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Plows were a necessary tool on the prairies, as although the ground was fertile, ripe and ready for planting hearty crops, it was also still completely unbroken land.Some plows used to do this heavy breaking work had up to 12 sheers, each having a handle to guide that sheer. Men stood and rode behind the plow, each of them guiding one or more sheers with these handles as the plow was pulled over the field.
Others were more labor intensive, and had only one or two sheers (single or double breaking plows), which could only turn a smaller area of soil over at a time. The farmer using these smaller plows usually walked behind the plow to guide it.
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Alfred Buelow and Victor Flick Breaking Land1905
Near Mirror, Alberta
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Alfred Buelow and Victor Flick are breaking land on the upper farm, section 30-40-22, in 1905, with their team of oxen.Oxen were often used in place of horses in the earlier days.
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Buelow's Breaking Land1912
Near Mirror, Alberta
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The Buelow's breaking some more land, this time with horses.Note the fringed gunny sacking over the horses noses to keep the flies off.
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Plowing with Oxen Team on the Edward Goater Farm1908
Near Mirror, Alberta
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Edward Goater, plowing on his farm in the days of the oxen, 2 miles West and 1/2 mile North of Mirror around 1908-1910.In the background, on the right side of the photo, is possibly his wife, who has brought lunch out to the hungry crew.
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Plowing with a John Deere Gilpin Sulky Plow1890
Near Mirror, Alberta
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Plowing with a John Deere Gilpin Sulky Plow.This was a most popular plow in the late 1800's.
For more details on the history of this plow, visit:
http://www.deere.com/en_US/compinfo/student/gilpinplow.html?sidenavstate'0000000001
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An 8 Bottom Plow1911
Near Mirror, Alberta
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This is a close-up look at an 8-bottom plow.The plow is being used to break land on the McMillan farm in 1911 or 1912.
Note the handle for each plow bottom.
In the photo are M.A. McMillan, Art Houghston, Mrs. Dan McMillan, Blanch Joslin (nee McMillan), and Art Ledbetter. The others in the photo are unknown. The Engineer is named as Elmer Cheever, but not sure if he is in this photo.
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Everett Malott Breaking Land1905
Near Mirror, Alberta
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Everett Malott is breaking land with a single breaking plow, drawn by 5 horses. The double levers in front of him each manipulate one of the wheels on each end of the plow.14
Harry Hudkins, Inventor of the Hudkins Plow and His Wife1912
Mirror, Alberta
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