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Jethro Tull

Jethro Tull (1674 – 21 February 1741), was an English agricultural pioneer during the Industrial Revolution and the Agricultural Revolution.

Tull was born in Basildon, Berkshire to Diana Buckridge and Jethro Tull.^[1] He was educated at St John's College, Oxford and Gray's Inn at the age of 17. Influenced by the early Age of Enlightenment, he is considered to be one of the early proponents of a scientific (and especially empirical) approach to agriculture. He helped transform agricultural practices by inventing or improving numerous implements, the most notable being the seed drill, which he invented in 1701 while living in Crowmarsh Gifford.

Previously, he became sick with senioritus disorder, and as he went in a search for a cure he traveled Europe seeking more knowledge of agriculture. He came back with improved health. Before the seed drill was introduced, seeds were sown simply by being cast upon the ground, to germinate (or fail to germinate) where they landed. The seed drill significantly improved this process, by creating a hole of specific depth, dropping in a seed, and covering it over, three rows at a time. The result was an increased rate of germination, and a much-improved crop yield (up to eight times[1]).

Tull also advocated the use of horses over oxen, invented a horse-drawn hoe for clearing weeds, and made changes to the design of the plough which are still visible in modern versions. His interest in ploughing derived from his interest in weed control, and his belief that fertilizing was unnecessary, on the basis that nutrients locked up in soil could be released through pulverization. Although he was incorrect in his belief that plants obtained nourishment exclusively from such nutrients, he was aware that horse manure carried weed seeds, and hoped to avoid using it as fertilizer by pulverizing the soil to enhance the availability of plant nutrients.

Tull's inventions were sometimes considered controversial and were not widely adopted for many years. However, on the whole he introduced innovations which contributed to the foundation of productive modern agriculture.

Tull published his famous book, The New Horse-Houghing Husbandry, c.1731, with the sub-title "an Essay on the Principles of Tillage and Nutrition"

Tull died in Shalbourne, Berkshire, and is buried in the churchyard of St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Basildon, Berkshire.

• Agricultural science
• British Agricultural Revolution
• Tillage

• Royal Berkshire History: Jethro Tull
• BBC History: Jethro Tull (1674–1741)