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The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement was a keen promoter of agriculture in Britain. Key to agricultural development was the securing of agricultural knowledge and the dissemination of that knowledge. The Board’s county agricultural surveys, 1793-1817, were to play an important part in disseminating knowledge on agriculture throughout Britain.

These reports were written according to a systematic manner, allowing the Board and its readers to compare and contrast the agriculture, agricultural practices and tools and implements in each county. Within these chapters the Board was interested to hear about developments such as ploughing matches.

A number of the Scottish surveys provide accounts of ploughing matches and attitudes towards them. Together they provide an overview of the state of matches. The following are a number of accounts:

Dumbartonshire (1811) 
There are at present no agricultural societies belonging properly to the county of Dumbarton. … This defect is in some measure supplied by the operations of the Glasgow Farmer Society, a respectable body of practical farmers, several of whom reside within the bounds of this county. Besides circulating information, and affording relief to unfortunate members, this society has been of use in exciting a spirit of emulation and desire to excel in the farm servants, by the institution of ploughing matches, and the distribution of prizes to those who distinguish themselves by superior proficiency in this branch of rural industry. These competitions are attended in some respects with a portion of inconvenience, raising spirit of jealousy among the competitors, and fostering a propensity to vanity and idleness in those who are successful. Still they are on the whole highly beneficial, in directing the attention of both farmers and ploughmen to the condition of their work-horses, the perfection of their implements, and that minute accuracy in performing every part of their work which is essential to correct, and (it may be added) truly profitable cultivation.
In those parts of the county which lie farthest from Glasgow, and where ploughing was formerly more neglected, similar competitions have been lately introduced for prizes given by the Highland Society of Scotland; and the spirit of improvement which they encourage, has already begun to display itself in those parishes to which the competition extends.”

Aberdeenshire (1811) 
Agricultural societies established – Of these we have several in the different divisions, and even inferior divisions. In the division of Marr, there is one in Aberdeen, one in Alford, and one in Kincardine. These meet frequently for the purpose of improving in agricultural knowledge, and for deciding ploughing matches; and in one of the inferior districts of Alford, there is a Friendly Society. In the divisions of Buchan and the garish, and in various other places, there are Societies for all the above purposes; and their effects are found to be very beneficial both in the improved cultivation of our lands, and for the support of the infirm, the widows and the fatherless. But it is unnecessary to be more particular in this article”.

Stirlingshire (1812) 
“Of the utility of instituting ploughing matches, in particular, some have entertained doubts. It has been alleged that the ploughmen who have been successful in these competitions became henceforth insolent and extravagant in their demands of wages; it is presumed, however, that the superior dexterity acquired, and widely diffused among ploughmen by these competitions far outweighs the evil complained of. There needs no other proof of this than the difference that is to be observed in respect to ploughing, between the cases of Stirlingshire, where ploughing matches are unknown, and the bounds of the Gargunnock club. In the former, the operation is performed, for the most part, in a slovenly manner; the ridges are broad and crooked; in the latter, the form of the ridges, and the manner in which the furrow is turned, furnish a model.”

The photographs were taken at the Easter Ross Ploughing Match, November 2017.

Patrick Graham, Minister of Aberfoyle, wrote the General View of the Agriculture of Stirlingshire for the Board of Agriculture. It was published in 1811. He includes a short, but detailed, account of threshing mills and their use in the county. This account was made when there was already a wide use of threshing in the county by a number of means, including horse power and water power. It is worth quoting at length: 

“Suffice it to say, that thrashing mills, with their appendages of shakers, and winnowing machines or manners, are now very generally introduced into this county. Few or none who farm to any extent in the eastern and southern districts, want this first implement of husbandry. They are almost universally wrought by horses, water being for the most part scarce. The power of the mill is estimated by the number of horses that is necessary to work it; an indefinite estimate, it must be allowed, to persons unacquainted with the strength of the horses employed, but sufficiently intelligible in the district under consideration. We speak of a thrashing mill of a three horse power, a four horse and a six horse. 

