History of agriculture the New Leicester sheep. Machines were invented to improve the efficiency of various agricultural operation, such as Jethro Tull's seed drill of 1701 that mechanised seeding at the correct depth and spacing and Andrew Meikle's threshing machine of 1784. Ploughs were steadily improved, from Joseph Foljambe's Rotherham iron plough in 1730 to James Small's improved "Scots Plough" metal in 1763. In 1789 Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies was producing 86 plough models for different soils. Powered farm machinery began with Richard Trevithick's stationary steam engine, used to drive a threshing machine, in 1812. Mechanisation spread to other farm uses through the
Hugh Boscawen (1625–1701) died on 30 May 1701 at the age of 75. Hugh Boscawen (1625–1701) Hugh Boscawen (1625 – 30 May 1701) was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons on seven occasions between 1646 and 1701. Boscawen was the second son of Hugh Boscawen of Tregothnan, Cornwall by his wife Margaret Rolle, daughter of Robert Rolle (1560–1633) of Heanton Satchville, Petrockstowe, Devon. He was baptised on 21 August 1625. His brothers were Nicholas Boscawen, Charles Boscawen (1627–1689), and Edward Boscawen (1628–1685). He and his brothers Charles and Edward were MPs in Cornwall. His brother Edward was the father