Scottish agricultural implement makers

The harvest is in full swing. So what was it like in bygone days?

The county reports of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, published between 1793 and 1817 include a great deal of information on agriculture and agricultural practices. The report for the county of Stirlingshire includes a wide-ranging report on harvesting of wheat. So what does the report say about it?

“In reaping, the sickle is universally made use of. An evident improvement of the sickle is now very generally introduced. The old sickle, which is still most frequently used, is teethed somewhat like a saw; the teeth soon wear out, and, for the most part, the sickle is henceforth useless, unless the teeth be renewed on the anvil. The improved sickle is broader on the blade; it has no teeth, and is of a better metal; on the principle of the scythe, it is sharpened from time to time by a stone. It cuts with more ease than the other, and lasts for a much longer time.
By the sickle the grain is, no doubt, cut down more regularly, and is more easily collected into sheaves than by any other method, but the operation is slow, and it requires many hands. it would be perhaps the most important acquisition to agricultural operations that has been made for a long while, if an instrument were invented, by which corns could be cut down, and the sametime gathered into sheaves, as hay is cut down by the scythe. In grounds completely level and free from stones , like the Cras of Stirlingshire, an estimate might at least be made in the proportional expense, whether by labour or by loss, or reaping corns with the sickle or with the scythe.
The size of the sheaves is proportioned to the length of the straw. In wet seasons they are not made large. Twelve of these in oats and barley, and fourteen in wheat make a shock, or, as we call it, a shook. In placing the stock, attention is paid in this climate, as ought perhaps to be done in every other, throughout the kingdom, to the point of the compass from which the storm or weather most generally blows. If the side of the stock be placed towards the point, the greatest possibe surface is exposed to the weather, and the corn suffers accordingly; the end of the stock therefore is presented to the weather. In this district, from the circumstances of the weather, the stock is generally placed in a direction from S.W. to N.E. In narrow allies, and where hills and woods interfere, there may arise a difference of the currents of air, and in such situations experience must guide.
On account of the succulent nature of beans, pease, and other leguminous plants, they are left loose upon the ground for sometime before they are bound up into sheaves, that they may lose in part their superabundant juices.
In very wet and unfavourable seasons, a method is practised in this county, which perhaps is not much known elsewhere, and may be shortly stated. The sheaves, instead of being set up in stocks, are set up singly on the lower end, the band being slip up near the top, and the middle opened and exposed loosely to the current of the air. This method is here called gaiting. It is had recourse to only in extremity; there is much loss sustained by the exposure of the ears of corn to the weather and to the birds; but if there be only a few hours of drought and sunshine, the victual will not be finally lost.
When the sheaves are exhausted of the moisture which had remained in the stalks, or which they had imbibed from the weather, they are built up into large ricks or stacks, of a circular form, and with conical form, and with conical tops, the eaves, at the commencement of the top, projecting over the body of the stack to ward off the rain. The conical top is thatched with straw. These stacks contain from 30 to 90 or 100 thrives of victual, a thrave being two stocks. No great quantity of grain is put ito the barn at once; it is safer in the stack from the depredations of vermin.
To preserve the grain as much as possible from vermin, the stacks on every farm, conducted upon a proper system, ate placed upon wooden frames, fixed upon pillars of stone 18 or 20 inches high, and on each pillar there is a flag-stone projecting over it several inches. By this means vermin are effectually prevented from ascending into the body of the stack. In rainy seasons frames of wood are sometimes placed perpendicularly in the stack, to preserve them hollow, and to afford a free circulation of air throughout.”

Do you recognise elements of the harvest into the twentieth century?

