Grain Cradle

The Grain cradle or simply known to agriculturalists as a cradle was an incredibly important piece of farm equipment for its time. It was first invented in 1774 in Scotland, and it was described as a marvelous invention, and for its time it was. A grain cradle is a type of scythe. It is built by arranging a series of fingers attached to the handle to make a cradle so that when the grain is cut, it falls neatly in a row. This tool has been largely replaced by mechanical harvesters as they are no longer economically viable to use on a farm. However, it is an important piece of agricultural history and it makes a find artifact in any antique collection.