Ah, so in that case the information about seed drills makes perfect sense! "Stich" is a German word (so presumably the same Anglo-Saxon origin as stitch) meaning either stitch or prick with a thin sharp instrument like a needle. So the stich harrow did the depositing of the seed via some sharp protrusion as well as harrowing afterwards? Certainly a labour saving device. And I always thought Jethro Tull was a rock band... Thanks for the detailed explanation! Petra -----Original Message----- From: eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of John Family History via Sent: 14 November 2015 20:55 To: 'Petra Mitchinson' <petra.mitchinson@doctors.org.uk>; eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] FW: Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) Petra I missed the original exchange. Stitching is the term used to describe putting the seed into the ground. This will be done by a seed drill which will make a small furrow and deposit the seed then discs will fold the tops down to bury the seed, the harrow will then rake it over to bury and level the surface. A stitch harrow is a combo device that does it all in one go. There is not a lot of difference if any between a stitch harrow and a seed drill which was invented by Jethro Tull in about 1701 ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/tull_jethro.shtml ) Stitch is probably used from early days when seeds were put in the ground by poking a hole with a stick as it is old English for prick or puncture. John -----Original Message----- From: eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Petra Mitchinson via Sent: 14 November 2015 20:26 To: eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] FW: Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) Okay, so why are we being regaled with information about seed drills then (interesting as it is) when the original query was what a stich harrow is? I haven't yet seen a clear explanation what exactly a stich harrow is. -----Original Message----- From: eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of John Family History via Sent: 14 November 2015 20:17 To: 'Petra Mitchinson' <petra.mitchinson@doctors.org.uk>; eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] FW: Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) Petra A harrow is a rake, to level and break up the earth after ploughing and before seeding. Seed drill plants the seeds at regular distances and covers them up. John -----Original Message----- From: eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Petra Mitchinson via Sent: 14 November 2015 19:49 To: eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] FW: Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) So is a stich harrow the same as a seed drill then? Or am I getting confused? Petra (city born and bred) -----Original Message----- From: eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-westmorland-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Terry Alderson via Sent: 14 November 2015 19:34 To: eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] FW: Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) https://www.google.ca/search?q=massey+harris+seed+drill&hl=en-CA&biw=1226&bi h=550&site=webhp&tbm=isch&imgil=urIjWu6vNzFBdM%253A%253B xGKTDYoZvl1iKM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Ftractors.wikia.com%25252Fwiki%25 252FSeed_drill&source=iu&pf=m&fir=urIjWu6vNzFBdM%253A%25 2CxGKTDYoZvl1iKM%252C_&usg=__IhROjxwQiXG1OhzR5_EFMwWnNi4%3D&ved=0CCQQyjdqFQo TCNHeronSkMkCFQWrHgodTkgOJw&ei=gYpHVpGaE4XWes6QubgC#imgd ii=k29tN20Eqt84gM%3A%3Bk29tN20Eqt84gM%3A%3BHzoNXgNBKGc4QM%3A&imgrc=k29tN20Eq t84gM%3A&usg=__IhROjxwQiXG1OhzR5_EFMwWnNi4%3D I think the attached photos might help in explaining how the "seed Drill '' works Terry A. To: eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com Subject: FW: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts (1) Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2015 01:06:58 -0500 https://books.google.ca/books?id=tqNXAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA142&lpg=PA142&dq=Definiti on+of+a+Stitch+Harrow+used+by+farmers&source=bl&ots=I6bd oOrzDt&sig=fFAZel40tFWF0GF6YH4t85an1Y8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CDcQ6AEwBWoVChMI-N2h1 JOKyQIVg3g-Ch1HcQsu#v=onepage&q=Definition%20of%20a%20St itch%20Harrow%20used%20by%20farmers&f=false Eddie/ Susan. When I worked at Massey Harris in Stretford Lancs in 1949, part of my job was to install flexible aluminum tubes in every seed drill, the number used depended on the width of the drill . It directed the seed along with a mixture of dry fertilizer in to the bottom of the valley created by the normal Harrow. After doing this, the soil covered the seed/fertil1zer which helped the seed germinate. Without this procedure, the valley would soon carry any heavy rainfall and wash out the two products. Hope this helps. Terry Alderson, Toronto > To: susan@kennis.co.nz; eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com > Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2015 16:02:46 +1300 > Subject: Re: [ENG-WESTMORLAND] Carlisle Patriot, 24 Oct 1818 - Adverts > (1) > From: eng-westmorland@rootsweb.com > > Mentioned in here: > http://www.grasslandseeds.co.uk/pages/stiching_in.php > > > Hi, > > Love reading these Farm adverts. > Intrigued by the list of farm implements for sale, but particularly "Stich Harrows". > Now I know what harrows are, and I've checked Wikipedia > [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrow_%28tool%29] just in case it mentioned "Stich Harrows" under "obsolete" farm machinery, but haven't found it ... > > So, can anyone tell me what "Stich Harrows" are? Is "Stich" a manufacturers' name or brand name?