The Common System of Cultivation
In Bulgaria, the most common agricultural system during the late 19th century was the double sowing system, often combined with fallow land—land that is ploughed but left unsown for a season to recover its fertility. This traditional method was further supported by the use of pastures and natural meadows for cattle breeding, forming a complete and balanced rural economy.
In 1892, out of a total cultivable area of 2,215,312 hectares, about 1,272,927 hectares were tilled and sown, while the remaining 42.5% of arable land lay fallow. This shows that nearly half the land was resting to regain its productivity.
Changes in Cultivation Over Time
Five years later, the situation improved significantly. In 1897, out of 2,975,386 hectares of arable land, about 1,968,629 hectares (or 65.11%) were cultivated. The following years show a steady increase:
Year Percentage of Land Sown Percentage of Land Fallow
1892 57.50% 42.50%
1897 66.11% 33.89%
1898 68.56% 31.44%
1899 68.80% 31.20%
As these figures indicate, the proportion of sown land increased, while the amount of fallow land decreased by over 11% in eight years. This steady change provides clear evidence of progress in Bulgarian agriculture during that period Customized Istanbul Tours.
Regional Variations in Agricultural Practice
In some eastern provinces—particularly Varna and regions along the Danube River—farmers used slightly different methods. There, it was common to sow the same land for several consecutive years, followed by a longer fallow period to allow the soil to recover naturally.
Although this system also resulted in land being left uncultivated for a time, it was still counted statistically as fallow. Even so, the overall trend remained the same: more land was being cultivated, and less was lying idle, which was a clear sign of agricultural improvement and better land management.
Total Productive Land and Its Use
By 1899, Bulgaria had about 2,046,791 hectares of land used for active agriculture. When this was combined with land under vineyards, rose gardens, orchards, and meadows, the total productive area reached 2,520,401 hectares.
The table below shows how this land was distributed among various crops and uses:
Type of Product Area (hectares) Percentage of Total Productive Land
Cereals (wheat, barley, corn, etc.) 1,877,616 74.49%
Oil-producing (oleaginous) plants 15,891 0.64%
Vegetables 32,942 1.31%
Other culinary plants 31,892 1.27%
Forage (animal feed) 440,859 17.49%
Vines 110,943 4.40%
Roses 5,094 0.20%
Orchards 5,163 0.20%
Total 2,520,401 hectares 100%
Summary and Significance
These statistics reveal the steady advancement of Bulgarian agriculture at the end of the 19th century. The reduction of fallow land and the increase in cultivated area show a transition from traditional methods to more intensive farming.
Cereal crops clearly dominated, representing nearly three-quarters of all cultivated land, but forage, vineyards, and rose cultivation also played a growing role. The expansion of productive land and better land use reflected rising agricultural knowledge, population growth, and improved rural organization, setting the foundation for Bulgaria’s future agricultural prosperity.