DOI article:
Gailey, Alan: Spade tillage in south-west Ulster and north Connacht
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.48998#0243
230
ALAN GAILEY
forward under the turf at a much shallower angle
(fig. 8). The forward and downward motion of the
body and arms is continued, the foot being remo-
ved from the footrest as it slides underneath the
turf, and at the farthest extension of the digging
action, the mouth of the blade cuts the forward
and free end of the turf (fig. 9). At this point, the
heel at the back of the shaft has come to rest on
the new cut surface underneath the turf. The loy
is then levered to the side, pivoting on the mouth
of the blade (fig. 10), to overturn the undercut
turf on the manure previously laid on the ground
surface alongside. Tn this overturning, the uncut
edge of the turf next to the manure serves as a
Fig. 5. Diagrammatic composite section across ridges showing how they are constructed, (a) Manure laid in
position; (b) turf “scored”, i.e. nicked; (c) rip and back sods overturned to sides; (d) completed ridge with a
turf from each furrow; (e) ridge with turves beaten down.
Graphisch dargestellter Schnitt durch Damme, der ihren Aufbau zeigt. (a) Diinger am rechten Platz; (b) “ge-
troffenes”, d.h. angestochenes Rasenstiick; (c) Einstich und hinterer Teil der Soden seitlich umgekippt; (d)
fertige Damme mit einem Rasenstiick aus jeder Furche; (e) Damm mit eingerammten Rasenstiicken.
sort of hinge, and it will be seen that in this over-
turning the turf is at no point lifted on the blade
of the loy; that is, the loy fulfills no ‘shovelling’
function. Each turf is two blades wide (fig. 8) and
is undercut first alongside the line of the scoring,
and then along the side of the ridge upon which
it will be overturned. When finally undercut the
turf is about 65 to 75 cm long, the precise length
being judged according to its cohesiveness which
may be affected by the soil type, the amount of
moisture contained in it and the nature of the
surface vegetation.
Having overturned the rip sod to his right, and
then the back sod to his left, Dolan beats the over-
Fig. 6. “Scoring”, i.e. nicking the turf between lines
of manure, using the loy held sideways, with the blade
entering the turf at a slight slant.
Ein “Treffer”, d.h. man sticht den Rasen zwischen
Reihen von Diinger an, wobei man den Spaten seit-
lich halt, so dass das Blatt ein wenig schrag in das
Rasenstiick eindringt.
ALAN GAILEY
forward under the turf at a much shallower angle
(fig. 8). The forward and downward motion of the
body and arms is continued, the foot being remo-
ved from the footrest as it slides underneath the
turf, and at the farthest extension of the digging
action, the mouth of the blade cuts the forward
and free end of the turf (fig. 9). At this point, the
heel at the back of the shaft has come to rest on
the new cut surface underneath the turf. The loy
is then levered to the side, pivoting on the mouth
of the blade (fig. 10), to overturn the undercut
turf on the manure previously laid on the ground
surface alongside. Tn this overturning, the uncut
edge of the turf next to the manure serves as a
Fig. 5. Diagrammatic composite section across ridges showing how they are constructed, (a) Manure laid in
position; (b) turf “scored”, i.e. nicked; (c) rip and back sods overturned to sides; (d) completed ridge with a
turf from each furrow; (e) ridge with turves beaten down.
Graphisch dargestellter Schnitt durch Damme, der ihren Aufbau zeigt. (a) Diinger am rechten Platz; (b) “ge-
troffenes”, d.h. angestochenes Rasenstiick; (c) Einstich und hinterer Teil der Soden seitlich umgekippt; (d)
fertige Damme mit einem Rasenstiick aus jeder Furche; (e) Damm mit eingerammten Rasenstiicken.
sort of hinge, and it will be seen that in this over-
turning the turf is at no point lifted on the blade
of the loy; that is, the loy fulfills no ‘shovelling’
function. Each turf is two blades wide (fig. 8) and
is undercut first alongside the line of the scoring,
and then along the side of the ridge upon which
it will be overturned. When finally undercut the
turf is about 65 to 75 cm long, the precise length
being judged according to its cohesiveness which
may be affected by the soil type, the amount of
moisture contained in it and the nature of the
surface vegetation.
Having overturned the rip sod to his right, and
then the back sod to his left, Dolan beats the over-
Fig. 6. “Scoring”, i.e. nicking the turf between lines
of manure, using the loy held sideways, with the blade
entering the turf at a slight slant.
Ein “Treffer”, d.h. man sticht den Rasen zwischen
Reihen von Diinger an, wobei man den Spaten seit-
lich halt, so dass das Blatt ein wenig schrag in das
Rasenstiick eindringt.