The county agricultural surveys undertaken by the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement from 1793 to 1817 provide a good deal of information about agricultural practices, tools and techniques. The reports include some detailed accounts of threshing mills, their introduction and spread in the various counties throughout Britain. The report for Kincardineshire, published in 1810 provides a good deal of information on the introduction an use of threshing mills until that date. It is worth quoting at length:

One of the largest implement and machine makers in south-west Scotland was James Gordon. On his death in 1923,the North British Agriculturist included an extensive obituary. It provides a number of insights into the nam, his business and the implement trade:

“We noted last week the death of Mr James Gordon, in his time one of the most widely known men in the agricultural implement trade, which occurred at his residence, St Mary’s Drive, Kirkcudbright. Mr Gordon was born at Culraven, Borgue, near Kirkcudbright, on March 2, 1849, and it is of interest to note that his family have been connected with that farm for the long period of 400 years. In 1865 Mr Gordon went to Bradford, Yorkshire, to serve his apprenticeship with the then well-known firm of McKean, Tetley & Co., wholesale merchants and manufacturers. He had only been about three and a half years in the warehouse, when the management, recognising his ability, put him to the “road” as their representative, and he continued to act as their traveller, and that very successfully for the next four years. Those were exciting days, with great political unrest, and Fenianism was abroad in the land. It was during the years 1869-70 that Mr Gordon, then a strapping young Gallovidian, was sworn in as a special constable, and he retained until his death hhis baton as a memento of those stirring days.
In 1870, when the Highland and Agricultural Show was being held at Dumfries, Mr Gordon came to assist his brother John with his stand on that occasion, and this was his first introduction to the implement trade-a trade which soon came to claim such a large portion of his lifework and brought him into contact with agriculturists all over the country.
In 1872 his father passed away at Culraven, and he have up his situation at Bradford, coming to Castle Douglas to take over his brother John’s business, which had been established seven years before, and where a considerable business had been done in the seed and manure trade, as well as in agricultural implements. Mr John Gordon then went to take charge of the farm of Culraven, At that period agricultural implements were beginning to come into their own, and the business grew rapidly. In 1874 Mr Gordon introduced Wood’s side-delivery self delivery, which soon became very popular anode which a large number were sold in the next few years. Two years later he was the means of introducing another well-known machine, Harrison, Macgregor, & Co’s back-delivery self-delivery. It may be of interest to agriculturists to note that in those days, now so far away, the price of wool was 2s 6d per lb, grain 4s 6d a bushel, and hay about 1s 6d a stone. these were good prices, and thus farmers were enabled to go in for implements to a large extent. At the Royal Society’s show at Carlisle in 1881 Mr Gordon showed his champion turnip drill for the first time. It received the special attention of the judges and soon proved one of the most popular. A year later he showed the first binder in Galloway, the Walter A. Wood’s binder, which was tried on the farm of Marshfield, in the neighbourhood of Castle Douglas, then tenanted by his relative, Mr Payne, and also on the farm of Greenlaw, in the same district. It did good work, but at that time wire was used for binding the sheaves, and farmers had a strong prejudice against it. In addition, it was a pretty heavy draught.
Four years later Woods brought out a much improved binder, using twine in place of the wire, and this immediately came into its own. At the trials carried out by the Highland and Agricultural Society at Terregles, near Dumfries, Mr Gordon entered the Woods binder, and there was a great fight between the woods binder and a binder made by Hornsby, of Grantham, for the £100 prize offered by the Society. the judges were divided in their opinion as to the better machine, and eventually the prize was divided between the two competing firms. Mr Gordon’s next venture was the introduction, in 1900, of the Patent New Century Coulter on his drill. This was a big improvement on anything which had preceded it, and immediately brought his drill into the front rank, with the result that when he retired he had sold no fewer than 3500 of them. He also invented and registered the Galloway Turnip Cutter, with hinged hopper, and this too caught the popular fancy, he being sole agent over a wide extent of territory stretching from Penrith in Cumberland to Stranraer in Wigtownshire. He also patented an oil cake mill, with hinged hopper, on the same lines as the galloway cutter. Besides being agent for most of the leading manufacturers, Mr Gordon had a considerable workshop in Castle Douglas, where he manufactured, besides turnip drills and cutters, large numbers of cattle troughs, meat coolers, corn bins, ploughs and harrows, wheel barrows, &c, besides a large connection in repairing farm implements and machinery. As showing how he was respected as an employer, it may be mentioned that when the war broke out in 1914, one of his men had been 40 years with him, two about 35 years, one 24 1/2 years, one 17 1/2 years, and still another 5 years. Mr Gordon travelled through Wigtownshire twice a year, so that, with his four years in Bradford, he had travelled for over 54 years altogether, from 1868 to 1922.
When Mr Gordon came to Castle Douglas the last post left that flourishing market town at 6,40pm. He soon ascertained that the Newton Stewart people, who were 30 miles farther from London, could post up till two hours later. He took the matter up with the Postmaster-General, with the result, gratifying to the community as well as to himself, that a mail was granted up till 9.40pm, thereby adding very much to the convenience of the business community. In the course of the years he became well known among the agricultural community from Thurso to Cornwall, his turnip still being sent all over Great Britain by agents, and even to Nova Scotia, while the Canadian Government bought one 30 years ago.
While deeply engrossed in business, Mr Gordon found time tons serve the public in various useful capacities. he had been an elder in Kelton Parish Church and also Castle Douglas Parish Church for many years. In a more public capacity he was for long a member of Castle Douglas Town Council and also of the local School Board, and in both spheres did excellent work, always endeavouring to make for economy and efficiency. He was also vice-chairman of the Castle Douglas Citizen’s Union, and collected two-thirds of the funds to set it afoot. He also took a leading part in the formation of a branch of the Middle Class Union.He had been a life member of the Highland and Agricultural Society for 44 years.
Mr Gordon had a very worthy helpmate in his wife, who ably assisted her husband in his business career,a nd during the war years did an extraordinary amount of work on behalf of war charities, taking a prominent part in organising efforts on behalf of serving soldiers and their dependents.”

