movies / books / rods

[Geoff Bannister]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)" <catlady at ...> 
wrote:

Carol:
> <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPFGU-OTChatter/message/38681>:
> 
> << I don't remember what a rod is (unless we're talking about rods and
> cones!) >>
> 
> A rod is a unit of measure that we inherited from the Saxons in
> England. A furlong is the length of a ploughed furrow = ten rods, and
> eight furlongs make a mile. An acre is the amount one man can plow in
> one day, which is one furlong times IIRC four rods. Then I think there
> are four rods to the chain, and 66 feet to the chain...

Geoff:
Being in pedantic mood, the tables we were taught were:
12 inches = 3 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
22 yards = 1 chain
10 chains = 1 furlong
8 furlongs = 1 mile

In practice, the general usage is:
12 inches = 1 yard
5280 feet = 1760 yards = 1 mile

Other than furlong, which gets used in horse racing, the 
other equalities tend to be ignored. A rod is 5.5 yards, 
hence four to the furlong.