Edward H. Faulkner published "Plowman's Folly" in 1943. He revisited his analysis in 1947 in "A Second Look" in which he responded to critics, and doubled-down

Edward H. Faulkner published "Plowman's Folly" in 1943. He revisited his analysis in 1947 in "A Second Look" in which he responded to critics, and doubled-down: "The soil which the gardener or farmer works is made up of tiny crystalline fragments. The action of soil acids, principally those released through the decay of organic matter, unlocks the minerals required for healthy plant growth. [ ... ] the continuous use of commercial fertilizers is a mistake. [ ... ] The "bank account" theory of soil is bankrtup. It holds that whatever we take from the soil in the growing of crops must be put back - usually in the form of prepared fertilizers. What the soil needs, on the contrary, is the gentle chemistry described above. If man cannot learn this, he will pay and pay, ultimately to his ruin". 1943. 1947. This is not new stuff. By the time "A Second Look" was published, there were 340,000 copies of "Plowman's Folly" in print.