There are times in the history of ploughs, plough-making, ploughing and ploughing matches when there are a number of commentaries on the state of ploughing matches. These are usually at times when there are changes in these activities, such as the introduction of new technologies, such as double-furrow ploughs.
The mid 1920s, and especially the years from 1923 to 1925, saw a number of commentaries on the nature and value of ploughing matches published in local newspapers, especially in the north-east. At that time there was a growing resurgence in the number of ploughing matches that were held.
These commentaries are worth quoting for the insights that they provide into this resurgence and the different views that were circulating on the matches.
From the Buchan observer and East Aberdeenshire advertiser of 27 February 1923:
“The ploughing match
During the twenty years from 1860 to 1880 the popularity of the ploughing match may be said to have reached its height, Then gradually it declined in vogue until 1920, when it showed not only a “certain liveliness”, but an almost breakneck determination to eclipse all former records; and in the last two years, and also in the present one so far as it has gone, we have had ploughing contests all up and down the country on an altogether unprecedented scale both as regards the number of competitors and the excellence of the work done. Whatever may be said for or against them, they have this at least to their credit that they add to the neighbourliness of the countryside; and this probably is their chief recommendation in the eyes of many of their supporters.
But the question is beginning to be asked how far it is wise to encourage the present passion for purely artistic ploughing, and whether it results in the production of better crops than the commoner and rougher tillage of an earlier day. On this point there are great differences of opinion. Our own view is that reasonably rough ploughing is more likely to produce good crops than artistic ploughing, since it permits the soil to be more completely aerated, especially upon land which is naturally of a clayey composition. The great desideratum in all good tillage is to secure some portion of unexploited subsoil, and bring it to the surface to reinforce the too often used material which ordinary fine ploughing scarcely ever gets below. Deep ploughing, alternating with somewhat shallower ploughing, would, we believe, be found to give better crop returns than the orthodox system of always ploughing to one depth; for even a small percentage of virgin soil is equal to a fair manuring, and the beauty of it is that it incurs no extra expense.”
From the Northern ensign and weekly gazette, 28 February 1923:
“Ploughing matches
Ploughing matches are not held in such great numbers as before the war, but there has been a wonderful lot of them this year. A match is the great event of the winter months among the farmer folk, and, indeed, only takes a second place to the cattle show in the year’s entertainments. Not only are the best ploughed lots judged for places, but we also determine the man with the longest moustache, the best looking man, the man with the most bairns, and various other items that have as much to do with ploughing as a pick axe has to do with journalism. It is high time that these trivial and amusing items were discontinued, and the prizes presented for them given for a real trial of strength and skill in ploughing matters.”
From the Buchan observer and East Aberdeenshire advertiser, 29 April 1924:
“Plooin’ matches
Popular as ever
Ploughing matches appear to have lost none of their old-time popularity, for contests were never more numerous throughout the country than they have been this season. It was thought that during the wartime upheaval of farming work the fine art of the plough would rapidly pass into the limbo of forgotten things. Tractors and double and multi-furrow ploughs were fast displacing the old-fashioned two-horse team and swing plough; but a reaction has set in. the double furrow horse plough now mostly fills a slap in a fence, and the old plough with its single furrow speeds over the fields.
The slump in horse-flesh was a determining factor, and will be a determining factor, and will be for a generation at last. For the general work of the farm horses are practically indispensable. The tractor is at best but a useful auxiliary. Under suitable weather conditions a tractor can overtake an extraordinary amount of useful tillage, but it is practically useless for the numerous minor kinds of operations that constitute the routine work of the farm.
The tractor plough has done excellent work, and in more than one contest where it has been pitted against horse-drawn ploughs, it has come out on top. Nevertheless, the plough work of the tractor in general leaves much to be desired. Apart from the novelty of the thing, the same amount of human interest can never be concentrated so keenly on an exhibition of tractor ploughing as on the work of a well-handled horse team.
Thousands of spectators have visited some of the leading ploughing matches in the north this season, thus showing that interest in one of the fine arts of the farm is very widespread, for among the coat-clad crowd were many visitors from town and city-men who having left farm work for other employment, still retain a deep interest in ploughing contests. Among the competitors, too, were several ex-ploughmen, doughty champions of a former day still keen on exhibiting their prowess, and in pitting their strength and skill against those of the younger sons of the plough.
