 |
After the field was plowed,
the harrow was used to further prepare the seed bed. Harrowing was efficient
in preparing the soil for planting by breaking up clods of dirt, disengaging
roots and pulverizing the earth. The harrow was used to reduce the
furrows dug by the plow to a flat surface. The harrow pictured here is
a wooden rectangle frame linked together by iron hooks. The spikes or teeth
would make scratch marks in the soil.
The harrow was made by the carpenter and blacksmith
and varied in size. Some were up to six feet long and could cover a wider
range of soil. The harrow was drawn across the plowed acres by horse. Originally,
harrows were made of tree branches that were dragged across the field. |
