Jethro Tull and the Invention of the Seed Drill

A farmer, writer, and inventor, Jethro Tull was an instrumental figure in English agriculture, pushing to improve age-old agrarian practices by applying science and technology.   Early Life Born in 1674 to well-to-do parents, Tull grew up on the family’s Oxfordshire estate. After withdrawing from St. John’s College in Oxford, he moved to London, where he studied the pipe organ before becoming a law student. In 1699, Tull qualified as a barrister, toured Europe, and got married.  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Relocating with his bride to the family farm, Tull eschewed law to work the land. Inspired by agrarian practices he saw in Europe — including pulverized soil around evenly spaced plants — Tull was determined to experiment at home.   The Seed Drill Jethro Tull invented the seed drill in 1701 as a way to plant more efficiently. Prior to his invention, sowing seeds was done by hand, by scattering them on the ground or placing them in the ground individually, such as with bean and pea seeds. Tull considered scattering wasteful because many seeds did not take root. His finished seed drill included a hopper to store the seed, a cylinder to move it, and a funnel to direct it. A plow at the front created the row, and a harrow at the back covered the seed with soil. It was the first agricultural machine with moving parts. It started as a one-man, one-row device, but later designs sowed seeds in three uniform rows, had wheels and were drawn by horses. Using wider spacing than previous practices allowed horses to draw the equipment and not step on the plants. Other Inventions Tull went on to make more â€Å"groundbreaking† inventions, literally. His horse-drawn hoe or hoe-plow dug up the soil, loosening it for planting while also pulling up unwanted weed roots. He mistakenly thought that the soil itself was the food for plants and that breaking it up allowed the plants to take it in better. The real reason that you loosen soil for planting is that the act allows more moisture and air to reach plant roots. Coinciding with his theory on the way plants fed, he also believed that you should till the soil while the plant is growing, not just during planting. His idea that plants grow better with tilled soil around them, though, is correct if not his theory on why. Tilling around plants reduces weeds competing with the crops, allowing the desired plants to grow better. Tull also improved designs of the plow.   These inventions were put to the test, and Tull’s farm thrived. Even spacing; less seed waste; better aeration per plant; and less weed growth all increased his yields. In 1731, the inventor and farmer published The New Horse Houghing Husbandry: Or, an Essay on the Principles of Tillage and Vegetation. His book was met with opposition in some quarters — especially his mistaken idea that manure didnt help plants — but eventually, his mechanical ideas and practices couldnt be denied to be useful and work well. Farming, thanks to Tull, had become a bit more rooted in science.

Essay On Italian Industry - 1087 Words

In 2016, Italy’s top ten major imports were vehicles, mineral fuels (including oil), machinery, electronic equipment, pharmaceuticals, plastics, iron and steel, organic chemicals, and medical and technical equipment. Italy imports products such as oil because the country has few oil deposits. The country also lacks in minerals and metals and it is required to import these products in order to manufacture goods. Italy has an advantage of a highly skilled workforce, but without natural resources, importing such products places a heavy role. Spain, Netherlands, France, China, and Germany are all countries that Italy imports from. Italy ranks at ninth place for biggest exporters in Europe. With its unique brands such as Versace, Italy has a†¦show more content†¦In the fashion industry, Italy has Gucci, Prada, Giorgio Armani, and Versace to name a few. For food and beverage industries, Italy has very popular brand names, including Parmalat, which manufactures dairy product s, Barilla, which manufactures pasta and sauces, Martini and Rossi, which produces alcoholic beverages, and Illy, which specializes in coffee and coffee products. As for Italy’s physical and financial infrastructure, the country is modern and efficient in the regard, however it lacks in performance compared to other Western European counters that are similar in size. The Italian peninsula is connected by substantial railway systems, expressways, national roads, airports, and seaports. A large portion of Italy’s infrastructure has to be rebuilt after the damages ensued by World War II and is constantly being improved and kept up with. Italy has numerous international airports, with Alitalia being its national carrier. Alitalia has a fleet of 166 planes that are able to transport 25 million passengers per year, as connect Italy to 60 other countries. In total, there are 136 airports, with the main ones located in Rome, Milan, Trieste, Turin, and Venice. As for seaports in Italy, they used to be a main element for transportation, including handling cargo, but usage has declined due to competition of other means of transportation. The Italian merchant fleet has over 2,000 ships and 1,500 miles of waterways forShow MoreRelatedHow Did World War One Change American Society? Essay1601 Words   |  7 Pagesone. By doing this America played a grave role in conquering Germany and ushering peace to Europe. However, the Great War also meant that the US would change dramatically through historical issues and changes which resulted in American society. Industries had started to realise that it was not as simple as it was before to abstract the immigrants. As the country developed and became more successful it attracted outsiders who were searching for chances. 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Influences of Eastern Religions in My Life Free Essays

