The English Revolution of 1688, confirming that
Parliament had power (23)---- the king, meant, in
economic terms, the supremacy of the more affluent
classes. From 1688 to 1832, the British government
was (24)---- in the hands of the landowners. The result
was a thorough transformation of farming, an
Agricultural Revolution without which the Industrial
Revolution (25)----. Many landowners began
experimenting with improved methods of cultivation and
stock raising. They made more use of fertilizers
(26)---- introducing new equipment such as horse-hoes
and drill seeders. Further improvement required an
investment of capital, which was impossible (27)---- the
soil was cultivated by numerous poor and
custom-bound small farmers.