xii Synopsis of Chapters. 



PAGE 



glance at the laws aad prices relating to wool from the fifteenth 

 to the eiohteenth century — The success of the flockmaster in 

 spite of both prolonged restrictive legislation and the later 

 opposition of the manufacturing interest — Historical sketch of 

 the corn laws from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centurj-, and 

 their effects on the markets, together with the various circum- 

 stances which influenced the legislature from time to time — 

 The growing encouragement of exportation gradually increases 

 the price of the quarter of wheat — The first evidences of the 

 influence of economical philosophy on fiscal statecraft, and the 

 motives which prompted the protectionist legislation of the 

 eighteenth centurj^ — The effects of that legislation evidencc-dby 

 increased prices, probably too by the limited use of wheaten 

 bread as an article of food 188-205 



CHAPTER X. 



THE MAKING OF THE LAND. 



Our State policy in protecting the interests of agriculture extolled 

 by foreigners — The reaction in favour of agriculture tlirough- 

 out Evirope influences English public opinion — A comparison 

 between the agriculture of the first half and last half of the 

 century — The rapid advance of scientific principles and the 

 prejudices of practical men against large farms, enclosures, etc. 

 — Mixed farming comes into fashion and attracts the advocacy 

 of all the chief English experts — A shoi-t sketch of the progress 

 of agriculture throughout the entire century — The writings and 

 practice of agricultural pioneers, the iuti'oduction of new foods, 

 fertilisers, crops, and herds of livestock — The institution of . 

 farming societies, cattle shows, and the Board of Agriculture — 

 The views of the pamphleteers on the high price of provisions, 

 the engrossing of farms, forestalling and regrating, and the 

 enclosing of wastes — The pros and cons of the enclosure sj'stem 

 examined in detail — The evidence of farmers' clubs and the 

 correspondence with the Board of Agriculture on the subject 

 collated and arranged under four headings — The various for- 

 malities of an Act of Enclosure described — The economy prac- 

 tised on the common arable field and waste contrasted with 

 that possible under the enclosure sj-stem — The extent of the 

 wastes towards the end of tlie centurj', and the causes which 

 then gave a fresh impetus to enclosing— The labourer's objec- 

 tions to the enclosure system examined— The pernicious effects 

 of the Government bounty on corn, in extending the area of 

 wheat cultivation to abnormal limits, demonstrated . . 206-232 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE HUSBANDRY OF THE PERIOD. 



Description of the various agricultural treatises of the period — 

 Lord Bacon's and Sir Richard Weston's opinions of their worth 

 — The periodical publications of Houghton, Dr. Hunter, and 

 Arthur Young— A minute description of TuU's drill husbandry 



