Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.1991, Page 148

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FAROESE SPADE-CULTIVATION
household for cultivation were small enough
to be allow tilling by hand.
In spite of a fairly clear functional similar-
ity between reinavelta and ridge field cultiva-
tion, their genetic histories most certainly
differ. Technically, ridged fields and teigar
are made by widely different processes:
ploughing and the use of spade. Evidently,
reinavelta must have its origin in some type
of activity using spades. Possibly this was
through the digging of drainage channels to
improve grazing. If the turves removed were
placed along one side of such a channel,
grass-side down, it may have been observed,
that growth was greatly furthered. A se-
quence of drainage-channels may have creat-
ed a reinavelta pattern. Due to conventional
wisdom of grass field cultivators, the high
side of the teigur would of course have had
to be dug because of its lustre growth at the
time of the following cultivation.
Its origin is, naturally, purely hypotheti-
cal, but it rests on the seemingly logical as-
sumption that the ideas of the beneficial ef-
fects of drainage and of turning grass-sods
were accepted at the time of the origin of
reinavelta. The refining of the form of the
teigur and the preservation of a basically
early spade-form were natural consequences.
In most of northern Europe, the ridge-
field systems disappeared during the 19th
century with the introduction of tile drains.
This was not the case with reinavelta in the
Faroes where the often rather thin soils may
have been an effective hindrance in the use
of subterranean drains. For some time
reinavelta still remained the preferred sys-
tem.
Literature cited:
Born, C.L.U.: Syderøe Syssel i Færoe. Maalt 1791.
David, J.: Spade Cultivation in Flanders Tools & Tillage
Vol.Vl: 3-12. 1984.
Dalsgaard, J.: Gomul fóroysk kornvelting. Oyggja-
skeggi 1956.
Debes, Lucas: Færoe & Færoe Reserata. (Reprint Tórs-
havn 1963). Kbhvn. 1673.
Effersø, R.C.: Landbruget og Husdyrbruget pá Færøer-
ne. Justitsministeriet. Kbhvn. 1886.
Fenton, A.: The Northern Isles: Orkney and Shetland.
London 1978.
Gailey, A.: Spade Tillage in South-West Ulster and
North Connaught. Tools & Tillage Vol.1,4: 225-231.
1971.
Hansen, L.E.: Jordbunden i Gásadalur. Unpublished
manuscript. Geographical Institute. Kbhvn. 1986.
Jacobsen, H.J.: Det gamle Bondesamfund. In: ’Færøer-
ne’ Vol.I. Kbhvn. 1958.
Joensen, Jóan Pauli: Fáróisk Folkkultur. Lund 1980.
Landt, J.: Forsøg til en Beskrivelse over Færøerne. (Re-
print Tórshavn 1968). Kbhvn. 1800.
Patursson, J.: Tættir úr Kirkjubøar Søgu. Tórshavn
1966.
Rasmussen, R.: Sær er siður á landi. (2. udgave 1985).
Tórshavn 1949.
Skarði, Jóhannes av: Faeroese Cultivating and Peat
Spades. in ’The Spade’: 67-73. Ulster Folk Museum.
Belfast. 1969.
Skarði, Jóhannes av: Føroyski leypurin. Fróðskaparrit,
4.bók: 32-60. and 5.bók: 108-152. Tórshavn 1955
and 1956.
Svabo, J.C.: Indberetninger fra en Rejse til Færø.
1781-82. (Printed Copenhagen 1959). Manus.
Kbhvn. 1782.
Sørensen, H.J.J.: Nogle Bemærkninger om Færøerne.
Dansk Maanedsskrift. 1859.
Tarnovius, T.: Færøers Beskrifvelser. (Faeroensia Vol.II.
Copenhagen 1950). Manus. Kbhvn. 1669.
Other sources:
Christiansen, S., Guttesen, R., and Joensen, J.P.:
’Kornvelting í Gásadali’. Documentary film. Føroya
Fornminnisavn, Tórshavn, and Geographical Insti-
tute, Copenhagen. 1986.
Sofus Christiansen
Geografisk Centralinstitut
Københavns Universitet
Øster Voldgade 10
DK-1350 København K.