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Seed lip basket made of wheaten straw bound by split bramble, with a leather strap to fit over the shoulder, about 1900-1920.

Until the 18th century when machines for sowing seed across a field in straight rows were developed, the common method of sowing seed was to broadcast it by hand. A sower walked behind the plough carrying the seed in an apron or a container called a Seedlip. These generally contained between 4 and 6 gallons of seed corn (1/2 to ¾ of a bushel). They were hung on the sower’s left side by neck or should straps and supported by whichever hand was not sowing. It was skillfully controlled work and an experienced seedsman would sow around 1 ½ acres in an hour or about 10 acres in an ordinary day.