From the daily increasing price of wood, and of other materials of every kind, an ordinary thrashing machine costs from L60 to L200. A thrashing mill of a three horse power, in this county, about four years ago, L125. At the present day it would cost 25 per cent more. Ten men are employed whilst it is in use, in the various operations belonging to it; it thrashes at the rate of ten bolls of wheat every hour, or 100 bolls in a day often hours.Without enlarging on the utility of this machine, this may suffice to demonstrate the saving which it occasions. It is unnecessary to offer an estimate of the time, and the number of hands that would be required to thrash 100 bolls of wheat by the flail. It is reckoned that one third of the expense of labour is saved by the use of the thrashing mill.”

Graham also shows that the thrashing machines were already a labour-saving machine, though one that has increased in price in recent years.

The photographs of threshing were taken at B. A. Stores, Aberdeenshire, May 2018.

What were carts like during the agricultural revolution of the late eighteenth century when there were significant change stop the appearance of the landscape and the way the land was farmed?

Carts were one of a small number of agricultural implements to be found on Scottish farms. The writer of the county agricultural survey of Perthshire, James Robertson, Minister at Callander, wrote a detailed account on them. It provides a clear account of what they looked like, how they were constructed and also their use. It is worth quoting at length:

“All the implements of husbandry are constructed according to better models and made of better materials, than formerly. So late as 20 years ago, no plough was to be seen, but on a gentleman’s farm in the low lands of this county, except that which is now called the old Scots plough, drawn by four oxen and two horses, or by four horses and two oxen. In the Highlands the same kind of plough was universally used, drawn by four horses all yoked abreast. Instead of carts with wheels moveable upon the axle; that clumsy machine, in which the wheels were fixed to the axle, described by the President of the Board and still to be met with in the northern counties, was very common in all the low lands of Perthshire. The wheels had no spoaks or naves. They were composed of three sections of solid plank, fixed together and rounded like the bottom of a large cask; and the axle was fixed in the centre, going through the middle section. The shafts had two pins that embraced the axle and made these awkward wheels tumble along; from which circumstance they were named tumblers. A timber mallet wrought by the hand was all they had for a roller to break the clods in the stiff land of the cases. Fanners were very rare, and threshing machines not known. In the Highlands, the people performed distant carriages of bulky commodities with hurdles, fixed on each side of the horse, by means of a hooked car saddle, still remembered by the name of currants.

Less bulky commodities were carried in hampers or baskets, made of young hazel, with a square mouth, and fixed on the horse’s back with the dame car saddle. Near carriages, particularly the ingathering of their hay and corns, were executed with a fledge, which consisted of two shafts reaching from the collar in the horse’s neck to the ground, with cross bars near the horse’s hind feet, for a bottom, and at least seven erect bars behind, for keeping on the load. This fledge succeeding the hurdle and evidently required some road, wghereas the hurdle could be used wherever it was possible for a horse to walk. The name which this sledge has in the language of the Highlands shows that it was the carries of the Gaul’s in Caesar’s time; and the English name car is borrowed evidently from the Latin. Upon this sledge or car the fanners in the Highlands carried out the dung in large baskets, diverging towards the mouth in the shape of an equilateral triangle, one side of the basket lying on the bottom or floor of the sledge, the dung was carried tto the field in baskets with moveable bottoms, like a valve, fixed to the hooked car sale, which opened in the bottom by a pin and dropped the dung where it was necessary. On these sledges they carried home their peats in other baskets of a square form and of such capacity as to hold a horse’s load; but where the road was so steep that the car could not be used. They adapted small baskets of the same form fixed on the horse’s sides to the hooked car sale. In many parts of the Highlands, these sledges are still employed for carrying grain nd hay, as well as peats; especially where the roads are so rugged and uneven as to render the use of carts impracticable. However censurable this practice may appear to a stranger, yet in some situations it is unavoidable; and at first sight it would seem incredible, with what dispatch and safety the people perform their work and also with fewer hands than carts or wagons would require. Sledges are indeed going out, and ought to be so, where the cross roads in a country or the by-roads in a farm are passable by carts. 

