257 



APPENDIX V. 



ENCLOSURES. 



The number of acres enclosed since 1700 probably exceeds 

 8^ millions. The progress of the movement is shown below. 



The decline in the number of enclosures is apparently 

 arrested in 1840-50 ; but 270,000 acres out of the total en- 

 closed in that decade of years were enclosed under the General 

 Act of 1845. 



The agricultural statistics from 1866 to 1886 show an appa- 

 rently large increase in acreage ; but this is mainly due to 

 fuller and more correct returns. It is also to be noticed that 

 the area of agricultural land is being constantly diminished by 

 the growth of towns, the increase of railways, roads, &c. 



More than three-fourths of the total enclosures (6,288,910 

 acres) were made in the reign of George III . 



