in mechanics, a small instrument for making such holes as punchers will not conveniently serve for. Drills are of various sizes, and are chiefly used by smiths and turners.
Drill-Box, a name given to an instrument for sowing land in the new method of horse-hoeing husbandry. See Agriculture.
Drill-Sowing, a method of sowing grain or seed of any kind, so that it may all be at a proper depth in the earth, which is necessary to its producing healthful and vigorous plants. For this purpose a variety of drill-ploughs have been invented and recommended; but from the expense attending the purchase, and the extreme complication of their structure, there is not an instrument of that kind, as yet discovered, that is likely to be brought into general use. This method, however, is greatly recommended in the Geographical Essays, where we have the following observations and experiments.—" Grain sown by the hand, and covered by the harrows, is placed at unequal depths; the seeds consequently sprout at different times, and produce an unequal crop. When barley is sown late, and a drought succeeds, the grain that was buried in the moisture of the earth soon appears, while such as was left near the surface lies baking in the heat of the sun, and does not vegetate till plentiful rains have moistened the soil. Hence an inequality of the crop, an accident to which barley is particularly liable. The same observation, but in a more striking manner, may be made upon the sowing of turnips. It frequently happens that the husbandman is obliged to sow his seed in very dry weather, in hopes that rain will soon follow; and either rolls or covers it with a bulk-harrow. We will suppose, that, contrary to his expectations, the dry weather continues. The seed, being near the surface, cannot sprout without rain. The husbandman is mortified at his disappointment, but is soon satisfied and made easy by a perfect acquiescence in what he thinks is the will of Providence. The scourge that he feels must not be placed to the dispensation of Providence, but has its source in the ignorance of the man himself. Had he judiciously buried the seed in the moist part of the soil with the drill plough, or harrowed it well with the common harrow, his seed would have vegetated in due season, and bountifully repaid him for his toil.
"In the year 1769, a 15 acre close was prepared for turnips. The land was in fine condition as to lightness, and had been well manured. On the 24th of June, 14 acres were sown with turnip seed broad-cast, and harrowed in with a bulk-harrow. The remaining acre was sowed the same day with the drill-plough, allowing 14 inches between the rows, and the shares being set near two inches deep. At the time of sowing, the land was extremely dry, and the drought continued from the time of sowing to the 5th of July; so that the broad-cast did not make its appearance till about the 8th of that month, at which time the drill turnips were in rough leaf, having appeared upon the surface the sixth day after sowing.
"In the driest seasons, at the depth of two inches or less, we are sure of finding a sufficiency of moisture to make the seed germinate. When that is once accomplished, a small degree of moisture will carry on the work of vegetation, and bring the tender plants forward to the surface. When extreme dry weather obliges the broad-cast farmer to sow late, he has no opportunity of sowing a second time if the fly should get into the field. The drill secures him in some degree against that misfortune, by giving him a full command over the seasons.
"The excellence of the drill-plough is not confined to turnip-feed; it is an useful instrument for sowing all kinds..." kinds of grain. By burying the seeds at an equal depth, it secures an equal crop in all circumstances of the weather. But this is not the only consideration to the cultivator. It saves near one half of his seed, which is an object of importance to the tillage farmer.
"In the spring of the year 1769, an acre of barley was sowed in equidistant rows with the drill-plough, in a field which was sown with the same grain and upon the same day broad-cast. The broad-cast took three bushels per acre; the drill required only six pecks. The drills were eight inches a-furrow, and the seed was lodged about two inches within the soil. The drill acre was finished within the hour, and the most distinguishing eye could not discover a single grain upon the surface.
"In the course of growing, the drill barley seemed greener and bore a broader leaf than the broad-cast. When the ears were formed throughout the field, the ear of the drill barley was plainly distinguished to be near half an inch longer than the broad-cast, and the grains seemed fuller and better fed.
"Drill-sowing, however, though it may be recommended as a most rational and judicious practice, has many difficulties to overcome, and perhaps will never be brought into general use. A proper instrument is wanting that would come cheap to the farmer, and have the requisites of strength and simplicity to recommend it. The present instruments cannot by any means be put into the hands of common servants. Should we ever be so happy as to see this objection removed, it is probable that all kinds of grain will be cultivated in drills. Corn growing in that manner has a freer enjoyment of air, and the farmer has an opportunity of hand-hoeing and weeding without injury to the growing crop. This is an object of the utmost consequence in the cultivation of beans and winter corn.
"The best instrument for drilling of grain is the invention of the ingenious Mr Craick, and made by Mr Crichton coach-maker in Edinburgh. It works with four coulters, and the price is £2l. With it, one man, a horse, and a boy, can easily sow four acres a-day."
DRILLING is popularly used for exercising soldiers. The word is derived from the French "drille," which signifies a raw soldier.