Month: September 2018

What implements and machines were used in Inverness-shire in 1808?

James Robertson, he author of the county agricultural survey of that that county provides a detailed account of these. It is worth quoting at length:

The implements of husbandry which are used by the inhabitants of any county, no less than the construction of their houses and the appearance of their ground, are characteristic of the progress which they have made in the knowledge of agriculture, and in their enjoyment of the comforts of life. These improvements are either simultaneous, or so nearly allied in respect of the principle to which they owe their origin, and the time in which they appear in any country, that they are universally found to exist together. Wherever we see farmers turning up the surface of the earth in a slovenly manner and employing uncouth and unhandy tools for providing their own food, whichis the first care of every living creature, we instantly conclude that they are far behind in the line of cultivation. But wherever any of these improvements have made considerable progress, the rest are not far behind.
The general aspect of the county under review, is very much diversified; the genius and industry of the people, and the instruments of their husbandry, are no les so. In some provinces, all the modern improvements invented to facilitate the labours of agriculture, and to beautify the appearance of their lands, are to be seen in the highest perfection; while in other places, no change has taken place in these respects for many generations.
In the islands and western parts of the county, the cas-chrom, or spade with the crooked handle, still retains its place in the operations of the rude agriculture there practised. This is a clumsy, heavy instrument, something in the form of a spade, and of great antiquity. The iron is triangular, resembling that used for casting turfs, having a strong and large socket for receiving a wooden handle, which is not straight, but shaped like two segments of a large circle, joned together and placed in opposite directions, like the figure in architecture, called an ogee.
At a little distance above the socket, the wooden handle has a peg or pin, fixed firmly, so as to answer the right foot, which is employed to is the hands and to give more power to the instrument, in being driven forward below the surface. From the construction of the case-chrom, it is evident that it does not go straight down into the ground as the garden spade: it penetrates more in a direction sloping forward, and requires two or three efforts before the soil is turned over; but when turned, there is more ground generally taken up than any other spade, now in use, could accomplish. The reason of its doing more execution is obvious, not only because of the breadth of the iron, but also because the lower part of the handle slopes nearly in a horizontal direction, to receive some of the tough spot to be turned over. The triangular point of the iron qualifies this instrument to enter easily among stones; and the coarseness of the surface, and thinness of soil, enable it to lay over a greater quantity of sod than any other instrument for digging, which is wrought by the foot, It was in great estimation with the common people, who were won’t to employ it even in fields, where the plough might act; but at present it is seldom used, except on ground with a rocky bottom, or on the shelves of rocks, where no plough can be used.
In the islands, the people are said still to use ploughs with one handle; for what reason, it is not easy to conjecture, because two handles give in all cases, more command in the direction of a plough, than one. I was informed that in lea or grass ground, where the case-chrom is to be used in digging the soil, they first of all fix an instrument like a coulter, in a frame of wood resembling a plough-beam, in which a horse is yoked, to cut the tough and matted surface into parallel lines, leaving the intermediate spaces of that breadth which the case-chrom can easily turned up. This kind of plough, if it can be called one, seems to be only subsidiary to the other instrument.
Harrows with wooden teeth, cart-wheels unshod with iron, and without bushes of cast metal to facilitate the motion, tumblers, currants or currachs, to carry home corn and hay, baskets for carrying out their dung, another kind of basket for carrying home peats, shades or sledges for particular carriages; and many other instruments of the same rude construction, continue to be used in many districts of this widely extended county. The principal recommendation of these uncouth instruments is, that some of them are well adapted to the state of the roads, or places in that country where there is no road at all; that others of them are cheap to poor people; and that the farmer himself can make and repair them at his own conveniency. At a distance from carpenters and smiths, every man must be frequently at a loss, who has not learned to be handy in the matters. To attempt in this place to describe such rude implements is unnecessary, as there is a hazard that the description might not be understood by those who had never sen them, and that in a few years it would be useless, as it is to be hoped, the objects described will exist no longer. Persons of curiosity are referred to the Survey of Perthshire, where some notice is taken of their construction and suitableness to the situation of certain countries, and to the condition and the manners of the inhabitants.
About 35 or 40 years ago, scarcely could a plough or cart-wright be found in all the county, to make the necessary farming utensils in a sufficient manner, or of a proper construction. In these circumstances, every person, who was emulous to improve his land, imported ploughs, carts, harrows, &c of an improved construction from London, or from the port of Leith. But as the demand for machines of a nicer form, and more substantial make, increased, several young men were induced to go from home, and serve apprenticeships with skilful masters; so that properly bred smiths and carpenters of all denominations are now settled in most of the low and central parts of the county. Owing to the want of proper wood and encouragement,a nd there being no demand in the Islands and Western Highlands, skilful artificers have hitherto declined to go thither.
There are ploughs of various constructions, but that generally used is the improved Scottish one, which is made in the county, of every size, and with or without mould boards of cast iron, according to the option of the employer. On gentlemen’s farms we find large harrows for breaking coarse ground, drill-barrows, rollers, banners, thrashing-machines, and carts of different constructions, with every other agricultural instrument employed by farmers in any part of Scotland. But very few of the common rank of tenantry, have shown an inclination to adopt the style of dressing their ground in a manner which renders these implements requisite.
The late Mr Davidson was the first to construct a thrashing-mill which was driven by horses. He imported all the parts of the machinery from Leith, and brought the tradesmen at the same time to join the parts together, and set the machine to work: Mr Forbes of Culloden, Mr Robertson of Inches, Governor Stuart at Fort George, Mr Grant at Rothiemurchus, Major Fraser of Mewton, Mr Anderson, minister at Kingussie, Mr Mitchell at Gordon-hall, and no doubt many other improvers in various parts of the county, have not only thrashing-machines, but many other implements of husbandry, which are used in the southern counties. Mr Young, formerly mentioned as having several Spanish sheep, showed me a machine in the form of a brake-harrow, drawn by one horse, with two handles, for cleaning couch-grass and other fibrous weeds from ploughed land. Its execution is very great, not only in cleaning but pulverising the soil, where the ground is level, and free of obstructions. machines are also made in the eastern districts of the country, for bruising the succulent tops of furze to make provender for horses, in seasons when the crop of grain is short, and straw and hay scanty. The year old shoots of this planet afford a convenient substitute at a small expense, which is at the same time rich and wholesome food. The common class of farmers, who have no machines for that purpose, beat these tops of furze with the flail; by which means their horses, it is said, with very little other subsistence, are enabled to carry on the labours of the spring.”

