What is a seed drill?

A seed drill is a machine that deposits seeds in a uniform manner and immediately covers them with soil. Prior to the invention of the seed drill, farm workers carried bags of seeds and planted them manually. Using a seed drill greatly increases the yield of the harvest.

Jethro Tull invented a horse-drawn, mechanical seed drill in 1701. It was considered a major development in the agricultural revolution. The seed drill provides precise control over the depth at which the seeds are planted and helps the plants germinate more evenly. Seeds are planted deep enough so that birds and animals will not eat them.