W. Henderson and Sons, Catrine, Ayrshire, had attempted to find a solution to mole draining in Scotland, for a number of years. It exhibited its “Endeavour” mole draining machine as a new implement at the Aberdeen Highland Show of 1928. It underwent trials at Bavelaw Farm, Balerno, Midlothian, from 12 to 19 March 1929. The trials were favourable and were recorded in newspapers such as the Kilmarnock herald and North Ayrshire Gazette of 4 April 1929. That newspaper noted:
“An Ayrshire invention
For about ten years Messrs W. Henderson and Sons, engineers, Catrine, have been experimenting with a view to finding a solution to mole draining in Scotland. After several patents had been taken out and improved upon, their finished design appeared at Ayr Show last year, where it aroused keen interest among agriculturalists. Later, it came under the inspection of the new Implement Committee at the Highland Show at Aberdeen. Under the Society’s rules, a new implement before being awarded a medal must satisfy the committee on being tested under ordinary working conditions. That condition was complied with the other day when Messrs Henderson demonstrated the merits of their outfit before the Highland Society’s representatives at Bavelaw Farm, Balerno, Midlothian.
All the judges were not able to be present, but those in attendance were favourably impressed with the work done. They regarded it as an ingenious device.
The plough makes drains of 2 ½ inches to 4 ½ inches in diameter and at any depth from 13 inches to 30 inches below the surface of the ground. It is drawn by a tractor, not by means of a hitch as in the case of the ordinary tractor plough, but by means of a specially fitted patent revolving drum and a steel rope. The tractor goes forward from 50 to 100 yards, where it halts, and then draws the draining plough after it. During the winding operations the tractor is securely braced again, slipping back by means of two iron stays.
The cost of mole draining with this outfit is stated to be only about one-eighth of the cost of the tile draining, and the mole drains are expected to last for about 15 years. On some of the heavy clay lands in England mole drains have kept in good repair for as long as forty years; but it is only in clay that they can be regarded as successful.”
A meeting of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland agreed to award a silver medal to the business for its mole draining machine.
The business was a very successful one in terms of its innovations. In 1931 it was also awarded a silver medal for its “Maybet” winch on tractor. In the following year it received a further one for its wooden drainpipe. In 1933 it exhibited “a double turn” single furrow plough designed by William Beg, plough specialist Tarbolton. The plough aimed to reduce the costs of ploughing in farmyard manure. Instead of ploughing the land twice, it undertook these operations at one time: “It is so constructed that by a simple adjustment the manure can be left at any depth from the surface, as may be required to suit the varying conditions. The plough is fitted with a spring-loaded adjustable bar point-a contrivance designed to eliminate breakages when ploughing stony land.”
