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This is a dibble, which is a seeding tool used for sowing crop seeds before the general introduction of the seed drill. One person would walk backwards down the row with a dibbler in each hand 'dibbling' two rows at a time while another, frequently a woman or child, followed placing seeds in the holes. This came to the museum as part of the Sharp collection.

1 dibble: metal (iron); wood

The Sharp Collection of agricultural and dairying equipment was compiled by Reverend C. J. Sharp at Wonersh, Surrey. Reverend Sharp died in 1967 and the Museum acquired the Collection for £60 in 1968., MERL‘Handwritten Catalogue’ form - ‘DIBBLE // CULTIVATING Seeding // SHARP COLLECTION // iron [pencil drawing].’

Wood, Metal, iron