Everything you always wanted to know about ...

Information about Harrow

In agriculture, a harrow is an implement for turning over the soil in order
to increase the air content.

The following text is taken from the Household Cyclopedia of 1881:
[Disk Harrow]

     "When employed to reduce a strong obdurate soil, not more than two
     harrows should be yoked together, because they are apt to ride and
     tumble upon each other, and thus impede the work, and execute it
     imperfectly. On rough soils, harrows ought to be driven as fast as the
     horses can walk; because their effect is in the direct proportion to
     the degree of velocity with which they are driven. In ordinary cases,
     and in every case where harrowing is meant for covering the seed, three
     harrows are the best yoke, because they fill up the ground more
     effectually and leave fewer vacancies, than when a smaller number is
     employed. The harrowman's attention, at the seed process, should be
     constantly directed to prevent these implements from riding upon each
     other, and to keep them clear of every impediment from stones, lumps of
     earth, or clods, and quickens or grass roots; for any of these prevents
     the implement from working with perfection, and causes a mark or trail
     upon the surface, always unpleasing to the eye, and generally
     detrimental to the vegetation of the seed. Harrowing is usually given
     in different directions, first in length, then across, and finally in
     length as at first. Careful husbandmen study, in the finishing part of
     the process, to have the harrows drawn in a straight line, without
     suffering the horses to go in a zigzag manner, and are also attentive
     that the horses enter fairly upon the ridge, without making a curve at
     the outset. In some instances, an excess of harrowing has been found
     very prejudicial to the succeeding crop; but it is always necessary to
     give so much as to break the furrow, and level the surface, otherwise
     the operation is imperfectly performed."

How to - History - Companies - Internet - Nintendo - List of Phobias - September 11, 2001 - Timelines - Chemistry - Genealogy - Family - Film - SARS - Cancer - Medicine - DVD - Calendar - Disease - Health Science - Dentistry - Economics - AIDS - Law - Autism - Statistics

Premier Shopping Sites:
apparel baby books music computer dvd camera software games sports baseball basketball fitness football golf hockey soccer tennis