24 
Landmarks in British Farming, 
his life to the improvement of his estate in Norfolk, was more 
immediately successful in his efforts. The improvements which 
he inaugurated eventually turned both Norfolk and Lincolnshire 
from rabbit-warrens into corn manufactories and sheep and 
cattle markets. He reintroduced the practice of marling, ad- 
vocated enclosures, and demonstrated the value of turnips and 
clover as the pivots of agricultural progress. 
The farmers who followed in his footsteps realised fortunes. 
Arthur Young, in 1760, thus describes the effect of Towns- 
hend’s example and of his Norfolk husbandry in a district near 
Norwich: — “Thirty years ago it was an extensive heath with- 
out either tree or shrub, only a sheep-walk to another farm. 
Such a number of carriages crossed it, that they would some- 
times be a mile abreast of each other in pursuit of the best 
track. Now there is an excellent turnpike road, enclosed on 
each side with a good quickset hedge, and the whole laid out 
in enclosures and cultivated in the Norfolk system in superior 
style. The whole is let at 15s. an acre, ten times the original 
value.” 
Though Townshend’s improvements filtered but slowly into 
other districts, the first step in advance had been made. Their 
consequences were widespread, both remote and immediate. 
Encouraged by his success, other landlords imitated his ex- 
ample. One advantage grew out of another. Without the 
introduction of winter keep, the career of Bakewell would have 
been impossible. In the gx’azier’s art still more startling results 
were attained, and they are indirectly due to Townshend’s 
enterprise, and to the new practices which he made successful. 
Hitherto sheep had been valued for their wool, and cattle 
for their length of leg. Sheep were tall, unthrifty beasts, 
esteemed for their wool, or valued for points which were absurd 
because they were useless. Cattle were wall-sided misshapen 
beasts, “ more like ill-made black horses than an ox or a cow.” 
Prize beasts were such animals as “ the famous Lincolnshire 
ox ” which was shown in the reign of Queen Anne. In the 
advertisement it is described “ as Nineteen Hands high, and four 
Yards long from his Face to his Rump. The like Beast for 
Bigness was never seen in the World before. Vivat Regmce” 
Bakewell of Dishley, near Loughborough in Leicestershire, 
was the first man who perceived that the day was fast approach- 
ing when beef or mutton would be more valuable than wool or 
power of draught. Born in 1725, he began his experiments in 
stock-breeding before 1750. He achieved his chief success with 
sheep. “ Small in size and great in value,” or “ symmetry well 
covered,” were his mottoes. His new Leicesters were superior 
