When I first began house-hunting in France, I was taken to see a hilltop property that on paper sounded ideal.
It was a U shaped, stone-built, property with the house in the middle and two huge long barns at right angles forming a perfect courtyard. The courtyard itself was closed by a wall, tall gateposts, and big wrought iron gates on the fourth side.
The property was a working farm, and also contained about a hectare of vines, along with all the equipment for wine making. Its elevated situation was ideal, but it lacked trees.
When we arrived to view the property, an elderly man, probably the grandfather, was scything the grass in the courtyard. He took long slow sweeps with his scythe and did as good a job as anyone would with a modern mower. It was a spectacular sight.
I've tried scything myself, and I can assure you it's not easy even with a well-honed scythe. This woman (below) shows what skill it takes. She makes it look so easy too.
p.s. I didn't buy the property because, at the time, it was all too much for me. I knew nothing of either farming or wine-making; but it was a lovely property. These days I might have said 'yes'.
The first garden mower was invented around 1830, so all properties were previously hand scythed (or Sheep cropped). The world's great houses such as Longleat, Hampton Court, or Versailles had their perfectly manicured lawns cut by hand. It must have been a full time job for several people.
I always remember Mr. Fuller scything. It was a more gentle movement.
ReplyDeleteFuller was the very first person I saw scything. I often think of both him and Mrs F.
DeleteIt must have taken a lot of practice to get that smooth wide swing that cuts and doesn't skim or tangle. And what strong arms.
ReplyDeleteLovely to watch the rhythm and result
I could spend a whole day watching her. Wonderful.
DeleteWow, and she has nothing on her feet, that’s brave
ReplyDeleteI hadn't noticed that. I hope she counts her toes after scything.
DeleteYou would have to be very fit ..... such a skill ..... just mowing the lawn takes it out of me now !!!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteIf done properly (as she does) it should be quite effortless. As for mowing, I let my mower, Rory, take the strain; I just sit and point him in the right direction.
DeleteThere is a lawnmower museum in Southport.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm not sure if I'd visit, but I do like the idea.
DeleteMy Grandfather was a farmer and he could scythe perfectly. To see him and three other men scythe a hay field was magical. That was in the early 1950s. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteIt's a wonderful skill to have, and scything a lawn, so it resembles a golfing green, is pure genius.
DeleteWhen my parents bought this house they also bought a field at the bottom of the garden to keep a large number of chickens, selling the surplus eggs. I was only three years old at the time. In later years I remember a big sythe like that leaning against the garden shed which my father must have used. My father also had two smaller hand ones which many years later both my husband and I used on occasions. My parents had a lawnmower for the lawns as do we, but after my father died my mother no longer kept chickens, and when I inherited the house my husband used a push mower for the field, later buying a ride on mower.
ReplyDeleteJean.
I have a couple of Scythes in France, but they don't sharpen too well. I end-up beating the life out of the grass rather than shaving the lawn. I love my ride-on (Rory) and would be lost without him.
DeleteThat woman is doing a grand job and she isn't even wearing steel toe capped boots! A better workout than a trip to the gym.
ReplyDeleteAnd then she had to go and cook a five course lunch for all the men who were watching her.
DeleteWell - they always say that they are good at multi-tasking!
DeleteScything looks like a real workout. I've never seen this tool in any garden shop. They are probably not made today.
ReplyDeleteThey are in France. You can buy new blades too.
DeleteSuch a pleasure to watch a skilled person doing scything, wonderful. It's something I've always fancied having a go at, unfortunately our lawn is so small that I'd only get one or two swings at it! We let our grass grow long in the summer, as a wildflower meadow then in August-ish I go out with a small grass hook and cut it down.
ReplyDeleteWe have a communal lawn, but there are gardeners who see to it. Otherwise I prune roses and trim unruly plants.
DeleteThere was a scythe in the barn on the farm I grew up on, I think I tried it once and made it about 5 swings and decided there had to be an easier way (there was a tractor and mower parked next to it.)
ReplyDeleteI'd chose the tractor too.
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