I never realized how scientific Thomas Jefferson really was. After reading the material this week, I have come to appreciate Jefferson's attention to detail and precision. Being from a farm, I found it especially interesting that Jefferson experimented crop rotation. As any farmer knows, crop rotation is a practice that should be implemented on most farms. Planting different crops each year on the same field helps combat problems like erosion and lack of nitrogenous soil. Not only did he implement crop rotation at Monticello, but he documented his crop rotation scheme. I applaud Thomas Jefferson for practicing the trend of crop rotation: his concern of knowledge and science is evident.
Not only was Jefferson interested in science and agriculture, but his hunger for books and writing is also evident. Two fascinating contraptions come to my mind when I think about Jefferson's love of reading and writing. The first is his five-sided, walnut bookstand. This bookstand, which is thought to be an invention of Jefferson's, reveals Jefferson's true passion for reading. The functionality of the bookstand should also be noted--I wish I had one! The second object Jefferson often used was his coping machine. The machine, created by John Hawkins, was used by Jefferson when writing letters and other important documents. By using Hawkins machine, Jefferson was able to keep copies of his writings; a sign that Jefferson cared about the information he was sending and writing.
In brief, Jefferson's passion of crop rotation, reading, and documentation can be seen throughout his many books, inventions, and machines.
Jefferson's Crop Rotation Documentation
Jefferson's 5-Sided Bookstand
Jefferson's Copy Machine
