Published in 1931, Farmers Glory tells how A G Street left his family farm to make his way in Canada for a year; how it changed his life, and on return to England developed the person who inspired a generation. The following extract contrasts with those parts of the book that are more devoted to the economics of agriculture.
















>Which leads on to 2 small video clips of ploughing at the 2005 West Grinstead Ploughing Match. These are fairly large files even though they have been erduced for web viewing. ask me for high definition clips.The first is of  the use of two traction engines to haul the plough across the field on cables. One of them is steam powered; the other was converted in the 1950s by bolting a Mercedes Diesel engine onto it. Farming has always adapted equipment to suit the economics of the day, and this enabled the engine to continue a profitable career after steam had been replaced by the internal combustion engine and experienced steam men were no longer working.
Traction Engine plough

The following clip is of a 1930's Fordson standard tractor closing out its final furrow. Ploughing cuts a slot vertically into the soil with a coulter - you will see the driver picking one off the tractor to replace one already on the plough; the ploughshare shears the soil horizontally at the required depth (6 to 12 inches) and the mouldboard or turnfurrow lifts the slice of soil and gently inverts it so that it rests against the previous furrow slice. This leaves a ridged surface to the field that can be broken down into a tilth (crumbs) later. It also buries any vegetation so that it is killed and rots down to add to the humus within the soil.
Fordson Standard ploughing

You will have noticed how the driver is continually adjusting the plough so that the final furrow is straight and at a constant depth. Background explosions are clay pigeon shooting.

Different ploughs are used on different soils. Heavy clay soils usually produce a furrow-slice with a very regular cross-section that may need winter frosts to help break it down whereas light sands and chalk soils leave the furrow almost ready for planting without further preparation.
If you do go to a ploughing match do take the opportunity to talk to the ploughmen after they have  finished their land as they are only allowed a set time to do the work.

For Further information, see THE SOCIETY OF PLOUGHMEN WEBSITE