But notwithstanding every improvement which the roads have undergone; the principal lines of communication having deservedly claimed the first attention of the public; this has hitherto left the roads in other situations, in such a state, especially where the country is rocky or hilly, that carts would be overturned every moment. Distant carriages in every part of this county, where the journey is on the king’s highway, are universally performed by carts. 
It is to be hoped, if the wagons used in the moor lands of Yorkshire, could be introduced with advantage into the Highlands of Scotland, as Mr Marshall says they can, that the Board will favour the country with a drawing of one, accompanied with directions how to use it.”

The photographs of carts with pneumatic tyres dating from the 1930s onwards were an important development in carts. The photographs are of carts made by Pollock and Jack, both of Ayrshire, at the Ayrshire Vintage Agricultural Machinery Rally.

At the outbreak of the Second World War there continued to be a number of agricultural implement and machine makers that had been in existence for a number of decades as well as newer ones. They were operating in an environment where tractors were growing in importance, but the horse was still an important means of power. Makers had to cater for both means of power. 

Who were the Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers in 1939? A number of directories record makers who included: 

Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen 
J. D. Allan & Sons, Culthill Implement Works, Murthly, Perthshire 
G. Rae-Arnot & Co., 52 Crossgate, Cupar 
J. L. & J. Ballach, Gorgie Implement Works, Edinburgh 
Barclay, Ross & Hutchison Ltd, 67-71 Green, Aberdeen 
William Begg, plough specialist, Tarbolton, Ayrshire 
J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Greenbank Works, Blairgowrie 
B. M. B. Ltd, Hawkhead Road, Paisley 
James Bowen & Sons Ltd, 57-59 Pitt Street, Edinburgh 
Thomas Cochran & Co., 108 Waterloo Street, Glasgow 
Cruikshank & Co. Ltd (Agricultural Department), Denny Iron Works, Denny 
The Dairy Supply Co., Ltd, 12 Grassmarket, Edinburgh 
William Dickie & Sons, Victoria Works and Iron Foundry, East Kilbride 

Fleming & Co., 31 Robertson Street, Glasgow 
P. & R. Fleming & Co., agricultural engineers, Graham Square and 29 Argyle Street, Glasgow 
R. G. Garvie & Sons, 2 Canal Road, Aberdeen 
Gillies & Henderson, 59 Bread Street, Edinburgh 
Eddie T. Y. Gray, Fairbank Sectional Building Works, Fetterangus, Mintlaw Station, Aberdeenshire 
James Hamilton & Sons, 522 Gallowgate, Glasgow
George Henderson Ltd, 18 Forth Street, Edinburgh, and Kelso Foundry, Kelso 
W. Henderson & Sons, 330 Kelvindale Road, Glasgow
Alexander Jack & Sons, Maybole, Ayrshire 
William Kinross & Sons, 27 Port Street, Stirling 
L. O. Tractors Ltd, St Catherine’s Road, Perth 
Mackenzie & Moncur Ltd, Balcarres Street, Edinburgh 
D. McNeil Ltd, 37 Douglas Street, Glasgow 
Marshall & Philp, 179 Union Street, Aberdeen 
Mather Dairy Utensils Co. Ltd, 51 Newall Terrace, Dumfries 

John S. Millar & Son, water engineers, 89 High Street, Annan
John Monro, Eclipse Implement Works, Kirkcaldy 
A. Newlands & Sons Ltd, St Magdlaene Engineering Works, Linlithgow
Neilson & Cleland Ltd, 122 main Street, Coatbridge 
Thomas Nimmo, Braehead, Fauldhouse, West Lothian 
D. T. Paterson, Sinclair’s Hill, Duns 
A. C. Penman Ltd, Queensberry Motor Works, Dumfries 
A. & W. Pollock, Implement Works, Mauchline, Ayrshire 
Wm Reid (Forres), Morayshire 
A. M. Russell, 108-112 West Bow, Grassmarket, Edinburgh 
The Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd, 39 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh 
George Sellar & Son Ltd, Huntly and Alloa 
Alexander Shanks & Son Ltd, Dens Iron Works, Arbroath 
Shearer Brothers Ltd, Maybank Works, Turriff, Aberdeenshire

