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The Royal Society of London wanted to improve the natural knowledge and actively advocated for eh potato. It was seen as one of the most valuable and reliable food sources. Especially in times of scarcity, when many traditional grain crops would fail. The society advocates for the potato since it was easy to grow and produced large yields. It could also be grown on bad land. Despite society wanting more people to grow potatoes, it was slow and wouldn't be grown in mass till the late 18th century -
Jethro Tull was an English agricultural innovator who invented a horse-drawn seed drill. This invention was a large catalyst for the British agricultural revolution. Tull's seed drill was a mechanical seeder that was designed to sow seeds in rows at a consistent depth and spacing it would also cover them with soil. Since it was precise at planting seeds, the drill led to increased rates of seed, and it improved the crop yields and prevented overcrowding of crops since it would space the seeds. -
During the second agricultural revolution, there was more land conversion to increase the land that could be used for farming and for higher crop yields. There was improved soil fertility, and practices like the four-field rotation helped restore the nutrients and improve the soil. There was also drainage of the wetlands to make them more suitable for farming. Many farmers also improved their drainage, which was beneficial for their crops. -
The second agricultural revolution contributed to the development of a national market for many reasons. There was a food surplus due to innovations such as crop rotation, selective livestock breeding, and new machinery like the seed drill. This led to a food surplus. There were also people moving from rural to urban areas, and this resulted in rural workers moving from towns to cities, which led to the creation of a national market. -
Charles Townsend was a British statesman, and he was known as "Turnip" since he was always advocating for the use of turnips in the new system of crop rotation. He also helped popularize the four-course system, and he saw that the innovation was already being practiced in Holland. He also found out that the inclusion of crops like turnips provided a vital source of winter fodder for livestock. -
The Dutch plough originated from a Chinese design in the early 17th century. It was brought to Britain by the Dutch. It was used successfully on wet ground, and it would make the land normal and dry. The Rotherham Swing Plough was lighter and cheaper, while being more efficient, it typically required two horses, and it saved money on cost. It was one of the first ploughs to be mass-produced in factories. -
The Norfolk four-course crop rotation was a system that eliminated the fallow year by rotating four crops. It would rotate wheat, turnips, barley, and clover. This change in agriculture increased food production. It would also increase livestock productivity. Turnips and clovers provided winter feed for the animals. Lastly, rotating the crops prevented pests and other diseases from taking over the soil. -
Arthur Young was an English agriculturist who played a significant role in the British agricultural revolution. He used his writing to promote new agricultural practices such as the use of the seed drill and the improved crop rotation system, like the Norfolk system. He also published detailed surveys and traveled throughout England, Wales, Ireland, and France to learn about different farming practices. -
The enclosure acts were a series of British laws that privatized common lands. The open field lands became more consolidated and more compact. This process increased the agricultural productivity and led to practices like crop rotation and selective breeding. Even though it led to more crop growth, it displaced many farmers and rural workers. This led to migration to cities, and the growth of city populations contributed to the Industrial Revolution. -
Robert Bakewell and Thomas Coke both played a role in the 18th-century agricultural revolution, and they both helped develop selective breeding and improve livestock. Robert Bakewell was the first to use the system of selective breeding. He would carefully select animals with desirable traits and have them breed. Thomas Coke worked on and improved the Norfolk system and also helped improve selective breeding.