2o6 WESTMORLAND AGRICULTURE, 1800— 1900 



Steam thrashing machines were introduced about i860, and one 

 belonging to J. Wakefield thrashed four large stacks at Levens in 

 six hours, yielding no bags of oats and barley in March 1862. William- 

 son Bros., of Kendal, were at this time travelling from farm to farm 

 with one of their own make ; they had obtained a first prize for one 

 of their machines at the Highland and Agricultural Societies Show 

 at Aberdeen in 1858. 



In 1867 Messrs. Nicholson, of Kirkby Thore, were using a steam 

 8-horse power 3-furrow plough, which could also be used with a 

 cultivator and drag harrow and used for thrashing. The Border 

 Counties Steam Cultivation Company's ploughs were hired and used 

 on some of the larger farms in the Bottom of Westmorland in the 

 early seventies, but steam ploughing did not persist for very long. 



About 1870 double-furrow ploughing became popular, and prizes 

 were offered for competitions at Kirkby Thore and Levens. 



Single horse carts are still used on all farms, fitted with moveable 

 shelvings when used for loading hay or grain. 



Labour-saving machinery now in use in addition to binding 

 and reaping machines and double and single horse mowing machines, 

 consist of swath turners, hay scalers and rakes drawn by single horses, 

 turnip and other seed drills, turnip slicers and pulpers, and chaff 

 cutters of every description. 



