VI OF THE SMALL LANDOWNER 115 



From, this time forward the two movements, the in- 

 dustrial and the agricultural, which are indeed only two 

 manifestations of the same scientific and commercial spirit, 

 go hand in hand, and supplement and support one another. 

 ' Commerce and industrial enterprise are grafted on the stock 

 of agriculture, and the rural districts become the depen- 

 dents of manufacturing and trading centres.' The growth 

 of great industries and of commerce demanded a greater 

 number of labourers. Population answered the call, and 

 increased with rapidity. The increase of population 

 demanded greater food supplies. England ceased to be 

 self-supporting, and the price of corn rose, 1 as well as that 

 of meal. 



Under these circumstances one would have expected that 

 more land would have been put under the plough. This, 

 however, we have shown was not the case. 



This rise in the price of articles of food naturally caused 

 a rise of rents, while the advance of more scientific farming 

 taught landlords the advantages to be gained from con- 

 solidating their farms. Hence the increasing desire to 

 enclose both the common field and the waste. Hence the 

 growing preference for farming on a large scale, which 

 demanded a capitalist landlord and capitalist farmer. 



Thus, the class of capitalist farmers grew, men 

 whom one contemporary says were considered ' Squires,' 

 and another that they no longer entertained their friends 

 with a hog of their own breeding and ale of their own 



1 During 1700-55, the price had run between 26s. and 48s. the quarter. 

 In 1757, owing to the high price, 60s., free import was temporarily 

 allowed. England ceases to export, in 1773 the Bounty was abolished 

 and import prohibited when wheat was below 48s., and an import 

 duty of 6d. a quarter imposed when wheat was at or over 48s. The 

 price was then 51s. Between 1773-93, the price varied from 33s. to 

 54s., partly owing to bad seasons ; during the Great War it ran between 

 49s. and 126s. Cf. Prothero, Pioneers, p. 244. 



H 2 



