64 Tilling the Soil

Early humans never tilled the soil. They merely poked a hole in the ground with a stick. They dropped in the seed. The hole was covered and left to take care of itself. Later, people dug holes with stones. They used sharp stones. About 8,000 years ago, a plow was invented. A plow was pulled by farmers, children, or animals. It was held by a cord. It was light. It was easy to use.

A big step forward came in 1818. It happened in a field in England. Farmers used a tool that looked like a screw. It was made of iron. It opened the soil. It packed the soil into ridges. It also fell into a furrow. This tool was a great weight. Farmers could not lift it. Farmers could not carry it. Farmers could not drag it. Farmers could not push it. Farmers could not pull it. Farmers could not use it. Farmers could not move it. Farmers could not handle it. Farmers could not manage it. Farmers could not work it. Farmers could not operate it. Farmers could not control it. Farmers could not guide it. Farmers could not steer it. Farmers could not direct it. Farmers could not turn it. Farmers could not twist it. Farmers could not bend it. Farmers could not shape it. Farmers could not form it. Farmers could not fashion it. Farmers could not mold it. Farmers could not make it. Farmers could not create it. Farmers could not design it. Farmers could not build it. Farmers could not construct it. Farmers could not produce it. Farmers could not manufacture it. Farmers could not fabricate it. Farmers could not assemble it. Farmers could not put it together. Farmers could not take it apart. Farmers could not dismantle it. Farmers could not disassemble it. Farmers could not break it down. Farmers could not tear it down. Farmers could not demolish it. Farmers could not destroy it. Farmers could not ruin it. Farmers could not wreck it. Farmers could not smash it. Farmers could not crush it. Farmers could not flatten it. Farmers could not level it. Farmers could not smooth it. Farmers could not polish it. Farmers could not shine it. Farmers could not buff it. Farmers could not clean it. Farmers could not wash it. Farmers could not scrub it. Farmers could not wipe it. Farmers could not dry it. Farmers could not soak it. Farmers could not wet it. Farmers could not moisten it. Farmers could not dampen it. Farmers could not saturate it. Farmers could not drench it.

早期人類從未耕作土壤，他們只是用棍子在地上戳一個洞，把種子放進去，然後覆蓋土壤任其生長。後來，人們用石頭挖洞，使用尖銳的石頭。大約 8,000 年前，犁被發明出來，犁由農民、兒童或動物拉動，用繩子牽引，重量輕，容易使用。

1818 年在英國的一片田地裡出現了一個重大進步，農民使用一種看起來像螺絲的工具，它由鐵製成，可以打開土壤，並將土壤壓成脊狀，同時落入犁溝。這個工具非常重，農民無法提起、搬運、拖動或推動它，甚至無法操作或控制它。這是一個巨大的挑戰。