Educative advantages
Some farmers, it is true, take exception to prize ploughing, but all are agreed as to the educative advantages of competitions in hoeing and other branches of farm work. Of course, it is entirely out of the question to look for ploughing of an exhibition class to be accomplished every day on the arable fields; but the example set before the eye of the young ploughman at a match cannot fail to leave its impression on his receptive mind. He will strive to do something like it. Emulation is a grand thing. It brings out the best that is in a man. A champion ploughman requires to be something more than a good plougher. He must be able to adjust his plough irons to balance his team, to set out work in a field to the best effect, and to put that inimitable touch of perfection into the work which only a past master of the art can accomplish.
To the untrained eye the work of cutting and turning the green sward into a series of diamond-edged furrows may seem an easy task. Look how easily and how happily the ploughboy goes whistling at the plough. But it really is not so easy as it looks. And in a hot ploughing contest, where scores of competitors are battling for supremacy, there are no merry whistlers and no light-hearted striplings at the plough-handles.
The mathematical precision with which each furrow is cut and set out must, however, strike even the most casual of spectators as little short of marvellous. Many a farm hand spends the greater part of a lifetime at the plough without ever being considered a ploughman in the fullest of the word.
To be recognised among his compeers as a good hand is no small achievement. Every ploughman, good, bad, and indifferent is a bit of a critic. Comment is to be heard on every hand, and where a little group if spectators collects at the end of a ridge, you may be interested to hear one or two of the more discerning and experienced among them expatiating on pleasing points, the “readableness” of furrows etc or warmly debating with each other as to the respective merits of this plougher’s work or that. Often controversy waxes hot and loud, and there is frequently not a little good-humoured chaff and banter to boot.
The work of organising a ploughing match is no light undertaking. Whether the match is merely a parish or inter-parish or inter-parish one, or even one of national scope and character, it is got up on pretty much the same lines, only there are big and handsome prizes (in money and trophies) at the larger meetings, while at the small district contests the awards, though quite suitable for the occasion, are on a relatively small scale. Honours count for much, and a competitor who receives a linen handkerchief, or a clay pipe, for the neatest ends, for instance, is just as proud of his award as is the champion who gets a dandy brush for best done up tails, says a writer in “Scottish Country Life”.
A committee is formulated to carry out the arrangements, select a field for the contest, appoint judges, and so forth. The judges must be men of great experience, past masters of the art of ploughing, and they must be known as men who will give their decision without fear or favour.”
From the Dundee courier, 17 December 1924:
“Forfar ploughing matches
A popular event in the ploughing match season is that held annually in the Forfar districts. The promoters are to meet in the county town to-night to fix a date and venue. The match will probably take place in the first fortnight of January, and Balmashanner may again be chosen as the site, as the fixture last year there was most successful.
There has been a revival in recent years of these instructive and useful competitions, and in pre-war days many ex-ploughmen used to form themselves into an organisation and provide interesting contests. Such a body used to be in existence in Forfar, and regularly held competitions, followed by a happy social evening. Many would like to see the ex-ploughmen’s matches revived.”
From the Aberdeen press and journal, 20 January 1925
“Ploughing matches
The ploughing match has lost none of its old-time vogue in the North of Scotland; indeed, as our agricultural columns have borne testimony for the past few weeks, this popular rural “institution” seems in some districts to have obtained a new lease of life. And it is well, in these times of rush and bustle, when the turning-over of a large area of lea or stubble is often counted of more importance than excellence of workmanship, that honest pride in the ploughman’s craft should be encouraged. An old-time Donside farm, long since gibe to his rest, was wont to cheer up his youthful ploughmen by assuring them that “the neeps ‘ill grow as weel in crookit dreels as straight anes”, but it is not by any means certain that that holds true so far as ploughing is concerned.
It has sometimes been urged against the “crack” ploughman that he sacrificed thoroughness of workmanship to the production of a rig of superficially-crested furrows, and at one time that was probably true, but in recent years more attention has been devoted by judges as well as competitors to the practical merits of the work done than to the superficial appearance of the “rig”. All this, of course, tends to promote not only skill in craftsmanship, but a more thorough grasp of the scientific aspects of cultivation. The demonstration given at the Huntly match on Saturday on the setting of ploughs, the testing of draught, and the art of ploughing generally forms another very interesting development in rural training. It was an example of the application of practical science to agriculture.”
