The Early Years of British Agriculture 1 1 



what they produced and made the clothes and imple- 

 ments they wanted. Money was almost unknown, 

 and barter was the order of the day, that is, you paid 

 for what was wanted in kind, corn or meat or something 

 that was in your possession. 



There are a few special workers on a manor that 

 require a passing notice. The salter prepared by 

 evaporation the salt that was needed to preserve 

 meat, and in the making of cheese and butter. The 

 shoemaker made not merely shoes, boots, and slippers, 

 but also flasks and bottles, reins and trappings, spur 

 leather and halters, bags and purses of all kinds. The 

 smith did all the iron work for the plough, the cart, 

 and the mill, and made fish-hooks, needles, and awls. 

 The wright did all wood- work, besides the heavier 

 work of house building, and the making of tubs, 

 buckets, and vats. 



3. THE PROGRESS OF BRITISH 

 AGRICULTURE 



The years that intervened between the Conquest 

 and the battle of Bosworth witnessed two great changes 

 so far as agriculture is concerned. The great land- 

 owners took increased interest in the development of 

 their estates, and the actual cultivation of the soil 

 steadily improved in character. The great mass of the 

 peasantry from being serfs of the lords of the manors 

 where they had been born, became free labourers, 

 earning daily wages, with power to work for whom 

 and where they pleased. Of course this was a very 

 gradual change, but it is one of the most important in 