Have you seen any implements and machines made by James Gordon?

The county agricultural surveys include a number of detailed account of harvesting and harvesting tools and implements. Robert Somerville, the surveyor of East Lothian provides an interesting account in his survey. What a contrast to today’s grain harvest!

“The implements commonly used for cutting down and gathering the crop, are the scythe, the rake, and the reaping hook. The first of these, the scythe, is less employed than might be expected in a county where so much grain is raised; upon the best lands, indeed, especially in wet seasons when the crop is lodged, the use of the scythe is inadmissible, but in ordinary years, a great part of the crop admits of being cut down with that implement, as much less ceps than by the hand, with the additional advantage of its affording from a third to a fourth more fodder, than what is obtained, under common management, where the crop is cut by the hand, an object of no small importance in any situation, but especially in places, where, owing to the distance from great towns, there is no opportunity of purchasing manure. It is objected to the scythe, that it does not lay the heads so regular, as when the crop is cut by the hand; this certainly is the fact, and unquestionably is a disadvantage, especially where thrashing machines are used; it is also said, that, in cases where the crib is thin, and at the same time completely ripened, if the stalk has acquired a degree of hardness sufficient to bear the stroke of the scythe, the shock will be so great as to shake out many of the grain; or, if the straw is of a soft texture, in place of being cut and gathered by the scythe, the crop will be beat down, and a great part of it left uncut. These objections, however, apply only to cases where it has been allowed to stand too long, as in every instance, where it is cut at the proper period, it is found to bear the stroke of the scythe, without either shaking out the grains of breaking down the stalks.
Sickle-Formerly two kind were used, the broad and narrow; the former is now entirely laid aside, and the latter substituted in its place. As the sickle is an instrument in use everywhere, and as the one used in this county possesses no peculiarity, any particular description is unnecessary.
Rake-When the crop is cut by the scythe, the common hay rake is generally employed, and, in expert hands, answers the purpose extremely well; the same implement is sometimes used when the crop is cut by the hand, a person following the cart, and gathering what is left on the places where the stokes have stood. A different kind of rake has been partially tried, and found to answer the purpose, much better than the hayrack. The length of the head is from ten to fifteen feet, the handle about seven feet, with a piece of wood across the end of it, by which it is drawn by two men; the teeth are of wood or iron, the last are the best, as well as the most durable, and are a little bent forward at the point, which gives them the power of retaining and carrying the ears along with them, much better than they would otherwise do. To make clean work, especially if the ridges are gathered, the field is raked across; in that way, every thing is taken up; but, when it is preferred to draw the rake in the directions of the ridge in the direction of the ridges, it may be considerably improved, by cutting the head into two or three lengths, and joining them with hinges, which will allow it to bend and accommodate itself to the curvature of the ridges. The advantage of this kind of rake has been found considerable, even in cases where every possible attention has been paid to the cutting of the crop; but, as it frequently happens, that owing to dampness, greens of the straw, or a foul grassy bottom, it is necessary to leave the crop unbound for a day or two, during which, if it is overtaken by a high wind, much of it will be scattered and lost, unless considerable pains are taken to gather it, by hand-raking and otherwise-Where the long rake is used for that purpose, the expense will in no instance exceed 4d sterling per acre. And experiment, made upon a field of 30 acres, will convey some idea of the benefit that may be derived from the use of that instrument. The field was in barley, and the rankings, when thrashed yielded £14 5s 0d.
Carrying the crop-many years ago, the crop was brought home on sledges, afterwards on close carts with a frame on the top; at present, hay and the different kinds of grain are carried upon the open spoked cart, known by the name of corn-cart, which, from its lightness and construction, seems better adapted to the purpose, than any thing of the kind hitherto emploed. These carts appear capable of some improvement, by lining their sides and bottom either with thin planks or canvass, the expense of which would be very inconsiderable, and the whole of the grain, beat out in the operations of uploading, unloading, and the carriage from the field, saved.”

