Farming for Self-Sufficiency-Independece on a 5-acre farm
(Page 9 of 9)
To compare the pros and cons of these three main sources of
power on the smallholding, farm tractors, garden
cultivators and horses, we end up with this: A secondhand
farm tractor is immensely good value for what it is,
because a tractor that is too old for a full-size farm is
not too old for doing occasional odd-jobs on a
smallholding, and also that sometimes the government
subsidizes farmers who buy new tractors whereupon they sell
their old ones long before they need to.
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It will cope with any of the cultivation jobs in the field,
will cultivate even in fair-sized gardens, but is not as
good as either garden cultivator or horse at doing row-crop
work or working in confined spaces. Any fool can use it.
The garden cultivator may cost as much, new, as an old farm
tractor, and beware of getting an old garden cultivator
unless you know that there is a very good reason for its
being for sale. They wear out. It is infinitely slower than
a farm tractor, won't really plough (unless it is a very
big one), is fine for row crops, no good for transporting
things, and any fool can use it.
The horse costs about as much as the secondhand farm
tractor or the new garden cultivator. If you have enough
land you can feed him for nothing, and if she is a mare she
may give you foals. These can be a very valuable export
item. A horse will cover ground much more slowly than a
farm tractor but much faster than a garden cultivator. He
is very good for row crops and for transport. Working with
a horse can be a delight but the horseman must be a
sensitive and intelligent man. The horse is no tool for
fools, and no fool can use him.
Come all ye honest ploughmen
Old England's fate you hold
Who labour in the winter time
In stormy winds and cold
To clothe our fields in plenty
Our farmyards to renew
That bread may not be wanting
Behold the painful plough!
The townsman in his turmoil
The gentleman at ease
Forget the gal/ant sailor
Who ploughs the raging seas
But we do give him sustenance
And this he knows be true
He sails upon the Ocean
By virtue of the Plough. 9
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