlier
• How many people were estimated to be employed in tenant farming?

  364,000 families of labourers, totaling 1 million overall
• How many people were involved in skilled crafts by the end of this period?

  240,000
• What areas were more suited to arable farming?

  The South East
• How did Water Meadows work?

  Water from a nearby river/steam was diverted to a field and regulated by a network of gates and dams
• What did Water Meadows allow for?

  Made sure soil was always damp to reduce frost meaning greater grass and food for animals in Winter
• What was the increase of working horses?

  From 300,000 100 years earlier to 630,000 by 1700
• Which regions had no National markets?

  Scotland and Ireland
• How much land was devoted to growing crops?

  9 million acres
• How much more grain was needed to feed London between 1600-80?

  400% more