The Lost Code

Obsolete Farming Methods, Poorer Farmers

Settler's House

Musée de la civilisation, bibliothèque du Séminaire de Québec.
Martin, Thomas Mower. « A farmyard in Ontario » in : Campbell, Wilfred. Canada. London : A. & C. Black, 1907. P. 94. Loc. 294.3.26

In the first half of the 19th century, antiquated farming methods led to poorer yields on seigneurial lands. Instead of following the European tradition of alternating crops to let the soil rest, farmers planted wheat every year until the soil was depleted. They then cleared new land and started again. Due to the outdated equipment used, plowing was only superficial, and the soil was not deeply turned. The upper layer of soil therefore remained poor. In addition, farmers were not accustomed to fertilizing their land. They dumped livestock manure into the river or piled it in a corner of the farm. The fertility of the land therefore diminished over time, reducing yields and, in turn, farming income.