Note 721 — Chapter I · THE AGRARIAN PROBLEM AND THE STATE (continued 2)

Kalm’s Account of his Visit to England on his Way to America in 1748, translated by Joseph Lucas, p. 282. I am indebted for this reference to Dr. Gilbert Slater. The exact words are: “Nor had they any turnip land to feed sheep upon. Therefore they were deprived of the advantage of getting to sell any fat sheep or other cattle. The reason they gave for all this was that their arable was common field, and thus came to lie every other year fallow, when one commoner always had to accommodate his crops to the others; but the principal reason of all was said to be that,” and so on as in text. I am not sure that I have interpreted the passage rightly in assuming that it alludes to the illegality of enclosure without Act of Parliament. It may merely mean that, without an Act of Parliament, the necessary agreement could not be obtained among all those interested. I follow Dr. Slater’s interpretation.