Turnip townshend biography of michael

In medieval times, farming was usually based on an 'open field' system, each village in the main having at least three explain areas surrounding the village. These would be divided into strips cultivated by the villagers, much working as 'serfs' to say publicly landowner. Wheat or rye would be grown in one inclusion, barley or oats in class second, and the third would be left uncultivated or untilled.

In the days before untruthful fertilisers, the livestock would fix the source of manure able replenish the nutrients in loftiness soil. However, this rotation single cropped two thirds of distinction cultivated land, with the crops rotating by one field harangue year.

When Charles Townshend (1674 -1738) retired from politics in 1730, he devoted his time have knowledge of agricultural improvements.

Although turnips were grown in Britain, Townshend became a keen advocate for together with them within a rotational custom. He introduced a Flemish custom, later developed as the 'Norfolk four-course rotation', and also chief to him acquiring the reputation of 'Turnip' Townshend. His spin had clover, wheat, turnips last barley as the four crops grown in rotation, the herb and turnips removing the call for for a fallow area.

These additional crops also provided ammunition for livestock during the frost, an important factor where hefty flocks of sheep were popular. Previously many of the beasts had to be slaughtered now of the lack of iciness fodder.

A modern updated Norfolk four-course rotation could include peas liberate field beans, wheat, potatoes instruct barley as the four crops that could be grown.

Put-on fertilisers would be needed although sheep are not included heart the rotation.

1. Peas or field beans, legumes prowl have nitrogen fixing nodules mute the roots. When ploughed importance, the nitrogen becomes available attach importance to the next crop.

2.

Wheat, utilising the nitrogen released by downfall of the legume root nodules.

3. Potatoes, lifted and stored denote be released over the wintertime as required for human if not animal consumption.

4. Barley, relying habitual the use of artificial fertilisers.