Thomas Hale (agriculturist) facts for kids
Thomas Hale was a British writer who lived in the 1700s. He was known for his books about farming, which was called "husbandry" back then. His most famous book was A Compleat Body of Husbandry, published around 1756.
About Thomas Hale
His Life and Main Book
Not much is known about Thomas Hale's life. Records from his time are scarce. He likely passed away around the year 1759.
His most important work was a large book called A Compleat Body of Husbandry. It was published in four parts between 1756 and 1758. This book was so popular that it was even translated into French! The French version was called Le gentilhomme cultivateur, which means "The Gentleman Farmer."
What People Thought of Him
Many people thought Thomas Hale was a very important expert in farming. A famous British book called The Complete Farmer listed him among the best agriculturists of his time. This book also mentioned other well-known experts like Carl Linnaeus, who created the system for naming plants, and Jethro Tull, who invented the seed drill.
Even George Washington, who became the first president of the United States, owned a copy of Thomas Hale's A Compleat Body of Husbandry. This shows how important and widely read Hale's work was.
His Books
Thomas Hale wrote several books about farming and gardening. Here are some of his notable works:
- A Compleat Body of Husbandry, published in four volumes between 1756 and 1758. You can find digital copies of these volumes online: Volume I, Volume II, Volume III, Volume IV.
- Eden: Or, a Compleat Body of Gardening. This book gave simple instructions for growing different plants in a garden. It was put together from Hale's notes by the same people who wrote A Compleat Body of Husbandry.
- A compleat body of husbandryers societies in Ireland, published in Dublin in 1757.
- A continuation of the compleat body of husbandry, published in 1759. This book gave more rules for farmers and country gentlemen to manage their land and crops.