The photographs of the scythes and binder canvasses were taken at the National Tractor Show, Lanark, September, 2015.

If you were a farmer in the Lothians in 1919 you would have had a number of implement and machine makers to purchase your machines from. Some were local while others trades across the Lothians and also across Scotland and further afield.

The North British Agriuclturist carried an extensive article on the agricultural traders in the Lothians in 1919. It provides a great deal of information about them, their activities and the history of their company.
“The first on our list is Mr Alex Ballach of Messrs Ballach & Sons, Leith, who has had a very long association with the implement trade. He was trained in agricultural engineering under the late Mr G. W. Murray of Banff, and has had a varied experience in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and later on in Newton-Stewart, whence he removed to Leith about a dozen years ago. No one knows better the requirements of the farmer than does Mr Ballach. He has been eminently successful in the making of corn drills and drill scarifiers, and whatever he puts out is known for its efficiency as well as its finish.

… Mr Alex Newlands of the firm of Messrs Newlands & Sons, St Magdalene Engineering Works, Linlithgow. Mr Newland’s firm was founded by his late gather in 1861 at Inverurie, but in 1880 the latter removed to Linlithgow and acquired the premises of that famous ploughmaker-the late Mr George Ponton. Some years after his father died in 1907 Mr Newlines, along with his brother, Mr George MNewlands, erected larger worrks to increase the capacity of the output of the firm’s implements, which are principally cultivators, chilled ploughs, drill ploughs, horse rakes &c.
… Mr Wm Poole JP, possibly now the best known of all the Scottish agricultural engineers. For the past forty years he has been identified with the introduction and improvement of many of the labour-saving machines now in extensive use by the farmers of the country. On the farm of Castle Mains, Dirleton, in August 1878, Mr Poole conducted the first trial of a sheaf-binding reaper ever held in Scotland, namely, the McCormick wire sheaf-binding reaper; and during the same month at the first trial of sheaf-binders held by the Highland Society on the farm of Liberton Tower Mains, Edinburgh, he secured the Society’s Gold Medal for that machine. Owing to the strong objection to wire-bound sheaves, this machine did not become a success; but, following this, in the early “eighties” Mr Poole sold and started at work for the late Mr Waugh of Eweford, Dunbar, the first twine sheaf-binder ever put to work in Scotland (a McCormick). Closely following the introduction of the McCormick binder, Mr Poole introduced into this country the now better-known Deering twine sheaf-0binder, and, through his efforts in the harvest fields, and suggestions of improvements, this binder is now one of the most popular throughout Great Britain nd Ireland. It may well be said, through his continuous and long experience in our harvest fields, he is one of our greatest authorities on harvesting machinery, and no one now living in Scotland has bestowed greater benefits in this respect on our farmers. In 1915, in response to a requisition by the agricultural engineering trade throughout Great Britain, Mr Poole was elected a director of the Highland Society to represent their interests. During his term in office, he accomplished good work on that board in getting the Society to make an inquiry amongst farmers throughout Scotland as to the efficiency and economy resulting from the use of milking machines. The information obtained was of a satisfactory nature, and, as a result, the use of milking machines has been largely increased. So far as general work on the average farms of Scotland is concerned, Mr Poole has never been satisfied with the oil agricultural tractors that have been introduced into use during recent years, and from a recent interview, we find that he is of opinion that the tractor suitable for all-round work in Scotland is still to come. In that belief, he submitted a motion adopted by the board of the Highland Society to the effect that it should hold trials of British designed and British made oil tractors, and to award substantial prizes to the machines found to be best suited for work in this country. When these trials take place he is of opinion that oil tractors far in advance of those in present use will be produced by the engineers of our own country. At present, Mr Poole is president of the Scottish Agricultural Engineers’ Society.
