Changing Harvest Dates in Post-medieval Ireland

Abstract

During the last three centuries, agricultural writers and other commentators on Irish life frequently criticised Irish farmers for the late date at which they began to harvest both hay and grain. This paper will outline the reasoning behind these criticisms and the defence given by farmers in return. It will be argued that the rationality of common practice is demonstrated by the willingness of farmers to change the dates of harvest once changes in other practice made this desirable. The physical evidence for change will be described, and the paper will conclude with a discussion of possible implications of this for archaeology.