Thomas Sherriff & Co., Agricultural Machinery Works, West Barns, Dunbar 
Alexander Strang (Tractors) Ltd, 4 Duddingston Gardens South, Edinburgh 
G. D. L. Swann & Son, dairy engineers, 32-36 Abercorn Street, Glasgow 
Smith & Wellstood Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire 
James H. Steele, “Everything for the Farm”, Harrison Road, Edinburgh 
J. & R. Wallace, The Foundry, Castle Douglas
John Wallace & Sons Ltd, 34 Paton Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow 
Charles Weir Ltd, Townpark Works, Strathaven, Lanarkshire.

How many of these names do you recognise?

The photographs were taken at rallies around Scotland in 2017.

One of the well-known Ayrshire implement and machine makers of yesteryear was George McCartney & Co., engineers, Cunnock. The company was already established by 1850. In 1887 it was described as one of the “principal” exhibitors of implements at the Ayrshire Agricultural Association’s show. By 1894 it was located at Glaisnock Street in Old Cumnock, and in 1903 it gave its address as Burnside Works, Cumnock, where it remained in business until the 1930s.

In 1893 the company described itself as engineers, millwrights and ironmongers. It was also an agricultural implement maker, electrical accessory and appliance manufacturer, engineer, manufacturer and mechanical engineer.

George McCartney & Co. was most well known for its thrashing machines and reaping machines. In 1870 the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland awarded its silver medal for its 3 or 4 horse power thrashing machine and in 1875 that society also awarded it a medium silver medal for one of its thrashing machines. It was its thrashing machines that it also heavily advertised in the Scottish agricultural press, in the North British Agriculturist from 1861, and the Scottish Farmer from 1893. In 1910 its threshing machines included a 3 feet 8 in bolster high speed threshing machine, with crank shakers, riddle and fanners (which sold at £77; with double blast £83), its “Eclipse” combined thresher and dresser, 20 inch wide, with horse gear (for £32); and a 16 inch thresher dresser, with revolving shakers and horse gear (for £27).

The company attended the Highland Show from 1850. However, after the 1852 show it did not attend again until 1870. Attendance was sporadic, with the company favouring the show in the south of Scotland and central Scotland show districts.

The company continued in business until 1933. However, its legacy lasted thereafter. On 14 October 1933 William Dickie & Sons, East Kilbride advertised “McCartney & Co., Cumnock, the old established firm has given up business. We have secured the patterns and drawings for their threshing mills, water wheels, gears, water bowls &c.”

If you bought a threshing mill from Dickie’s of East Kilbride, after 1933, the chance is that it would have been one that used the patterns from George McCartney & Co.

The photographs of the nameplates were taken at the Ayrshire Vintage Rally, July 2016.

There are a number of accounts of implement and machinery works being destroyed by fire from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Some of them provide insights into the buildings and implement works that played an important role in the making of implements and machines for the Scottish farmer. Others give details of the men and managers. 

A number of these accounts are worth quoting for the details it provides about the businesses that were affected by destructive fires: 

Fire at West Barns Implement Works, Dunbar, September 1866 
“On Saturday evening, a fire of a somewhat alarming nature took place at the agricultural implement works, belonging to Mrs Sherriff, at West Barns. The premises, which are pretty extensive, consist of a double range of workshops and other offices running back at right angles from the highway passing through the village, and, with the dwelling house filling up the farthest extremity, form nearly three sides of a square. The fire broke out in one of the workshops at the northern extremity of the range of buildings on the west side. The lower flat was occupied as a smithy, and the upper as a joiners’ shop, in which, in addition to the usual inflammable articles, were kept the oils and paints used in the business. The town’s engine was immediately set to work, and the flames were subdued. It is not known how the fire originated. The men leave off work at two o’clock on Saturday, and when the manager, Mr Robertson, went round some time after that, there was no appearance of anything wrong. The loss is not exactly known, but it must be considerable. Besides the tools and materials in the joiners’ shop, there was a large collection of patterns, and wood ready dressed for the manufacture of the sowing-machines and other implements, for which the firm is well known, all of which have been destroyed. The loss is partly covered by insurance.”