By comparison to other counties, James Robertson describes a very limited number of implements and machines. This was one of the counties where older and traditional implements were to the fore.

The photographs of the ploughs were taken at the Highland Folk Museum. The photographs of threshing were taken at the Strathnairn rally, September 2014.

Threshing mills started to become more widely available in Scotland in the later eighteenth century. By the early nineteenth century they had become more common among some of the social classes. How were they being adopted and used in some counties of Scotland?

The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement provides some insights to the adoption of threshing mills in its county agricultural surveys, published between 1793 and 1817. The survey for the county of Fife provide an extensive account on threshing mills. It is repeated at length:

“Threshing mills, a late, but most important invention, are now very common in Fife, and their number is increasing every year. In almost every parish they have been erected, and in several parishes not less than 7 or 8 and are to be seen. In the whole county, the number may probably be nearly 300. They are of different constructions, and various powers: and since they were first introduced, have received very considerable and material improvements. Some are moved by water, when a convenient steam can be had; but the greatest number are wrought by horses. I know of none that do not require at least two horses. Some require four, and some six. They thrash from two to twelve bolls in the hour; and many of them, by connecting fanners and other pieces of machinery with the principal movement, are made not only to thrash, but also to clean, to riddle, and to sift at the same time.
Of the many excellent and effective machines of this kind to be found in the county, the one erected, some years ago, at Kilry, in the parish of Kinghorn, was reckoned, at the time of its erection, one of the most complete. It is moved by water, and is said to thrash and clear 12 bolls in the hour. Many people in the neighbourhood carry their grain to be thrashed there, which they get done for sixpence per boll. Combined with this, there is a corn mill, a barley mill, and a hoisting tackle, all moved by the same water wheel.
Since that period, a great many other thrashing mills of equal, and some of superior powers, have been erected in this county. There is a very powerful one at Pusk in the parish of Leuchars, which was erected by Mr Buchan the late tenant. And Mr Cheap of Rossie has erected one lately, which, in respect of the excellence of materials and workmanship, the convenience of the several arrangements connected with it, the extent of its powers, and completeness of execution, is equal, perhaps superior, to any in Fife.
The advantages of this invention to husbandry are great. It separates the grain from the straw more completely than flails can do. It performs the work in a shorter time; and requires fewer hands upon the whole. By thrashing wet grain quickly and completely, it saves it from being lost in wet harvests, when the crop cannot be got easily and properly dried. In short, the same hands, that would otherwise be necessary on the farm, will be able, with this instrument, to accomplish the business of thrashing without much perceptible loss of time, as they can always in an hour in the morning, before they go out to the plough, or other work without doors, thrash as much as will serve the bestial for one or perhaps two days.
In a few instances, indeed, I have heard complaints that this machine, though erected at great expense, and judged to be sufficiently executed, did not thrash clean. But this must be owing, not to any defect in the principle, but to some inaccuracy in the construction and adjustment of the machinery: a circumstance not to be wondered at, in a work so new and so complicated. It may be expected, however, that, by a course of trials, every defect will be discovered and corrected, and by the improved skill and dexterity which the mechanic will derive from practice, the machine will be brought to such perfection, as to remove every complaint.”

The photographs were taken at the Fife Vintage Agricultural Machinery Rally, June 2015.

Back in 1890 the farmers of Portsoy, Banffshire, could purchase locally made reapers from the MacDonald Brothers, Portsoy. The brothers had been making agricultural implements and machines from 1878; their early manufactures included harrows and turnip lifters.

By 1885 they had started to make back delivery reapers, a manufacture which they continued to make into the early twentieth century. They had a number of models. In 1890 one of them was the Princess, a one horse self-acting back delivery reaper. Another two from 1894 were the Portsoy self-acting back delivery reaper and the Simplex self-acting back delivery reaper. The brothers were among a number of reaper manufacturers in Scotland, others including the famous Kemp, Murray & Nicholson, Stirling, Alexander Jack & Son, Maybole, as well as Auchinachie & Simpson, Keith.

The county agricultural surveys of the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement, published between 1795 and 1817 record information on agricultural implements and machines. The Scottish reports include some interesting insights on threshing machines, seen as one of the most important agricultural innovations of the day. The survey report for Aberdeenshire includes a short account on the introduction and use of threshing mills.

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?