Geddes Triangular Hinged Harrow, circa 1845

Farmers have long used harrows to smooth soil and break up clods following plowing, and for light weeding. Triangular harrows were popular in frontier America, because they could negotiate obstructions such as stumps better than the traditional rectangular harrows. George Geddes patented this expandable triangular harrow, which worked well on row crops such as corn or tobacco.