What are these plows for???

Two of the tractors had two-bottom plows mounted, the right bottom throwing right (like normal), the left bottom though threw left! Enough space between them you'd have a wide, unplowed space in the middle...looked just about the width of the plow in fact.

I can't quite figure it the why for these or how they'd be used -- it would seem like you'd just be pushing more and more already plowed dirt if you always went in the same direction...maybe you turn around at the end of the field and go back down the row in the opposite direction to make a raised bed???

Matt,

Handyman is right.

You were probably looking at one of the first one bottom bi-directional plows. These preceeded the tumble plows, later came the spinners.

These types of plows were almost a must when plowing on flood irrigated land where the finished work had to be as flat as a table top (no dead furrows). Also, the operator had to be very careful not to leave any "holes".

Having been raised around these things, I can't see the point in using a one-way plow. Seems like there is an awful lot of dead time running back and forth from one land to the next.

Allan

Now I understand what they do -- I'm used to the dairy farmers around here plowing, and it's pretty much just in a circle. Thinking about it as plowing straight lines this makes more sense!

No irrigated land out here (except for the occassional vegetable or nursery location).

The very first "paying" job I ever had was running one of these in a two bottom version for my uncle...that is to say, it had 'four' bottoms hangging off the back of his old JD.

I ran the thing for 3 full days and made $21. Thought I was rich!.

Yesterday I was looking at a field which has been plowed for the past 100 years in a circle by the use of one way plows. It is shaped like a 'dish'....low in the center and high on the outsides. :>)

Have a good one,

Allan