John Mortimer (agriculturalist)

John Mortimer (c. 1656 – 1736) was an English merchant, and writer on agriculture, known for The whole Art of Husbandry, in the way of Managing and Improving of Land published in London in 1707.

His father was born into a yeoman family of Bow, Devon, and had a brother Peter who also entered into a commercial profession.

[1] John Mortimer received a commercial education, and became a prosperous merchant on Tower Hill.

[2] In November 1693, at the age of about 43, he bought the estate of Topping Hall, Hatfield Peverel, Essex, which he improved; a number of cedar trees planted by him were still in there in the 19th century.

His first wife, Dorothy, born at Hursley, near Winchester, on 1 August 1660, was the ninth child of Richard Cromwell, and it is supposed that the ex-protector's return to England in 1680 was prompted by a desire to be present at the wedding.

The writer states that he had read the best books on ancient and modern agriculture, and inspected the practice of the most diligent husbandmen in most countries.

Trees and fruits do still occupy too much room, but the animals are more largely introduced and systematically treated.

[4] A second edition was issued in 1708, and a third in 1712, "containing such additions as are proper for the husband- man and gardiner (sic) ... to which is added a Kalendar, shewing what is to be done every month in the flower garden."

It was translated into Swedish by Jacob Serenius in 1727, and a sixth edition, with additions, and revised by Thomas Mortimer, the writer's grandson, appeared in 2 volumes in 1761.

The second book has 6 chapters – of arable land and tillage; on ploughs, of which some are figured; and the square earth board is shown and recommended for stiff clays; the Hertfordshire wheel-plough was until in the 19th century much recommended; of ploughing and laying land in ridges; of sowing corn and steeping it.

Forty bushels or soot were sown by hand on an acre, and produced a mighty sweet grass.

Turnips are sown in broad cast on finely fallowed lands, in midsummer, and afford food for sheep, cows, and fattening cattle into the month of March.

The crop is a great help to dry barren lands, and will grow on almost any ground—the fly and caterpillar often destroy them.

[3] On farm animal Mortimer spoke of: In 1854 Donaldson concluded that the accompanied "Farmer's Calendar," in directions of monthly work, would do credit to any modern publication.

"[3] The British The Complete Farmer: Or, a General Dictionary of Husbandry by members of the Royal Society, first published from 1756 to 1768, considered John Mortimer among the foremost agriculturists of that time.

The 3rd edition of The Complete Farmer (1777) even listed Mortimer in the subtitle of this work among other foremost authorities, such as Carl Linnaeus, Louis François Henri de Menon, Hugh Plat, John Evelyn, John Worlidge, Jethro Tull, William Ellis, Philip Miller, Thomas Hale, Edward Lisle, Roque, John Mills, and Arthur Young.

[7] John Mills succeeded, according to Donaldson, while "Worlidge began the attempt, but failed in the comprehension required.