No
one may sell any ox, bull, cow, calf, steer, or heifer until he
has had possession of such for forty days or forfeit ten pounds,
because of distemper. Later, the king was authorized to regulate
the movement of cattle from one place to another.
The main industry of the country was still agriculture. In the
countryside, about half the arable land was under the open field
system, with land cultivated in common. Enclosure of land was
still going on. The enclosures were now done by statutory
commissions to ensure equitable allotments.
Agricultural improvements came first to enclosed land, which
comprised about half of the agricultural land. In the 1733, Jethro
Tull published a book about his 1701 invention of the seed-drill
to first pulverize the soil for cultivation without manure and
then to deposit seed at a uniform depth in regulated quantities
and in rows instead of being thrown haphazardly. Also explained
was the horse-hoe to stir the soil about the roots of the plants
to preserve moisture, promote aeration, admit warmth, and destroy
weeds. There were more horses than oxen in use now in the fields.
The horse-hoe was first used by large independent farmers on
enclosed land. Also invented was a threshing machine with a set of
sticks to replace hand threshing with flails. Under-drainage as
well as irrigation was practiced. Lord Townshend alternated
turnips, grasses, and grain in his fields, and thus provided
winter food for his cattle.
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