Talk:Shetland Crofthouse Museum

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

I have no trouble moving the pics around,but I can't enlarge them like I did on the Eshaness page...The one on the left was 250px...
Oddrun 22:08, 27 December 2006 (GMT)

I know this line is what the Museum page says, and it *may* be right in regard to some places in Shetland, but I'd question it's accuracy.

"Built into middens it was spread over the fields once tilling had taken place."

I'd say it should read "Built into middens it was spread over the fields immediately before tilling took place.

There was always a rush between spreading muck and getting the land delled/ploughed, as the muck would "loss hits gud ta da ayr". Which, although most crofters back in the day probably didn't know the mechanics of it, is quite right. Much of the natural nitrogen content of muck will be lost to the atmosphere through evaporation of moisture or leeching by rain if it lies exposed.

The line "spread over the fields once tilling had taken place" suggests, to me anyway, although I may be misunderstanding them, that the muck would almost certainly have had to remain on or at least near the surface during the entire growing season. That again was something that was undesirable, as muck on or near the surface muck will quickly grow immense quantities of weeds. The name of the game was to have the muck buried deep enough to prevent it encouraging un-necessary weeds, but still shallow enough it was within easy reach of the crop plant's roots.

Ghostrider 06:29, 14 June 2008 (MDT)

Well spotted Ghostrider. Of course, they are entirely wrong- :-), It was always spread before ploughing. I spent many hours shoveling/forking **it, for my uncle. He always ploughed next day.
Robbie 08:54, 14 June 2008 (MDT)