History Lesson 🌱 Stump-jump Plough

Stump-jump Plough

The stump-jump plough, also known as the "jumping plough" or "stumping plough," is a type of plough that was invented in the late 19th century to address the problem of ploughing land that was heavily forested and littered with tree stumps.

The traditional plough of the time was not able to handle these obstacles and would often become damaged or stuck. The stump-jump plough, on the other hand, was designed with a mechanism that allows it to "jump" over stumps, rocks, and other obstacles, minimizing damage to the plough and allowing for more efficient and effective ploughing.

The invention of the stump-jump plough is credited to a South Australian farmer named Richard Bowyer Smith. In 1876, Smith developed a prototype of the plough that featured a double-ended mouldboard plough with a unique mechanism that allowed the plough to lift up and over obstacles, before returning to the soil to continue ploughing. Smith built a prototype of the plough himself, and later established a company called R.B. Smith & Co. to manufacture and sell the plough.

The stump-jump plough quickly gained popularity in Australia, particularly in the heavily forested regions of South Australia and Victoria. It also saw use in other countries such as Canada and the United States, where it was used to clear land for agriculture and forestry.

After the success of the stump-jump plough, many other companies started manufacturing similar ploughs, including:

• J.W. Thompson & Co. which was established in 1878 in Adelaide, South Australia.

• D.H. Brown & Co. which was established in 1887 in Ballarat, Victoria.

• J.F. Caulton & Sons which was established in 1887 in Adelaide, South Australia.

These companies, along with others, manufactured and sold the stump-jump plough to farmers and other users in Australia and other countries. Today, with the advent of modern machinery the stump-jump plough is not manufactured anymore and it's not used as frequently as it used to be.

The plough played a critical role in the development of agriculture in heavily forested regions, as it allowed farmers to clear land and cultivate crops that were previously inaccessible. It also helped to spur economic development by making it possible to cultivate land that was previously unusable.

The number of acres that a stump-jump plough can plow per day would depend on several factors such as the size of the plough, the condition of the land, and the operator's skill level. However, it is important to note that the stump-jump plough was designed to clear land that was heavily forested and littered with tree stumps, so it may not plow as many acres per day as a traditional plough that is used on flat, clear land.

The stump-jump plough has undergone many changes and improvements over the years. Today, it is still used in farming operations, especially in forested regions, but it has been largely replaced by modern machinery such as bulldozers and excavators. However, it still remains an important piece of agricultural history and is a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of farmers.

The Gravel Road's takeaway: Agriculture producers are incredible innovators and inventors. Most inventions are born out of necessity - if you have a repeated problem, most likely other producers do as well. Build your solution share it with the world. Just don't forget to patent it first, so you can cash in...

Brought to you by:

Was this shared with you? Click 'Subscribe' to add a bit of daily history knowledge to your inbox.

What would you like to learn more about? Let us know: [email protected]