A scythe is a tool for cutting long grass. It has a long wooden handle which is held in both hands and a curved blade which is held parallel to the ground. The crofter swings the scythe rhythmically back and fore cutting strips of grass or corn no more than a few inches wide at a time. Scything was back-breaking work, as much of the work on the croft was.
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Questions
- How would the use of the scythe rather than machinery help to conserve ground-nesting birds like the concrake?