76 The Revolution in Agriculture 



removed prices would fall and they would be ruined. It was 

 a great achievement when the power of the Government to 

 control wages and prices in favour of a few classes was so far 

 shaken off. The freedom and the stimulus to progress thus gained 

 by the country as a whole was invaluable. 



9 

 Freedom and Progress 



THE bad times which followed 1815 checked some forms of 

 enterprise. In 1822 the Board of Agriculture was abolished. 

 There was a demand for economy and for relief from the heavy 

 burden of taxation. The affairs of agriculture were put under the 

 care of the Board of Trade and the Local Government Board 

 until 1889. In spite of this slackening in the Government's 

 educational and administrative interest private enterprise con- 

 tinued. Adversity did not extinguish the ambition of landlords 

 and farmers who had a genuine enthusiasm for improvement. 

 Nor did the fight about protection and free trade divert them 

 from their object. They found satisfaction in producing better 

 crops and better stock. Although most of them did believe in 

 protection, and also believed that the manufacturers had agitated 

 for the repeal of the Corn Law from purely selfish motives, they 

 accepted the situation and kept on farming their best. 



Their fears of financial ruin were not fulfilled. Revolutions 

 were going on in France and Germany in 1848, and things were 

 unsettled everywhere for a few years. Prices fell in 1849, an< ^ 

 remained lower until 1853. Landlords, farmers, and labourers 

 had to rely on their own efforts and on voluntary arrangements 

 among themselves. These did more for them than Government 

 interference. Before the Board of Agriculture was established in 

 1793 the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society and 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society had been formed. In 



