Using Forestry draining tool called Rutter Spade

Mr.Dugald Kennedy, Fort Augustus, explains the use of the rutter spade in forestry practice. Dougie Kennedy originally a Forest Craftsman at Glengarry Forest explains a little about how the large Rutter Spade was used. The operation of draining and providing a planting site on wet hillsides prior to the general use of forestry ploughs was an arduous task by hand and involved many forest workers over many moths of the year. The large rutter spade and its companions the cross cutting spade and the drain drag (howk or other local variations) were the tools of the trade sometimes helped by a bottoming spade to clean the main drain bottoms to achieve a smooth water flow.