Bentrim
Gold Member
- Joined
- Apr 22, 2020
- Messages
- 259
- Location
- York County, Pennsylvania
- Tractor
- Massey Ferguson 245, Massey Ferguson 14 Allis Chalmers G
In ancient times man prepared the soil for planting by using a stick or tree limb pulled by a beast of burden. As man found the wood wore out quickly it was replaced by metal eventually turning into the moldboard plow. Still pulled by a horse or other draft animal. As tractors made the scene multiple bottoms got assembled together making them wider to get more done. With advancements made by James Oliver and John Deere plow were able to work almost anywhere and last a reasonable length of time before the parts wore out. Even automatic reset plows made plowing easier as you did not have to stop and back up to reset the bottom. As farmers used the plow to get soil ready for planting and reduce weeds their use increased, until erosion and the great dust storm started to change practices and no-till became doable, also plowing is one of the power hungry fuel burning things a farmer did. Plows have disappeared from most farms even manufacturers are stopping making them. Most farmers parked the moldboard plow and went to disk harrows and chisel plows as less power was required and more acreage could be covered quicker. With better herbicides another blow was taken by any form of tillage. No till became the way to plant seeds. Most plows now are used by hobby farmers or those that work small areas for gardens. In fact plow shares and other wear parts can be hard to find anymore.
The tillers started being used in gardens. Small easy to use and they usually worked well, but they like rocks about as well as a plow does. As larger gardeners found the advantage of tillers manufacturers especially European manufacturers started making larger tillers for small tractors. Tractors made it possible to use a larger tiller. Some say that if the tillers is used too much it destroys the tilth of the soil. But remember it also breaks to soil into very fine particles so the soil is easier for the wind to blow it away and water to wash it away.
The tillers started being used in gardens. Small easy to use and they usually worked well, but they like rocks about as well as a plow does. As larger gardeners found the advantage of tillers manufacturers especially European manufacturers started making larger tillers for small tractors. Tractors made it possible to use a larger tiller. Some say that if the tillers is used too much it destroys the tilth of the soil. But remember it also breaks to soil into very fine particles so the soil is easier for the wind to blow it away and water to wash it away.