Re: Magic to aid farming in space

>  > In 1820, (yeah, I know, but it was all I could find) 90% of the US
>>  population
>>  was rural. By, 1990 the number was less than 10%. I would suggest
>>  that  farming
>>  in the 1820's was better, but not hugely better than renaissance
>>  farming
>>  techniques. I like the 90% number in that it makes any math very
>>  easy, but
>>  understand that it may not be accurate. For renaissance farming
>>  productivity, I
>  > would suggest 20 to 1?

There's plenty of research available on French and British medieval
and Renaissance farming. Look for information on life on a manor.
There was also a very good book available in high schools about daily
life at a French castle and it's associated villages. 'A year in the
life of' sort of thing.

90-95% isn't a bad % for rural to urban, also, 80% of the typical
person diet in the ancient world was grains (bread, porridge, and
such).

But this changes around the seashore. And in the mountains. In fact,
if you look closely, the areas that break the knight-peasant dynamic
are areas of herding or fishing. Areas where the typical person is
getting more protein then the typical European peasant. Switzerland,
for example.

I've always thought that there should be a big 'fishing' industry for
spelljamming, and that we need to invent more food species of jamming
fish.
--
"...And nobody is to be killed at all, if it can be helped. Keep your
tempers and hold your hands until the last possible moment!"
"But if there are many of these ruffians," said Merry, "it will
certainly mean fighting. You won't rescue Lotho, or the Shire, just
by being shocked and sad, my dear Frodo."

Paul Westermeyer,  pwestermeyer@????????.??.com