An analysis of the geographic factors affecting agriculture and industry in the south-west peninsula west of the Tamar

Abstract

The south western peninsula of England has been chosen for discussion since it forms a most interesting geographic unit. This is true as regards the type of agriculture and peculiarly characteristic industries. The general condition of agriculture - a primitive cereal development, low percentage of total acreage available for arable use, extensive permanent grasslands, and considerable expanses of moorland - are similar in the three western Counties of Devon, Somerset and Cornwall. In Cornwall, however, a more marked development of intensive farming is found with local specialisation in the extreme south western districts. With regard to industry Cornwall possesses a distinctive pilchard fishery, tin and copper mines and china clay quarries. Both Somerset and Devon are arable and pastoral to a greater extent. Cornwall is in many ways different and the region chosen has, therefore, been restricted to west of the Tamar River since this is in many ways a geographic unit. Isolation has played and still plays a great part in preserving the personality of the region. The link with Brittany is closer and of longer standing than with other parts of England, to which the region west of the Tamar is in many ways foreign. It was then decided, to make a study of the Cornish agriculture and industries which are analysed on a statistical basis from the most recent figures available, many of which are unpublished. Part I is intended to show the nature of the physical basis, Part II the extent of the controls, and Part III the development which has resulted in the past and finally the trend which is probable in future years. The aim of the thesis is to show clearly the relationship between natural conditions and the economic development as it exists and to trace the probable trend of future development.