BEFORE the advent of full mechanisation and a move to silage, haymaking was very much a 'family and friends' affair. When harvesting with scythes, gangs of casual labourers were hired, whilst women – and often children – were employed raking over the hay and gathering it into pikes. The horse-drawn mower, whose cutters were powered as the wheels turned, replaced the scythe and ultimately the popular little grey Fergie tractor replaced the horse. The baling machine eventually replaced the hay rake, and bales were easily stacked onto the hay cart.