If I understand the ongoing debate between Jim and Steve, the issue is what proportion of the "folk repertoire" originated in the countryside and what proportion originated among ballad printers in the city.

Traditional songs originated in both places.

However, the question of *proportions* and ultimate inspiration (not to mention relative quality) is unanswerable by its very nature. Theoretically any broadside could have come from the country, and any rural song could have come from a ballad sheet, known or otherwise.