Mr A. M. Russell, we always look upon as “The Universal Provider” for the varied wants of agriculturists. Shortly before the outbreak of the war he removed his headquarters adjoining the old Corn Exchange, to extensive premises at the east end of the Grassmarket. Mr Russell is a specialist in many lines, and, as our readers well know, is a specialist also in the way he advertises his goods. Mr Wm Smith is the Scottish representative of the Dairy Supply Co. Ltd, and we may almost venture to call him “the grand old man of the implement trade”. If he does not approve of a Separist policy he at least approves of a policy of the separator, especially is it should happen to be an Alfa Laval. In addition to being a J.P., Mr Smith is a Parish Councillor. He is an acknowlwdged authority on all dairying matters, and the author of a very useful guide to dairying, which has had a large sale.
Mr Jas H. Steele is one of the juniors in the agricultural implement trade, but he has a long experience and successful record behind him. For a long number of years he was with Messrs A. & J. Main Ltd, and later represented Messrs P. & R. Fleming of Glasgow in the Scottish capital. Born and brought up on a Lanarkshire farm, he has a practical knowledge of agricultural requirements, and this gives him a great advantage in the upholding of his business motto, “Everything for the Farm”. In addition to agricultural machinery, his firm hold agencies for Messrs A. Cross & Sons Ltd, Glasgow, and Messrs Gartons Ltd, Warrington, Through enterprise, pushfulness, and attention, Mr Steele has gathered a large clientele, and supported by an able staff, he has “lengthened his cords and strengthened his stakes” by opening a new depot at 61 Harrison Road, close by Merchiston Station, on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

If you were a farmer in the 1960s you would still have recognised a good number of the key names in agricultural trading that had been recorded in 1919. It says a lot about the stature and importance of these business men and their businesses.

The Board of Agriculture’s county surveys include a good deal of information about farming, agricultural practices and implements and tools. The Stirlingshire survey, written by patrick Graham, provides a couple of account on haymaking in the county in 1811. It is interesting to se what aspects of haymaking continued until well into the twentieth century.

“The hay is generally cut about the end of June or beginning of July. In the carses of Falkirk, Bothkennar, &c. 300 stones are reckoned an ordinary crop. In the western districts, 200 and even 180 stones are reckoned a good crop. In the upper grounds of Strathblane 100 stones are the ordinary crop; in the lower grounds 300 stones are not uncommon. From that parish alone, 10,000 stones of hay are annually sold, mostly in the Glasgow market.
A few weeks after the hay is taken off the ground, a second crop of clover alone springs up with great luxuriance. It is cut down,f or the most part, for soiling, and furnishes an excellent food for milch cows and for horses. Sometimes that which remains remains till the frost begins to set in (by which this tender plant is soon destroyed), is mixed up into a stack with early threshed straw. It heats or ferments, in a certain degree, and gives succulence to the straw, forming a very nutritious food for cattle.
This second crop is clover is often, as has been noticed, ploughed down for a wheat crop; and furnishes an enriching manure to the ground.”

