Science: Plow Row

The hottest farming argument since the tractor first challenged the horse was started last summer by Farmer Edward Faulkner's attack on the moldboard plow —Plowman's Folly (TIME, July 26). Last week returns on the great debate had begun to come in. They were very favorable to Faulkner.

A careful study of plowing v. other cultivation methods was made on Iowa experimental farms by U.S. and State soil experts. The new methods were disc harrowing (advocated by Faulkner), "lister-ing" and "subsoiling"—all of which loosen the soil without turning it over. The object is to leave on the surface a stubble "beard," both to...