Drill scarifying was an important part of turnip culture in the days before weedkillers were available. Drill scarifiers were largely used for paring away the sides of drills to destroy weeks and bring the drills into the intending form, leaving less work for the hand-hoe.
Drill scarifiers were made by a number of implement and machine makers in Scotland. They included Alex Ballach & Sons, Alex Jack & Sons Ltd, A. & J. Main & Co. Ltd, Thomas Hunter & Sons. J. & R. Wallace, H. W. Mathers & Sons, John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Bon Accord Engineering Co Ltd, and Charles Weir.
In 1912 Alex Ballach manufactured a disc drill scarifier with patent compensating spring levers and patent toeing attachment for £10 10s. It also made a disc drill scarifier with patent compensating spring levers for £8 10s and a disc drill scarifier with patent compensating spring levers and side land arrangement for £8 15s. It also launched at the Highland Show of 1927 its “Universal” expanding disc drill scarifier.
The photographs of the Jack of Maybole scarifier were taken at the Ayr vintage machinery rally, 2015.
© 2016 Heather Holmes