Fire at Uddingston Iron Works, Uddingston, Lanarkshire, April 1875  
A most destructive fire occurred yesterday afternoon at the well-known agricultural implement establishment of Messrs John Gray & Co., Uddingston Iron Works. The works, which are situated immediately adjoining the Uddingston station of the Caledonian Railway, are very extensive-the ground feed by the firm for their general use extending to four acres, and the buildings covering an area of two acres. These are erected in six parallel rows-the foundry being in the rear, and the pattern store, engineer, blacksmith, and joiners’ shop and offices lying to the front, and a series of sheds and stores running at right angles towards the main entrance to the works from the public road. Shortly before one o’clock one of the apprentices noticed flames bursting from the roof of the pattern store; and the intelligence having been immediately conveyed to Mr Bennet, the manager, the workmen turned out with a view to staying the progress of the fire, The wind was, however, blowing strongly from an easterly direction; and all efforts to extinguish the flames proving futile, endeavours were made to empty the buildings of their most valuable contents, which were, however, only partially successful. The fire spread to the engineer shop and to the drawing office-three steam and several hand engines being wholly destroyed. The flames almost simultaneously communicated with the adjoining counting house, show-room, and engineer shop beneath. Fortunately, the show-room was not so largely filled as it usually is, and the agricultural implements it contained were secured, as were also the books of the firm and other contents of the counting house. The flames, passing a smith’s shop in a line with the counting house, next caught another range of buildings to the left, consisting of a store, paint shop, joiners’ shop, &c; and from the inflatable nature of the materials it contained, it was also entirely gutted, but luckily not before the contents were secured. A telegram having been forwarded for assistance to the Glasgow Fire Brigade, and a messenger despatched to Hamilton, an engine from each of these places was on the spot about two o’clock, along with several members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps. By this time, however, the firs had done its work, and the operations of the engines were confined to the pouring of water on the burning embers and preventing them blowing on to the property which had been saved. The loss is insured to the extent of £6000; but although no estimate has yet been made up, it is believed this sum will hardly cover the actual damage sustained. In addition to the personal loss and inconvenience caused to Messrs Gray, the workmen will also suffer, as, to the number of 200, they are thrown idle.

Fire at Benjamin Reid & Co., Aberdeen, August 1889 
“Damage to the extent of about £2000 was caused by fire which occurred early this morning in the work premises of Benjamin Reid & Company, implement makers, Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen. In spite of the efforts of the Fire Brigade a considerable quantity of machinery was destroyed, including vertical and planing machines and several vices. The fireman at the works prevented an explosion by having opened the valve of the boiler. A building with inflammable material attached to the burning premises was untouched.”

Fire at Castle Douglas, May 1911
“An outbreak of fire occurred at the implement works of Mr James Gordon, King Street, Castle Douglas, on Friday night. The fire was confined mostly to the engine shed, in which were several barrels containing paraffin oil. These became ignited, and for a time the fire seemed to have a complete mastery, and the whole workshop was in imminent danger. the flames leapt to the roof, which was entirely composed of glass, and the glare attracted a large crowd. After much exertion the flames were got under, but not before considerable damage was done, the large engine shed and glass roof of an outer building being demolished. The damage is covered by insurance.”

