Tull, << tuhl, >> Jethro (1674-1741), an English farmer, built a mechanical farm tool for planting seeds in rows. In Tull’s day, farmers sowed seed by hand. In 1701, Tull developed a horse-drawn, mechanical seed drill, which made rows of small trenches in the soil and dropped seeds in them. Tull was not the first person to invent a seed drill. The seed drill dates back to ancient times. Seed drills did not become widely used in Europe until the late 1800’s, after further improvements in their design. However, Tull helped popularize mechanical seed drills, which became important farm tools.
Tull was born in Berkshire. He attended Oxford University and studied law at Gray’s Inn in London. He traveled widely in Europe to observe agricultural practices. Tull described and illustrated his seed drill in his book Horse-Hoeing Husbandry (1731). He died on Feb. 21, 1741.