How was haymaking undertaken in the olden days before all the mechanisation to make it easier to handle the crop?

The Board of Agriculture’s county agricultural surveys provide some detailed account on agricultural processes as well as agricultural implements and machines. George Robertson, the surveyor for Midlothian, provides the following detailed account of haymaking for that county in 1795. It is worth quoting at length:

“Haymaking is performed here on the simple principle of giving it no more work than just suffices to win it, in order to preserve, as much as possible, the natural juices and flavour. The process differs, as the hay is either from seeds, or natural, according to the circumstances of these different cases.
When hay from seeds, such as clover and rye grass, is cut down, there are two things respecting it to be remarked: 1. The swath is laid in pretty regular order, in form somewhat like to the blade of a razor, in which the ears incline to the edge, while the bottoms are piled up one above another in the opposite direction at the back. 2. The stalks, individually, are firm and straight, and like to reeds; naturally unsusceptible of moisture, but very readily admitting a passage through them to the air, or the wind, as it blows over the field. In consequence of these two circumstances, hay, in this situation, is not difficult to to be win or made; for in dry weather, the air readily penetrates through it, and dries it quickly; and in wet weather, it is not apt to imbibe the rain, but rather sheds it off along its upper tire of stalks, and of course can stand a considerable deal of rain without receiving much damage, ad very readily becomes again dry on thereturn of fair weather; a fact well confirmed by experience; while, at the same time, its aromatick flavour, as well as natural colour, is very little exhausted or altered, as there is but a small proportion of its bulk exposed to the weather, the greater part remaining sheltered as under a shade, and dries by degrees, But should the haymakers, in the view of accelerating the process, turn it in the swath, the following circumstances will occur: 1. The swath, instead of presenting a regular inclined surface, naturally adapted to lea the rain off as it falls, will lie expanded, loose, and irregular; well adapted indeed to receive the influence of the winds, or of the rays of the sun in dry weather, but equally ready to catch rain in case of a shower. 2. The hay itself will have become so much bruised, or softened, in the operation, as to retain, and even imbibe, that moisture which in the former case it would have repelled or shed off. The consequence must be, (as it is known to be in fact), that hay, in this situation, if once it gets wet, is much more difficult to be got dry again, than if it had not been turned at all.
There are, however, cases which frequently occur, in which it is proper to turn hay. This, if it has received rain, or has been protracted in the making, by a long continuance of damp weather, it must be turned in the swath at all hazards; and in most cases it will be proper to turn it in the forenoon of the same day in which it is meant to be put into large ricks in the afternoon; but in general, the process cannot be greatly advanced by that operation in good weather; and as it really retards it if followed y wet, the best way is it to let it alone till it is finally to be made, which in dry weather will be in about three days after it is cut, when it may be put into ricks of from 40 to 80 stone weight, where it may remain ten or twelve days longer, by which time it will be fit to be put into sows, or stacks, of any dimension. There is, however, one fact to be admitted, that in this mode of hay making the upper side of the swath, (exposed perhaps for three days together to the weather,) may be too much win, while the under side, for want of exposure, may be too little. There is, however, another fact, equally well ascertained, that by the time the hay is in the rick for 24 hours, the whole becomes one homogenous mass of the same degree of temperament; that which was too dry imbibing the superfluous moisture of that which was scarce dry enough, so that no distinction can afterwards be observed. The expense of making hay of this description amounts to from 1s to 1s 6d the acre, according as the crop may be from 150 to 300 stone weight, supposing the weather to be favourable. In wet weather, one cannot calculate what the expense may be, not the time that will be required.