Fire at Messrs Barclay, Ross & Co., Aberdeen, May 1920 
“Their first call was in the early morning to a destructive blaze at Craigshaw, just beyond the city boundary at Torry, damage being done to the premises and stock there of Messrs Barclay, Ross and Hutchison, one of the best known firms of agricultural implement makers in Scotland, to the amount of about £6000.
The Craigshaw outbreak was observed between two and three o’clock in the morning, and it was only after about five hours’ hard work on the part of the members of the Fire Brigade that the flames were got under. The premises, which are situated close to the railway line, consist of a large range of buildings, including a corrugated iron structure 150 feet long, 30 feet broad, and 14 feet high, and a stone and lime erection 100 feet long and 40 feet broad. The corrugated iron building was practically gutted, while the other, particularly at the south end, was badly damaged. The buildings included a millwright’s shop, stores, offices, blacksmith’s shop, engineer’s shop, dressed wood store etc.
It is not known how the outbreak originated, but it is thought to have started in the paint shop. The signalman on duty in the railway cabin beside the railway bridge at Craigshaw was the first to observe the outbreak. He immediately telephoned for the fire brigade, which was promptly on the scene, under Fitremaster Inkster. By the time the brigade arrived, however, the flames were bursting through the roof of the corrugated iron building, and by three o’clock the erection was practically ablaze from end to end. 
The firemen devoted their energies to preventing the flames from spreading to the stone and lime structure. They were successful in saving the north end, but at the other end, which adjoins the corrugated iron building, the flames did considerable damage. It was not until seven o’clock in the morning that all danger was past. Two telegraph standards were badly damaged.
The works at Craigshaw were the largest of their kind in the north of Scotland. Threshing mills, manure distributors, oil engines, and a variety of other agricultural machinery and implements which were being prepared for the exhibition in the showered of the Highland and Agricultural Society at Aberdeen in July were destroyed.
The damage is covered by insurance.”

These are revealing accounts of a number of implement and machine makers, though revealed through unfortunate circumstances.

As an agricultural historian it is hard to believe that it is now a century since the end of the First World War. It seemed like decades ago – but not a century. The Great War brought significant changes to Scottish agriculture, as did the years after it when the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland undertook its trials of tractors and implements and a number of tractor dealers started to emerge, especially in Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Who were the Scottish agricultural implement and machine makers in 1919? They included a number of companies that were long-established, doing from the early nineteenth century or after. There were also a number of newly established businesses, including D. L. Motor Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Motherwell, associated with the Glasgow Tractor, as was John Wallace of Glasgow. Makers included: 

Alexander & Wilson Ltd, Semple Street, Edinburgh 
J. D. Allan & Sons, Culthill Implement Works, Murthly, Perthshire 
Allan Brothers, Ashgrove Engineering Works, Aberdeen 
Alex Ballach & Sons, Manderston Street, Leith 
Barclay, Ross & Hutchison Ltd, 67-71 Green, Aberdeen 
J. Bisset & Sons Ltd, Blairgowrie 
Dairy Supply Co. Ltd, 12 Grassmarket, Edinburgh 
Bon Accord Engineering Company Ltd, Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen 
 

William Dickie & Sons, Victoria Implement Works, East Kilbride
D. L. Motor Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Motherwell 
W. J. Elsey, 2 Coltbridge Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh 
R. D. Ewart & Co., 3 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh 
P. & R. Fleming & Co., 29 Argyle Street and 16 Graham Square, Glasgow 
Robert G. Garvie & Sons, 2 Canal Road, Aberdeen 
Gillies & Henderson, Edinburgh 
George Gray & Co., Plough Works, Uddingston

Hastie & Co., 57 Morrison Street, Edinburgh 
George Henderson, Kelso Foundry, Kelso 
Thomas Hunter & Sons Ltd, Implement Works, Alloway Road, Maybole
Alexander Jack & Sons Ltd, Agricultural Implement Works, Maybole 
Kemp & Nicholson, Scottish Central Works, Stirling 
A. & J. Main & Co. Ltd, Gorgie Corn Exchange, Edinburgh 
John Monro, Eclipse Implement Works, Kirkcaldy 
Neilson & Cleland Ltd, 120 Main Street, Coatbridge
A. Newlands & Sons, St magdalene Engineering Works, Linlithgow 
D. T. Paterson, Sinclair’s Hill, Duns 
A. & W. Pollock, Mauchline 
A. M. Russell, 108 West Bow, Edinburgh 

