56 Rents^ Wages, and Profits in Agriculture 



no water, and no sanitation, and the 

 accommodation of the substantial farmer 

 was little better. Then, again, there were 

 no expensive steadings or drains. But in 

 another respect, there is reason to believe 

 the mediseval farmer was superior to his 

 modern representative. Under the old 

 landlord system of cultivation, most accurate 

 and detailed accounts were kept, and the 

 practice was continued when the system 

 was changed. Rogers gives good reasons 

 for supposing that, contrary to the popular 

 idea, in the mediaeval period writing and 

 accounting were common accomplishments, 

 and were put to practical use in farming. 

 As we have seen, there was a careful 

 enumeration of the stock and an annual 

 audit and valuation. 



Coming back from this digression, we 

 may notice next the eifect of the enclosures — 

 that is, the first period from 1470 to 1530. 



