Responses to Royal Society survey into the state of agriculture

Small collection of copies (from the Royal Society collection) transcript and notes relating to reports on agriculture in the East Riding, made to the Royal Society in 1665.

The 'Georgical Committee' of the Royal Society was appointed on 30 March 1664 and under the direction of Robert Boyle drew-up a questionnaire seeking to collect information from across the country about the state of agriculture. Responses were received from 6 counties - it is believed that the outbreak of the plague stopped further investigations from being undertaken.

The questionnaire sought to gather information about soils, preparation of the soil, when and how ploughed, grain or seed grown, quantity of crop per acre produced, instruments used, diseases encountered and their causes and remedies, growing season and reaping, separating grain from straw and methods of preserving grain.

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Donated by Professor Gill, University College of Hull, 7 Jun 1935