William Marshall (agricultural writer)

He had already been pursuing the study in his spare time and he thought that the proper area for analysis should be the natural agricultural district rather than the regions demarcated by county boundaries.

He also thought that no less than twelve months' personal observation and practical experience of farming in an area was needed before a realistic assessment could be made.

This method of research differed from his contemporaries in that others, notably Arthur Young, his great rival, investigated farming practices by cursorily touring a county and interviewing the inhabitants.

[3] In 1780, Marshall applied for a grant from the Society of Arts to conduct his research in another area of England, but the committee, which included Arthur Young, turned down his request.

Marshall disliked the Board's decision to commission rapid surveys of counties, but contributed the report covering the central Highlands of Scotland.