HMF Museum--Haying Tools

Haying Tools

These tools were all used for farming hay fields. The sharp, curved blades of both the scythe and sickle were helpful for cutting down grain or grasses, which were often used to make hay. Hay is the main food for grazing animals like cattle, horses, and sheep, all of which were raised in this area. During winters especially, hay — which grows well on the cool, damp hillsides of the Berkshires — was the primary fodder for all livestock raised in Williamstown.

Sickle and Scythe

Scythe
            Sickle

Used to harvest similar types of crops, the main difference between sickles and scythes is their size. Sickles were held with one hand close to the ground, allowing the sharp inside of the blade to both catch and slice the stems of crops. ​The scythe’s long shaft, on the other hand, was held while standing up. Grasping the handles, the mower holds the blade parallel to the ground and twists their body left to right to cut the grass. Sickles were held with one hand close to the ground, allowing the sharp inside of the blade to both catch and slice the stem of crops.

Grain Cradle

The grain cradle is a modified version of the standard scythe. The grain cradle has additional fingers that are attached to the snath of the scythe (the cradle scythe depicted here originally had 5 fingers, and 3 remain). These fingers catch the cut grain,  allowing the mower to collect and deposit the cut grain without stooping, and to keep the grain properly aligned for more efficient threshing (loosening the edible part of the grain from the straw).

Three-Tined Hay Fork

​After cutting with a scythe or sickle, a two or three-pronged hay-fork, such as the one pictured on the left, helped move grasses into piles for drying. Afterwards, the dried, cured hay would be gathered up and placed in storage to protect it from moisture and rot. ​

 

Large Haying Rake

​Though very large, this hay rake is still light because it is entirely made of wood. This rake also functioned to gather cured hay.