IMPLEMENTS AND HOW TO USE THEM 33 



Many smallholders may have noticed that the 

 average big farmer has at least three different types of 

 harrows, a heavy drag harrow, a medium, and a 

 light or finishing harrow. All these types were essential 

 before the advent of the spring-tine ; but in such an 

 implement we have a harrow which will work deep or 

 shallow, heavy or light, at the will of the operator. In 

 fact, the implement will turn up the land deep enough 

 to be called a cultivator and run light enough for 

 harrowing moss-grown pastures. 



THE SPRING-TINED HARROW AND HOW TO USE IT 



The spring-tined harrow consists of a rectangular 

 angle-iron framework, with three round cross-bars 

 running from one side to the other. On these bars, the 

 tines, teeth, or pegs, as they are variously termed, are 

 fitted. The tines instead of being straight, as in the 

 case of an ordinary harrow, are made elliptical, or in 

 plainer language, are shaped like the figure 9. They are 

 made of steel and from their shape are " springy." 



The harrow is fitted with a lever and the further this 

 is pulled back the deeper the tines enter the surface, 

 and the deeper the work is done. On the other hand, 

 when the lever is pushed forward the draught and 

 the depth of the harrow are reduced. 



In either covering in seed, or in harrowing down 

 ploughed land, the tines in the first operation are put 

 fairly deep, and in every subsequent harrowing the 

 depth of the tines is reduced. In the final harrowing, 

 the tines may only be an inch or less deep in the soil. 



For this final refining of the seed-bed {'' tickling " is 

 the very appropriate name Irish farmers have for it), 

 it is also a good idea so to hitch the harrow that it runs 

 *' slant-dicular " or diagonally. 



In buying a harrow for a two-horse team, an eleven- 

 tined implement about 3 ft. 9 in. or 4 ft. wide is 

 Q 



