Arthur Young on an improving landlord in Yorkshire, 1770
(Arthur Young's Six Month's Tour through the North of England (1770), Vol. I, pp. 30717; in J. F. C. Harrison, ed., Society and Politics in England, 1780-1960, New York:
Harper & Row, 1965, pp. 25-27. Young describes farming practice in Bedfordshire.)
BUT the husbandry of the Marquis of Rockingham is much more worthy of attention
than that of any palace; the effects which have and must continue to result from it are of
the noblest and most truly national kind: A short sketch of his Lordship's operations, will
convince you how much an extensive tract of country is obliged to this patriotic
nobleman for introducing a cultivation unknown before.
Upon turning his attention to agriculture, his Lordship found the husbandry of the
West Riding of Yorkshire extremely deficient in numerous particulars: It was disgusting
to him to view so vast a property, cultivated in so slovenly a manner; eager to substitute
better methods in the room of such unpleasing as well as unprofitable ones, he
determined to exert himself with spirit in the attempt; and he executed the noble scheme
in a manner that does honour to his penetration.-A very few particulars, among many of
the common practice, will shew how much this country wanted a Rockingham to animate
its cultivation.
1. Large tracts of land, both grass and arable, yielded but a trifling profit, for want of
draining. In wet clays, the rushes and other aquatic rubbish usurped the place of corn and
grass; the seasons of timing were retarded, and even destroyed; and those pastures which
ought to have fed an ox, scarcely maintained a sheep.
2. The pastures and meadows of this country were universally laid down in ridge and
furrow, a practice highly destructive of profit, and detestable to the eye; and the manner
of laying down such lands, was as miserable as their product denoted poverty; for after
many years ploughing of numerous crops but insufficient fallows, when the soil was so
exhausted as to disappoint the expectation of corn, a parcel of rubbish called hay-seeds
was scattered over the surface, and the field left to time for improvement. A villainous
custom, and too much practised in all parts of the kingdom.
3. The culture of turnips was become common, but in such a method that their
introduction was undoubtedly a real mischief; viz. without hoeing, so that the year of
fallow, in the general management, was the most capital year of slovenliness and bad
husbandry.
4. The implements used in agriculture through this tract were, insufficient for a
vigorous culture, and consequently the husbandman sustained a constant loss.
These circumstances, among others, shew how much the husbandry of this country
wanted improvement. Let us, in the next place, examine the means taken by his Lordship
to command that most beneficial purpose. He conducted himself from the beginning,
upon the soundest of all principles, that of practising himself those methods which reason
told him were the best; -well convinced that argument and persuasion would have little
effect with the John Trot genius's of farming, he determined to set the example of good
husbandry, as the only probable means of being successful.
In the pursuit of this end his Lordship's conduct was judicious and spirited. He has
upwards of 2000 acres of land in his hands; and began their improvement with draining
such as were wet, rightly considering this part of husbandry as the sine qua non of all
others. -His method was the most perfect that experience has hitherto brought to light.
That of covered drains. . . .
Secondly, His Lordship's management in-laying down and keeping his grass lands, is
worthy of universal imitation, as a spirit of culture has brought forth a fertility and
richness of pasture beyond any thing I remember to have seen. The method of laying
down is this: Oats are sown (under seeded) upon land that has been exceedingly well
fallowed for a year and a half, by many ploughings, harrowings, &c. By which operations
the surface is laid most completely level, so that not the least trace of a furrow is to be
distinguished; with the corn, 12 lb. of white Dutch clover, and eight bushels of finely
dressed hay-seeds are sown. At harvest the oats are reaped, and 6 lb. more of clover-seed
sown over the stubble, which is then mown, and raked off, and consequently the seed
pretty well buried in the ground; a very rich compost is immediately spread on the field,
and well harrowed in, by which means the seed is completely covered; in this manner it is
left the first winter. The crop is next year left until the seeds are ripe enough to shake in
the mowing, and making, by which means the land gains a fresh sprinkling, and the
whole surface ensured a total and thick covering. . . .
But Lord Rockingham in scarce any thing has acted with greater spirit, than the
improvement of the turnip culture by hoeing; for the disgust he felt at seeing the
common slovenly management of the farmers, in respect to this crop, made him
determine to introduce the excellent practice of hoeing, common in many of the
southern parts of the kingdom. . . .
Much does this neighbourhood owe to so patriotic a design, which was truly planned
with judgment, and executed with spirit. Much more genuine fame ought to attend such
an action, than the gaining a score of battles: The senseless rabble may praise the military
hero; it belongs to the few to venerate the spirited cultivator. . . .