The Seed Drill

A seed drill is a farming machine that plants seeds in the ground in neat rows. Before the seed drill, farmers just threw seeds on the ground by hand. The seed drill helped farmers grow much more food.

Who Invented the Seed Drill?

The seed drill was invented by Jethro Tull in England in 1701. Before his invention, farmers scattered seeds by hand. Many seeds were wasted because birds ate them or they landed in bad spots.

Tull's seed drill dug small holes, dropped seeds in, and covered them with soil. This meant more seeds grew into plants. His invention was one of the most important in farming history.

Why the Seed Drill Matters

The seed drill changed farming forever. Seeds planted in rows were easier to water and weed. Fewer seeds were wasted, so farmers could grow much more food.

Today's seed drills are much bigger and faster. They are pulled behind tractors and can plant thousands of seeds per minute. The basic idea of planting seeds in rows is still the same as Tull's original design.

Fun Facts

• Before the seed drill, farmers lost up to 80 percent of their seeds to birds and bad soil.
• Jethro Tull named his seed drill after a type of musical instrument.
• Modern seed drills can plant 20 or more rows of seeds at the same time.

Did You Know?

The rock band Jethro Tull was named after the inventor of the seed drill.