DOI article:
Bell, Jonathan: Harrows used in Ireland
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49001#0215
HARROWS
203
Fig. 8. Harrow with wooden tines found 65 cms deep in virgin bog in the townland of Killavoher,
Dunmore parish, Co. Galway. Length of bulls 110 cm, breadth of frame 90 cms. (National Museum of
Ireland, specimen F1962:128).
Egge mit hblzernen Zinken, gefunden 65 cm tief in einem unberiihrten Moor im Hiigelland von
Killavoher, Kirchspiel Dunmore, Grafschaft Galway. Lange der Balken 110 cm, Breite des Gestells 90
cm. (National Museum of Ireland, specimen F1962:128).
nineteenth century, in 1802 in county Mayo,
(McParlan 1802, 36-37) and county Cavan in
1835 (Binns 1837, 321). As late as 1949
Evans claimed that ‘the time is remembered
when the old “six bull” wooden harrow was
fitted with wooden tines or cows’ horns’
(Evans 1949, 91). The use of ‘bush harrows’,
apparently even more primitive implements,
also persisted for long periods. By 1853 bush
harrows were seen as a relic of past ‘rude’
farming practices (Sproule 1854, 210). An
Irish farming text of 1898, however, de-
scribes the use of a bush harrow for covering
seed without comment (Irish national
schools 1898, 306). For both spreading man-
ure and covering grass-seed, the light dense
coverage of the ground’s surface by a flat-
tened bush continued to be cheap and effi-
cient, even after ‘web’ or ‘chain-link’ harrows
became available in the mid-nineteenth cen-
tury. A foundry - made implement may be
no more efficient than a simple home made
device. The relationship between these diffe-
rent levels of technology depends on social
and economic conditions. It is only by tak-
ing these into account that the selection of
any implement from within the range avail-
able can be understood.
203
Fig. 8. Harrow with wooden tines found 65 cms deep in virgin bog in the townland of Killavoher,
Dunmore parish, Co. Galway. Length of bulls 110 cm, breadth of frame 90 cms. (National Museum of
Ireland, specimen F1962:128).
Egge mit hblzernen Zinken, gefunden 65 cm tief in einem unberiihrten Moor im Hiigelland von
Killavoher, Kirchspiel Dunmore, Grafschaft Galway. Lange der Balken 110 cm, Breite des Gestells 90
cm. (National Museum of Ireland, specimen F1962:128).
nineteenth century, in 1802 in county Mayo,
(McParlan 1802, 36-37) and county Cavan in
1835 (Binns 1837, 321). As late as 1949
Evans claimed that ‘the time is remembered
when the old “six bull” wooden harrow was
fitted with wooden tines or cows’ horns’
(Evans 1949, 91). The use of ‘bush harrows’,
apparently even more primitive implements,
also persisted for long periods. By 1853 bush
harrows were seen as a relic of past ‘rude’
farming practices (Sproule 1854, 210). An
Irish farming text of 1898, however, de-
scribes the use of a bush harrow for covering
seed without comment (Irish national
schools 1898, 306). For both spreading man-
ure and covering grass-seed, the light dense
coverage of the ground’s surface by a flat-
tened bush continued to be cheap and effi-
cient, even after ‘web’ or ‘chain-link’ harrows
became available in the mid-nineteenth cen-
tury. A foundry - made implement may be
no more efficient than a simple home made
device. The relationship between these diffe-
rent levels of technology depends on social
and economic conditions. It is only by tak-
ing these into account that the selection of
any implement from within the range avail-
able can be understood.