DMB Plough in Glenvicaskill, Skye
The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.
The rear end of a double mould board plough as it runs through the deep peat ground. The tractor Registration number VHM400M is stationary while the operator is outside standing on the track but unfortunately his face is well hidden.
This appears to be an early version of the deep peat double mould board plough heads with large packer boards held out by struts some of which have bent with the forces involved. It was always difficult to get a style of double furrow head that would work in all types of peat and ground conditions. Very often in firm peat the furrow on one side or other simply rolled away too far from the furrow edge and landed vegetation side up.
The compromise was a double furrow head which had a very steep furrow lift that deformed the ribbons of peat as they emerged from the ground splitting the solid mass a bit and spreading it alongside the channel with splits and tears which offered opportunities for planting trees without too much step cutting. In soft peat the furrows just flopped out with very little deformation and in very soft conditions hardly came out at all!
In an attempt to cut steps in the double furrow plough ribbons, at Lairg Workshop, pieces of worn dozer blade cutting edges were welded at right angles to the mould board and had the effect of slicing into ribbon as it passed up the mould board. It was only partially effective in some types of peat.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, George Dey Forestry Collection, Tractors Ploughs and Drainage Machines