Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0381Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of a tractor dragging a plow through a field. Above the image "39" is printed, below the image "V23215 Farming on a Million and Half Acre Texan Ranch - Giant Tractors Drawwing 12-Disc Bottom Pows and Harrows." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted, Underwood & Underwood Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Portland, Oregon, London, Eng., Sydeny, Aus." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V23215
GIANT TRACTOR DRAWING 12-DISC BOTTOM PLOW AND HARROWS, TEXAS
Texas is one of the greatest agricultural states in the Union. About two-thrids of the entier area is in farms. The average size of the farms is about three hundred acres, although some especially large ones contain nearly a million acres. This picture shows the farmers preparing the soil for planting, on a million and a half acre ranch. They are using the modern giant tractors, pulling twelve-disc bottom plows and harrows.
The evolution of the plow is an interesting study. In its primitive form the plow antedates htory. The Bible mentions plows of iron or bronze. The first patent for a plow is supposed to have been granted in 1730. There are numerous kinds of plows, the gang plow, the sulky plow, and the disc plow. The latter is of rather recent invention. The chief feature of this plow is the steel disc twenty-five to thirty inches in diameter which turns and pulverizes the soil. There is an adjustable scraper to prevent it form becoming clogged.
The plow used with this giant tractor contains twelve of these discs. Back of it is the harrow, a frame in which are fixed rows of teeth, projecting downward. This harrow is used for smoothing the ground. Often a revolving cylinder is attached behind the harrow, still furhter smoothing and pulverizing the soil. Or a seeder may be attached just behind the plows, and this followed with a harrow to cover the seed and smooth the soil. Sod freshly turned works up more easily than after is has stood until dry. Hence one of the advantages of tracotr farming is that the work can all be done with one process, and while the ground is in the best condition. The tractor is also used successfully on eastern hills which horses are not able to plow.
Copyright by The Keystone View CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection