Phases

A vital prerequisite to the Industrial Revolution Main developments in these era is in agriculture -introduction of the four field system for crop rotation (Viscount Townshend) -invention of Seed Drill for planting (Jethro Tull) -use of selective breeding (Robert Bakewell) Increased agricultural production stimulated population growth and migration to cities and fed the industrial demand for labor. Increase in population in Great Britain from 5 million in 1700s 18 million in 1850

1750-1770, First Phase Introduction of new crops and a rise in the efficiency of workers. This meant more could be produced, and thus the agricultural economy could grow. 1760-1830, Second Phase Land was reorganised (enclosure) and larger farms developed. Different areas of Britain began growing specific crops - known as regional specialization. 1830, Third Phase [Second Agricultural Revolution] Farmers began using new fertilizers for land. They use artificial feedstuffs for animals. Farmers also improved drainage of their land. 1840-1870, the agricultural economy was very strong.

Four-Year Crop Rotation Developed in Holland and introduced in Great Britain by Viscount Charles "Turnip" Townshend in the mid-1700s. The four-field system rotated wheat, barley, root crop like turnips (first time they had been used in crop rotation), and a nitrogen-fixing crop like clover. Livestock grazed directly on the clover, and consumed the root crop in the field.

Wheat (First Field)

Clover (Second Field)

Oats or Barley (Third Field)

Turnips (Fourth Field)

Turnip

Fields were always planted with either food or feed, increasing both grain yields and livestock productivity. Furthermore, adding a nitrogen-fixing crop and allowing manure to accumulate directly on the fields improved soil fertility; eliminating a fallow period insured that the land was protected from soil erosion by stabilizing vegetation throughout the cycle.
The role of Clover - adds nitrogen compounds to the soil because its roots have nodules plants that have bacteria attached to their roots, which convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates in the soil that can be used by whatever plants are grown there in the following few years. - Replaced nutrients into the soil - used for grazing the livestock - livestock produced manure which could be ploughed back into the soil. If a crop was not rotated, then the nutrient level in the field would go down with time. The yield of the crop from the field decreased.

Seed Drill carrying the seeds in a bag and walking up and down the field throwing or broadcasting the seed by hand did not give a very even distribution of seeds. In 1701 Jethro Tull invented a Seed Drill which could be pulled behind a horse. It consisted of a wheeled vehicle containing a box filled with grain. There was a wheel-driven ratchet that sprayed the seed out evenly as the Seed Drill was pulled across the field. It greatly helped to increase the harvest yield by planting seeds in straight lines. The Seed Drill not only planted seeds at regular intervals but also planted them at the right depth and covered them with earth. a mechanical horse-drawn hoe, which Tull also invented, could be used to remove weeds from The Seed Drill between the lines of crop plants The rotary mechanism of the drill provided the foundation for all future sowing technology

Selective Breeding

Prior to the 18th century innovations in British farming, most cattle and sheep were slaughtered before winter set in because there was no way to feed them year round. Harvesting turnips meant that livestock could be fed during winter. This increased the quality of animals for meat, dairy products, and wool

Robert Bakewell introduced selective breeding programmes to improve the quality of the animals. Bakewell crossed different breeds of sheep to select their best characteristics. At the time, this was known as "breeding in and in". 1775, his experiments in selective breeding of sheep produced the Dishley, or New Leicester breed. In 1769, he produced the Longhorn; a breed It was a good meat producer but gave a poor milk yield. Bakewell was also the first to hire his animals out for stud. Bakewell was one of the first to breed both cattle and sheep for their meat value. His farm, in Dishley, Leicestershire, became a model of scientific management. Thomas Coke produced breeds such as the Southdown sheep, Devon cattle and Suffolk pigs. 1710, average weight of sheep was 28 lbs and cattle averaged 370 lbs. 1795, average weight of sheep was 80 lbs and cattle averaged 800 lbs.

The Importance of the Agricultural Revolution to the Industrial Revolution Crop yield increased

Enough food was available for people in the cities Falling food prices meant more money to spend on consumer goods Healthier population which meant decline in death rate, especially in infants In the 18th century, the population doubled from 5 million to 10 million

Wool yield increased due to better care of animals and selective breeding More wool was available for the textile industry and at less cost

Ready workforce available

Peasants were turned off their land by enclosures Families moved into the cities There was much unemployment and many people were looking for work Labour was cheap

Other Important Facts during the Period

1700 The amount of enclosed land accelerated.

The weather improved producing the first good harvest for seven years.

1700

1701 Jethro Tull developed the seed drill and the horse-drawn hoe. 1710 1721 Broccoli was introduced into England as a crop for the first time. 1720

1730 Townsend introduced Four Year Crop Rotation from Holland.

The weather brought very good harvests for the next ten years. Charles

1730

1731 Tull published his book "Horse Hoeing Husbandry" (Revised in 1733).

1740 1755 Robert Bakewell produced Leicester sheep by selective breeding methods. 1760 Agriculture was revolutionised by enclosures and new innovations.
The chemist, Henry Cavendish, experimented with electric charges to turn

1750 1760

1766 nitrogen gas into nitrate salts. His experiments had great significance for
the future production of artificial fertilizer.

1769 Bakewell produced Longhorn cattle by selective breeding. 1770 Potatoes were grown for sale for the first time in England. 1772 Thomas Coke began his selective breeding experiments 1780 By this time the better agricultural methods used in England had taken 1780 1770

effect. Most of the rest of Europe was still medieval in its farming techniques.

1782 Tull's seed drill was improved by adding gears to the rotary mechanism. 1783 The first plough making factory in England was opened. 1784 Small developed an iron plough
Scottish agricultural engineer, Andrew Meikle, developed a threshing

1786 machine. The grain was rubbed between a metal drum and a concave
metal sheet.