51/765

This is a kidney shaped wooden seedlip with a metal hook, used by Barney Mulford, a farmer and publican from East Hendred, Oxfordshire (formerly in Berkshire). It hung from the sower's neck by the cord as they walked across the field sowing seeds, and the wooden handle at the front was for holding the box in place. It was slung on the left side while they cast with their right hand and when they returned across the field, it was pushed to their right side while they sowed with their left.

1 seedlip: wood; metal

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'This seedlip was used by Barney Mulford of East Hendred (Berks) until the early 1930s. // It is a kidney shaped seedlip with a metal hook and loop at the back to which a cord is attached so that the sower can sling the seedlip from round his neck. The wood is reinforced in places with galvanised iron. The metal of the hook and loop extends a few inches on the inside of the seedlip and right down the outside and half way across the bottom. The metal is fastened on with rivets. There is a wooden handle at the front projecting 4.5 inches, by which the seedlip is held in place. // It is 26.5 inches long, 13 inches broad and 8.5 inches deep. // See also 51/157M.', MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 51/157 – 'The earliest method of sowing was to broadcast the seed from a basket and later a seedlip. This was slung from the neck and the sower walked across the field making a cast with each step. On his return he would push the seedlip round to the opposite side and sow with the other hand. The cast was always made inwards towards the body.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) - 'A list of the contents of East Hendred museum. July 5 1940 // Heating and Cooking // 220. A seedlip used by Barney Mulford until about the year 1934.', Lavinia Smith Catalogue (D60/28) [page 33] - 'No.220 // [pencil sketch] // Seedlip used by Barney Mulford till [sic] 1932'

Wood, Metal

Rippon, Miss Dorothy May Lyddon (Agent)