The Scottish Motor Traction Co. Ltd, 150 Lothian Road and East Fountainbridge, Edinburgh 
George Sellar & Son Ltd, agricultural implement makers, Huntly, Aberdeenshire 
Shearer Brothers Ltd, Maybank Works, Turriff, Aberdeenshire
Alexander Shanks & Son Ltd, Dens Iron Works, Arbroath 
Thomas Sherriff & Co., West Barns, Dunbar 
William Sinton (late Jedburgh), Patent Churn Maker, 36 Bedford Road, Edinburgh 
James H. Steele, 61 Harrison Road, Edinburgh
William R Storrie, agricultural engineers, Kelso 

Alexander Waddell, 47 and 49 Wesleyan Street, off Gallowgate, Glasgow 
J. & R. Wallace, Foundry, Castle Douglas 
John Wallace & Sons Ltd, Paton Street, Glasgow
Charles Weir Ltd, Townpark Works, Strathaven
Smith & Wellstood, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire
David Wilson, East Linton 
Robert Young Ltd, iron merchants, 192, 194, and 198 Morrison Street, Edinburgh

How many of the names do you recognise?

The photographs were taken at rallies in Scotland in 2017 and 2018.

In the early nineteenth century there were a number of different types of ploughs used for ploughing. Generally, these were the Old Scots plough made of wood or partly of wood, and driven by a team of oxen or horses, and the new iron ploughs driven by a team. In Stirlingshire the different technologies was described by the surveyor of that county who was writing for the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement in 1811. He states: 

“In the Highland district, the ancient barbarous manner of ploughing with four horses a-breast, and, besides the ploughman, a driver called a gamesman, walking backwards before the horses, holding a horizontal beam, to which they are all fastened, andbeating them in front in order to make them advance, may be still sometimes met with, to gratify the curiosity of the inquirer into ancient modes of agricultural practice. But even in the highlands, and universally in the lower districts of this county, the two-horse plough, managed by the ploughman alone, is now introduced. 
The old Scots plough is still in considerable repute. It answers well for tearing up a coarse and stony soil: it sets up the furrow with a bold shoulder, so as to furnish abundance of mould for the operations of the harrow. Its disadvantage is, that it generally requires more than the power of two horses.

Small’s plough is at present almost in universal use in this county. Its excellencies are its lightness, and the form of the mould board, which s of cast iron, and which, rising from the share by an easy curvature, diminishes the friction and requires a smaller power of draught. This plough is universally used on the farms under the improved regime upon the Kilsyth estate of Sir Charles Edmonton. In the Carses of Stirlingshire, where agriculture is still in a great many instances in a very unimproved state, the Scots plough has not yet altogether given way to Small’s. It is there alleged by some, that Small’s plough, which by its construction is calculated to go deep, and which, if it does not go deep, lays the furrow over imperfectly, is apt to bring up the till which lies under the clay, and thus to produce a mischievous effect. When, however, the enlightened ideas and practice of some intelligent farmers in that district come to be better understood, it will be known that deep ploughing is the best; and that there is no risk in turning up the subjacent soil,which by inter-mixture with the superior strata, and alternate exposure to the light and frost, will soon become equally good with the rest.

Small’s plough is also called the chain plough, because at its first introduction it was drawn by a chain, passing under the beam, fastened immediately below the coulter, and connected by the muzzle at the ford. This chain is still used in some places; but is more generally disused, as affording little additional strength to the beam.
On this subject, it were to be wished that plough-wrights were better versed than they generally are in the common principles of mechanics; and that they had a better notion of the most advantageous method of turning over the furrow: that undoubtedly is the most perfect, by which the furrow is laid over at an angle of 45 degrees, exposing the greatest possible surface to the sir and to the barrow.
Levelling and drill ploughs are commonly used.”