In making of natural, or meadow hay, other circumstances take place, which make a different, and more expensive mode of operation necessary. In this case the swath is far from being laid down in a regular form, while the hay itself is neither firm nor straight; but, on the contrary, very soft and much interwarpt together, and generally so thick at the bottom, that, when turned up by the scythe, it is so compact and close, as totally yp exclude the external air; therefore it becomes necessary, not merely to turn this kind of hay from time to time, but to ted it very minutely, spreading it like a blanket, as evenly as possible, over the whole surface of the ground, o that no part of it may be much excluded from the influence of the drying winds, ore rays of the sun. In this way, when the weather is good, natural hay may be made, in eh course of a week, ready to be put into cocks of 20 or 25 stone weight, where it ought to remain, well tied down, and neatly dressed in the sides and at the bottom, for eight days more; when it may safely be collected into larger ricks, and finally into sows of greater dimension. In wet weather, this process is no doubt protracted to a longer period, but still it will be found, that to spread it as thinly over the field as the ground will admit of, will be the surest way to preserve it from material injury; for although, in this case, it is exposed to every shower that falls, yet as it is not any where of much thickness, the water is not retained, but sinks through it, to the ground; and on the return of the first breeze, in a few hours the upper parts will be dry, and if then turned, the under side, in like manner, will receive the same benefit.
A much more complex mode of hay making was formerly in use in this county, but is now pretty generally exploded, on account of the objections to which it is liable. This consisted (with hay of all descripptions) in spreading it out immediately after the scythe, in the fore part of the day, and putting it into cocks before night, which were increased in size from day to day, in proportion as the hay had advanced in making, till in the the end it became fit for the sow, or larger stack. On fair weather, there can be no question, that with this perpetual bustle, which was mistaken for exertion, the hay might be made in not much longer time, though with much greater expense, and perhaps be little inferior in quality, than it can be in the simple mode first mentioned. Yet, in wet weather, the point most to be guarded against, in every one circumstance above stated, it was miserly defective. The hay from the repeated teasing it was subjected to, was not only deprived of its natural juices and flavour, but from the soft bruised state to which it was reduced, it became quite unfit to repel moisture, but, on the contrary, imbibed it like a sponge, It is indeed true, that hay in cock receives less of the rain that falls, than hay that is spread over the whole surface of the ground; yet it is equally true, that hardly a single drop which falls on such hay as this is exhaled naturally, neither can it penetrate through it to the ground; but in the worst manner that can happen, it sinks down into the heart of the heap, where it occasions fermentation and rottenness, unless speedily relieved, by being again shaken out, in whatever state the weather may be.
Indeed to this alternative are hay makers, on this system, frequently reduced, more particularly, if in their endeavours to guard against a shower, and taken at unawares, they have re-cocked their hay after the rain has begun to fall; a mistake, from their ill-grounded apprehensions of danger from exposure, they are very ready to commit. In fact, this whole system, from beginning to end, is, of all others, the most tedious, the most expensive, and the most hazardous; superfluous labour at the best, in fair weather, and injurious in no small degree of times of rain, which in many hay-making seasons is but too prevalent in this country.
Hay is seldom hurt here by heating; and as to its taking fire, from that circumstance, it is unknown in this county. The only instance that I have heard of in the neighbourhood, happened at a Distillery, in an adjourning county, near the border of this, where a sow of hay, of 20,000 stone weight, (about 200 tons) was conjectured to be in the way of taking fire; upon which, all hands were ordered to take it down and spread it out, when some of it, as it was carrying away, was actulaly seen to burst into flame! a circumstance, that many people here will not credit, to very little were were accustomed to such an accountable fact. Several such accounts have, however, been stated in newspapers as happening in England; where, if it is the practice to make their hay in the manner last mentioned, (as seems to be in some counties the case), the one circumstance will account for the other, as hardly a plan of hay-making could be derived more ready than it to engender such a phenomenon.”

The photographs were taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Rally, June 2014.

Hay bogies or sledges were used to haul hay in rucks or ricks to the farm steading. In essence, they were a flat tipping trailer with a winch.

