The Great Plow Debate

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All these early plows threw the furrow to the right.

The top two and the bottom right illustrations are from Land of Plenty, published in 1950 by Farm Equipment of Chicago. The drawing at bottom left is from Jethro Wood, Inventor of the Modern Plow, by Frank Gilbert and published in 1892 by Rhodes & McClure of Chicago.

The editor of Rural New Yorker wrote that, 'The great majority of farmers never saw a left-handed plow, but there will be a few who will protest against this order.' He was right. It wasn't long before the letters poured in. In the Feb. 2, 1918 issue, an angry letter from 'Kentucky Farmer' reads in part: 'What about Kentucky and Tennessee and the other states? I know farm after farm that hasn't any other kind of plow than a left-hand one. They say since they don't make left-hand tractor plows they must stop making left-hand plows. There are thousands of farms that will never use a tractor of any kind. Why take the left-hand plow away from these? Any man that has ever plowed a day knows he can do more plowing and better plowing with a left-hand plow than he can with a right-hand one, simply because his lead horse walks in the furrow, and the plow cuts an even width and depth all the time, whereas with a right-hand plow the lead horse walks on the land and is continually bearing into the furrow, which makes the plow cut less and unevenly. A stoppage of making left-hand plows would work a hardship to many farmers in Kentucky and Tennessee and other states. It looks to me like a ruse of the manufacturers to unload their stock of right-hand plows on the farmers. I hope the factories in Kentucky will continue to make the left-hand walking and riding plow.'

Another letter in the same issue reads: 'I have lived on this farm for over 54 years and we have used only left-hand plows and our plowmen would find the right-hand plow quite awkward. We use only one line, usually a rope one, with a loop at the end which the driver slips over his left hand, the lead horse walking in the furrow, which, if the team is properly geared, making driving much easier. Of course, with the right-hand plow the leader can be put in the furrow, but the driver then would have the line in his right hand, which, to us old men, would be very awkward. Please, Mr. Plow-maker, let us old fellows pass away before our old friend, the left-hand plow. Wm. R. Duke, Virginia.'

Two weeks later, an Ohio farmer told his fellow left-handed plowmen not to worry. 'It is their (the manufacturer's) privilege to make any kind of plow they see fit, likewise it is our privilege to buy the kind of plow that best suits our needs. Remember this, they do not own the universe and they can't force that kind of stuff down my throat, and I think there are a few million more farmers of the same opinion. Let them make all right-handed plows if they dare, but, when they do, let them keep them and then it is our time to get busy and see that some new firm starts making left-hand plows. With a tractor it makes little or no difference whether it is a left-hand or right-hand plow, but with a team of horses it makes all the difference in the world. As long as I plow with a team I shall use a left-hand plow, regardless of what a few manufacturers say.'

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