What was mentioned about the section modulus is the key..... But forget the term modulus if it's too geeked for you....
In bending, a solid section member often bends way before one with a complicated section, like tubing, C Channel, I beam.... It's been so long since that part of my training, I can't remember exactly why and I'm too lazy to look it up just now....
But, you should expect a brush fork of square solid bar and of mild steel to bend much easier than a square tubing with heavy wall thickness.
What was said about the distance between the load and the attachment part of the fork is also true. Lift near the bucket, no problem. Lift at the end of the tines, bent forks. That all depends on the material and how long the forks are.
Looking at Moss's forks, they look "abruptly" welded to the frame. Forks for lifting HEAVY weight like fork trucks, are made as they are so that there's no "joint" at the attachment point. Not sure how they are made, but they are a tough steel definitely tempered in ways we can't reproduce in our garages.
Using a mild steel which is solid probably is less that optimal.
I want to build a set for our tractor, I was kinda planning on doing them on the short side so that they'd be tough to bend. Main reason would be lifting logs and moving waste to burn piles.... What's the reason for wanting them so long?