Influences of Eastern Religions In My Life The two readings that have impacted, influenced, and challenged my view of religion are the Bhagavad Gita (BG) and the basic writings of Zhuangzi. I have chosen these readings because of their influence and insight they have unveiled to me in my present station of life. In particularly, from the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna’s teaching in chapter 2 â€Å"The Path of Reality,† and from Zhuangzi; his perspectives from his writings in section 3 â€Å"The Secret of Caring for Life† and section 18 â€Å"Supreme Happiness. We will write a custom essay sample on Influences of Eastern Religions in My Life or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both have spoken to me from a different context, within a different set of parameters than that of my own faith and practice; bringing me to a fresh and profound understanding of some of my own enduring dilemmas within my own religious tradition. I currently consider myself a Mormon (Latter-day Saint) and have been for the last 13 years. Up until this REL 101 class I was not familiar with these eastern religious traditions and perspectives. The Path of Reality, as titled for chapter 2 in the (BG), has opened my eyes to its valuable lesson, which I am thankful for its influence. The concept of non-attachment is prevalent here in this chapter. Non-attachment means to live life like a lotus leaf, without being touched by it or polluted by it. It is living free from the encumbrances of life and the attractions and distractions it has to offer, not passively by running away from them, but actively by developing equanimity (yoga) and Self(atman)-awareness (Ch. v. 30-48). According to the (BG) contact with sense objects results in attachment (Ch. 2 v. 58). In the following versus it expounds this thought: When we do not have the right discrimination we lose the ability to choose wisely, which results in the consequences of karma that binds us to this world and samsara. Though I have not embraced every facet of Hinduism, the powerful language found in the (BG) has strengthened me to tackle present-day ongoing trials in my own l ife with new vigor and enthusiasm. What I would just simply categorize as sin or an evil deed from the presets of my own religious tradition, I have found new terminology and explanation for my behavior that has been empowering and invigorated my ambition to overcome this adversity I have been facing in my life. The other reading that has had a positive impact on me is the basic writings of Zhuangzi. Section 3 â€Å"The Secret of Caring for Life. † Here, Zhuangzi conveys a story about Cook Ding, the butcher, which draws a more favorable portrait of specialization (Zhuangzi, p. 45-46). His example is consistent with Aristotle’s observation that human life offers no more of a fulfilling activity than the exercise of some acquired skill. Highly honed skills invite paradoxical, almost mystical, description. In performance we seem to experience a unity of actor and action. Such practice is a way of losing oneself as one might in contemplation or in a trance. Zhuangzi considers Cook Ding possessing remarkable skill, almost effortlessly, because this skill in action is done concurrently while being one with the Dao (p. 45-46). The accuracy of our own actions sometimes mystifies us. We do not understand how we did it; we certainly cannot explain it to others. I found this story intriguing because I am one who values self-mastery. As an ex-collegiate athlete I can relate to Cook Ding, but would rather call it â€Å"being in the zone. † Although I am not a follower of Daoism there are many things I find appealing in this tradition; this mystical story being one of them. The other section from Zhuangzi â€Å"Supreme Happiness† has aided the recent loss of my great grandmother â€Å"Grandma Bea. My great grandma was a pillar of faith in my life and a great exemplar in many arenas of life. At times, naturally, I found myself grieving over her loss. Reading this section I felt that it gave me fresh insight to coping with this loss. At first, I found myself more like Huizi, rather than Zhaungzi. As pondered this for the past couple weeks my grief has subsided. When Zhuangzi’s wife died and he beat on a drum instead of mourning for her, he answered his Huizi by explaining that perhaps his wife had evolved into a happier existence than that which she had enjoyed while in human form. It was not wrong to have loved her and to miss her, but it was wrong to mourn her change from one form to another (Zhuangzi, 115). Zhuangzi’s parables point out that one cannot be certain what is best for other people and that one should therefore avoid imposing tentative and uncertain values on others. He also enlightens the reader about the realities of death and the clarity that comes from having a higher knowledge which gives greater understanding and ability to cope with death. He states, â€Å"If I were to follow after her awling and sobbing, it would show that I don’t understand anything about fate. So I stopped (115). Thus, death is simply a phase in the turning of the wheel of fortune that is the Dao. The turning of the wheel voids the identity and disintegrates the material body of the dead person. From the standpoint of the Dao, however, no state of being is more desirable than another. As a natural event in the cycle of human life, death is neither to be fe ared nor to be sorrowed over. This perspective has given me new insight and ability to cope with my recent loss. 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