There were a number of makers of hay bogies. In 1912 Dickie Brothers, agricultural engineers, Stirling, manufactured an improved one for £6 10s. The most well-known one was made by A. Jack & Sons, Maybole, Ayrshire. There are still a few of the Jack bogies to be seen around the rally fields.

What was it like to harvest the hay crop in Fife in olden days when the horse ruled and there was little machinery – no horse rakes, bogies, hay turners and the like?

The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement published the county agricultural surveys of agriculture for each county in Britain between 1794 and 1817. It includes accounts of agricultural activities, tools and implements. The following is an account of the hay harvest in Fife in 1800.

“Hay harvest begins in July, sooner or later, according as the season is more or less favourable. In hay making, two things are chiefly attended to;-first, the time of cutting; and, secondly, the hammer of winning or drying the hay. When the rye-grass is sown with a view to save the seed, as soon as it is fully ripe, it is cut and bound up in sheaves, dried in stocks, and put up in stacks like barley or oats. But if hay only be the object, it is cut down at least a fortnight before it be ripe, and while the seed is not yet in a state to be easily separated from the straw. Several advantages arise from this practice. The hay will be much superior in quality than when allowed to be fully ripe; will have a better flavour, and possess more of the natural juices. When completely ripened, before it be cut, the seed is apt to be mostly lost in the process of winning, stacking, cutting down again, and carrying to the rack or hay-loft. And this kind of grass, when fully ripe, and deprived of the seed, is a little superior to oat-straw. Another advantage is, that, by cutting before it be ripe, the ground will be less exhausted. When plants of any kind are allowed to run to seed, the leaves fall or wither; and the stem grows dry and hard, and consequently incapable of deriving any further nourishment from the air. The soil, therefore, being now obliged to supply the whole food necessary for maturing and perfecting the plants, must be greatly scourged and exhausted. This injury to the ground will be prevented by removing the crop before it be fully ripe. Another advantage, derived from early cutting, is, that the succeeding crop of clover will be more forward and more luxuriant, and the rye-grass, springing again, will render it more weighty and abundant. And, which is of no small consequence, if the whole second crop shall not be necessary for green food, more time will be allowed for making it into hay. Perhaps the best method of managing this, to make it rather more than half dry, and then mix it intimately with fresh old straw, and put it up into a stack. It will, in this state, make excellent winter food for cattle.
The mode of winning hay is not uniform; but is generally regulated by the kind and nature of the grass, and the state of the weather. Sometimes hay from the seed, such as clover and rye-grass, is allowed to lye in the swathe for a few days after it is cut; and then, if the weather has been, and still continues to be dry, it is put into large cocks or tramp ricks in the field. Others, after allowing it to remain in the swathe for a short time, wither turn it over or spread it out on the morning of a dry day, and, on the afternoon, put it into large costs; after which, as soon as it is judged sufficiently dead, it to brought to the barn-yard and stacked. The former method requires less labour; and, therefore, when circumstances will permit, ought to be preferred. But should it meed with much rain in the swathe, and should it, at the same time, contain a large proportion of clover, it will be necessary, at all events, to spread it out. In such circumstances, should it be allowed to continue long in the swathe, it would come so close together, that the air could not easily penetrate it: It would become yellow, and lose its flavours before it could be dried. Repeated showers, or a long continuance of heavy rains, will do less harm to hay when spread, than when lying in the swathe, orin small cocks.
Natural grass, or meadow-hay, from its softness, and consequent closeness, when thrown off the scythe, will not admit of the same method of winning as rye-grass. The practice, therefore, is, to spread it soon after it is cut, and to turn it repeatedly at proper intervals. As soon as it is tolerably dry, it is put into cocks of a moderate size, which, if the weather continue favourable, are not spread out again, but turned over and increased in size, by putting two into ne; and then, when sufficiently dry, they are put together in tramp ricks, containing from 50 to 80 stones, neatly formed, and made fast with ropes, to secure them against the weather.
Heating in the stack, to a certain degree, is reckoned no advantage to hay, if this be occasioned by its own natural sap, but if by rain, the effect is otherwise.”

The photographs were taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Rally, June 2014.