The document summarizes changes in British farming practices from the 1700s onwards. Originally, farmers used an open field system of crop rotation across three fields. Later improvements included enclosing fields with hedges and ditches, introducing a four-crop rotation system to eliminate unproductive fallow fields, and inventing a seed drill and mechanical reaper to increase efficiency. Selective breeding of livestock by Robert Bakewell also led to bigger, more productive animals. These changes increased crop and food yields, supporting a growing population while forcing some poor farmers off the land.

2.  Before the 1700’s people farmed the OPEN FIELD
SYSTEM – all the land was open.
 The people practised CROP ROTATION. (Three
field system)
 Crops were switched every year
 Crops were grown in two out of three fields every
year
 This was called a FALLOW field – one field left
idle each year. It was not very productive.

4.  One of the first improvements was to
ENCLOSE the big fields
 Landlords made their tenants accept this
policy
 People now put ditches and hedges around
their fields
 Removed COMMONAGE for ordinary peasants

6.  Cut down the spread of disease in cattle and
crops
 Stopped animals from wandering into crop
fields and destroying them
 = BETTER RETURN FROM FARMING
 BUT:
 Forced many poor farmers and peasants off
the land and into towns and cities

7.  This was a FOUR CROP rotation system
introduced by Charles ‘Turnip’ Townshend
 Crops of Wheat, Barley, Turnip and
Clover/Grass
 Eliminated the need for a fallow field
 Led to higher yields from crops and livestock.
 No need to kill cattle every winter as they
could eat hay and turnips.

10.  JETHRO TULL invented the SEED DRILL. This
replaced the old method of BROADCASTING.
(Problem= Birds ate many of the seeds)
 This could plant seeds of crops in rows and cover
the soil over it. Very effective.
 CYRUS MCCORMICK invented the MECHANICAL
REAPER
 This allowed crops to be reaped by machine
 Both of these inventions made farming quicker
and cheaper

11.  ROBERT BAKEWELL pioneered a system of
picking the best animals to breed
The best were bred with the best. This led to
bigger, better and more productive animals.
 cattle weight doubled
 cows produced more milk
 sheep produced more wool.

13.  Farms produced more crops and better animals
(more food)
 People began to live longer as there was more
food available
 Some poorer farm labourers were forced off the
land and into towns
 Famines were less common
 Technology was now used in Agriculture

14.  Open Field Farming was replaced by
ENCLOSURE – this meant that hedges were
grown around fields
 The NORFOLK system of four crop rotation
was introduced – removed the need for a
fallow field. It was introduced by CHARLES
‘TURNIP’ TOWNSEND
 JETHRO TULL invented the SEED DRILL which
made the planting of crops more efficient
 ROBERT BAKEWELL pioneered the use of
SELECTIVE BREEDING – breeding the best
animals with the best