General View of Agriculture county surveys facts for kids
The General View series of county surveys were special reports made in Great Britain in the early 1790s. These reports were started by the Board of Agriculture, a group set up by Sir John Sinclair. Many of these books were so popular that they got second editions in the 1810s!
The Board of Agriculture was a big supporter of enclosures. Enclosures meant changing open fields, which many farmers used together, into private fields with fences or hedges. This was a big change in how land was used for farming.
Contents
Exploring Farming Across Britain
These surveys looked at how farming was done in different parts of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. They covered everything from the types of crops grown to the animals raised and the tools farmers used.
England's Farms and Fields
The surveys in England gave us a peek into what farming was like in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Here are some interesting facts from a few counties:
- Bedfordshire: This county was well-known for growing barley. The reports also mentioned that some people were doing market gardening, which is growing vegetables and fruits to sell in local markets.
- Berkshire: In 1809, William Fordyce Mavor wrote about farming in Berkshire.
- Buckinghamshire: The first survey in 1794 was by William James and Jacob Malcolm. Later, St. John Priest and Richard Parkinson wrote a new version.
- Cambridgeshire: Charles Vancouver and William Gooch reported that 26 different areas had improved their land by using "underdraining." This is a way to remove extra water from the soil, making it better for crops.
- Cheshire: Henry Holland suggested using threshing machines. These machines helped separate grain from the plant, making farming faster. He also talked about "paring and burning," a method to prepare new land for growing crops.
- Cornwall: After some authors turned down the job, George Bouchier Worgan revised the survey for Cornwall in 1811.
- Devon: The survey in Devon noted that pack horses, which were used to carry goods, were slowly being replaced by wagons and carts. This showed how transport was changing in the countryside.
- Dorset: John Claridge wrote the first report in 1793. Later, William Stevenson updated it in 1812.
- Essex: This county had a very short report in 1794, only 29 pages long! Later, the famous agricultural writer Arthur Young wrote a much longer report in 1807.
- Herefordshire: It's interesting that the author, John Clark, spent two pages talking about mistletoe but only a few words on the famous Hereford cattle!
- Kent: John Boys wrote a survey for Kent in 1786.
- Leicestershire: John Monk's report mentioned the amazing sheep breeding work of Robert Bakewell. Bakewell was famous for improving farm animals through careful breeding.
- Middlesex: John Middleton, a land surveyor, wrote a detailed report in 1798, which had a second edition in 1813.
- Norfolk: Nathaniel Kent wrote the first survey in 1794, and Arthur Young updated it later.
- Shropshire: The 1803 report was written by a group of people using the name "Peter Plough." Many important people, including Thomas Telford (a famous engineer), helped with it.
- Somerset: John Billingsley wrote the survey for Somerset.
- Suffolk: Arthur Young wrote the surveys for Suffolk in 1794 and 1797.
- Sussex: Arthur Young (the Younger) wrote the survey for Sussex in 1793.
- Yorkshire: The large county of Yorkshire was split into three parts for the surveys: East Riding, North Riding, and West Riding.
Ireland's Agricultural Insights
The surveys also looked at farming in Ireland.
- King's County (now County Offaly): Sir Charles Coote, 2nd Baronet wrote about both agriculture and manufacturing here in 1801.
- Queen's County (now County Laois): Sir Charles Coote also wrote about this county.
- County Wicklow: Robert Fraser wrote about farming and minerals in Wicklow in 1801.
Scotland's Rural Landscape
Scotland's surveys showed the different ways people farmed in its varied landscapes.
- Aberdeenshire: James Anderson of Hermiston wrote the first report in 1794, and George Skene Keith updated it in 1811.
- Angus: This county had several reports, including one by James Headrick in 1813.
- Ayrshire: William Fullarton wrote the first survey in 1793, and William Aiton updated it in 1811.
- Berwickshire: The 1794 survey by Alexander Lowe included an appendix by Arthur Bruce.
- Hebrides: James Macdonald, who wrote about the Hebrides (Western Isles), thought that potatoes should become a main food for people there.
- Midlothian: George Robertson's 1795 edition included extra notes from local farmers and gentlemen.
- Orkneys and Shetlands: John Shirreff wrote about the agriculture in these islands in 1814.
- Roxburghshire: The survey by Robert Douglas in 1798 is thought to have taken a strong side on the topic of enclosures.
Wales's Farming Practices
The surveys in Wales also gave important details about farming in the region.
- North Wales and South Wales: Walter Davies wrote comprehensive reports for both North and South Wales.
- Brecknockshire: John Clark thought the local cattle in Brecknockshire were not very good.
- Cardigan: The report was written by Captain Thomas Lloyd R.N., a known farmer who liked to improve things, and David Turnor, a clergyman who helped start a society to encourage agriculture.
- Monmouthshire: John Fox wrote the first survey in 1794, and Charles Hassall updated it in 1815.
Other Surveys and Reviews
The Board of Agriculture also looked at other areas:
- Channel Islands: Thomas Quayle wrote about the agriculture of these islands in 1815.
- Isle of Man: Basil Quayle wrote the first survey in 1794, and Thomas Quayle updated it in 1812.
William Marshall, who wrote the Central Highlands survey, was a rival of Arthur Young, another important agricultural writer. Marshall wrote a five-volume book called Review (from 1808 to 1817), which was often critical of the surveys.
Sir John Sinclair, who started the Board of Agriculture, also wrote several related books:
- General View of the Agriculture of the Northern Counties and Islands of Scotland (1795)
- Account of the Origin of the Board of Agriculture and its Progress for Three Years after its Establishment (1796)
- General Report of the Agricultural State and Political State of Scotland (1814)
- Hints Regarding the Agricultural State of the Netherlands, Compared with that of Great Britain (1815)
