Story: Arable farming

Bullocks and plough

Bullocks and plough

Two bullocks pull a wooden single-furrow swing plough. This was the first type of plough used in New Zealand, but was soon superseded by iron models and then double-furrow ploughs. This paddock has been cultivated previously, so two bullocks are able to pull the plough. Otherwise, the ground would be much harder and larger bullock teams needed to break the soil.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: 1/2-2283; F

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Sue Zydenbos, 'Arable farming - 19th-century arable farming', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17563/bullocks-and-plough (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Sue Zydenbos, published 24 Nov 2008