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The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge advocates the potato
The Royal Society advocated for the potato because potatoes can grow in almost any soil whereas some crops can only be grown in a certain soil. It also takes a shorter amount of time to grow compared to others. These facts made the potato an attractive crop and helped lead to the adoption of the crop. -
Jethro Tull and the Seed Drill
Jethro Tull was an Agriculturalist who helped reform and played a massive role in the Agricultural Revolution. One of his biggest personal achievements and innovations for the agricultural revolution was the Seed Drill. The Seed Drill allowed farmers to plant seeds in an easier less physical way that was quicker. -
Dutch and Rotherham swing (wheel-less) plough
This invention allowed farming to be completed in a quicker and more efficient manner than previous versions of the plough. Also, it could be simply pulled by two horses/oxen compared to multiple oxen. -
Charles “Turnip” Townsend
Idea introduced in the 1730’s- Charles first introduced the idea of crop rotation which was the method in which farmers could rotate/change crops in a field yearly to keep the nutrients in the soil. -
Robert Bakewell, Thomas Coke, and the development of Selective Breeding
Introduced in the Mid-18th Century (1750’s)- Selective Breeding was the idea of Robert Bakewell and Thomas Coke. It was used to inbreed organisms to reduce their genetic diversity. One instance in which it was used was to breed the best cows for beef. -
Land Conversion, Drainage, and Reclamation Programs
Common during the 17th/18th Century- Efforts to convert land in Europe into fertile/land that was “farm” ready was a common event. Draining was used to allow large amounts of water to leave the soil to prevent an excessive amount of water from ruining crops. Reclamation Programs were used in order to restore/convert areas of land into fertile fields. -
Development of a National Market
Developed over the 18th/19th Century- A National/Global Market began to develop during the Second Agricultural Revolution as food production began to increase. This meant that more supply/product was available to be used in trading and mercantilist realms. During this time Companies such as the Dutch East India Company began to pop up. They could also use these resources in their rise to monetary and monopolistic control over various sectors. -
Aurther Young
“The Annals of Agriculture” was published in 1784- He wrote the book “The Annals of Agriculture”. It was an encyclopedia for improving various farming techniques. This impacted others by informing people and spreading new methods to promote and create higher-yielding productive farms. -
Norfolk Four Course Crop Rotation
End of 18th Century- This innovation was a new method used in agriculture in which there was a focus on fodder crops and there was no year of fallow like in previous methods. In this system, wheat is grown the first year, then turnips, barley the second, then clover, and ryegrass undersow in the third. Which is then cut or used as feed in the fourth. -
Enclosure Act
Passed 1801- This act enclosed all previously “open fields”. All land that the common folk had previously owned was changed into private property. Lords often gained and took this land using it for private agricultural practices.