The photographs were taken at the Scottish national tractor show, September 2014.

A number of readers will be familiar with the steam thrashing contractors that went around a number of districts in Scotland into the twentieth century. In later years some of the traction engines that provided movie power were replaced by tractors. These mills played an important role in bringing thrashing technology to farms and other premises that did not have their own mills.

From the early days of thrashing with mills in the late eighteenth century a number of farms had their own mills. Some were water powered; others were horse powered. A number were powered by steam. In the 1790s and until 1817 the presence of these mills is described in the Board of Agriculture’s county agricultural surveys. They are also mentioned in the Old Statistical Account of the 1790s which provides a parish by parish account of the “state of happiness” of the people of Scotland and their way of life. Half a century later a number of them are also referred to in the New Statistical Account of Scotland. 

By the mid nineteenth century when Scotland was being intensively mapped by the Ordnance Survey, its surveyors were out and about on the land, visiting farms and other settlements, and recording the names of every building and feature. In their accounts a number of the surveyors refer to the presence of thrashing mills as part of the farm steadings. For example, at Boll of Bear in Kirknewton parish the farm had a “Suitable outbuilding” and a thrashing machine. At Cockburn in the parish of Currie the farm had “suitable offices and a thrashing machine attached”. At Warriston, also in that parish there were “suitable offices including a thrashing machine attached”. This evidence can be used to gain a better idea of the distribution and presence of thrashing machines at farms. 

There are also references to steam thrashing mills. However, compared to the number of sets of “thrashing machines”, their number is small. In Aberdeenshire, two are recorded at Lumbs, in Lonmay parish, where the farm had “large farm buildings attached also a steam thrashing machine”. At Tyakesnook, also in Lonmay there was “a superior farm steading, being the home farm of Crimmogate. A steam thrashing machine is attached”. In other counties such as Ayrshire, there was also only one recorded; in this county it was at the farm of Sorbie in the parish of Ardrossan. That farm had an “extensive farm yard with new dwelling house adjoining having a steam thrashing mill”. Even in East Lothian, a leading district, there was not a large number of these mills. There was one, at Wester Broomhouse, Dunbar. 

In other parts of Scotland steam thrashing mills were found at farms that included: 
Berwickshire – Redhall (parish of Ayton), Aytonlaw (Ayton), Cove (Cockburnspath), Chapelhill (Cockburnspath), Brockholes (Coldingham), Heughhead (Coldingham), Berrybank (Coldingham), Darnchester West Mains (Coldstream), Rules Mains (Duns), Printonian (Eccles), Kames West Mains (Eccles), Bogend (Fogo), Hume Orchard (Hume), Blinkbonny (Nenthorn), Thorndykes (Westruther), Jardinefield (Whitsome), Whitsomehill (Whitsome)
Dumfries-shire -Shawsholm (Closeburn), Netherwood Mains (Dumfries)
Fife – Skeddoway, Pittillock
Kincardineshire – West Woodtown (Fettercairn), Denstrath (Fettercairn)
Midlothian – Sherriffhall Mains, South Melville 
Morayshire – Kinneddar (Drainie)
Peeblesshire – Paulswell (Linton)
Ross and Cromarty – Mains of Belmaduthy 
Roxburghshire – Hill Onstead (Crailing), Whitelee (melrose), Broomylees (Melrose)
Stirlingshire – Blackstone (Muiravonside).

It is interesting to note that the steam threshing mills are largely located in eastern counties, and especially some of the leading arable areas. The farms included the largest ones, and also the most modern ones with up to date steadings, and also extensive ones. Some were the “home from”, the jewel in the crown on an estate. 

Next time you see the steam threshing mill at a rally, remember that some farms had their own mill which was built as part of the farm steading. 

The photographs of steam thrashing were taken at the Bon Accord Steam Fair, June 2018.