One of the successful potato planters of the early twentieth century was the Richmond potato planter, developed by Mr Gordon Richmond of Dron, Fife. It came to be manufactured by John Wallace & Sons, Paton Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow, one of the major implement and machine makers in Scotland. Improvements were made to it in 1905 and 1906.
What were the early trials of this machine like?
There are reports of two early trials in 1905 and 1906. Both were local trials. The first was held on a farm in Bridge of Earn – Brickhall – in August 1905. On 1 August the Perthshire courier reported:
“A new potato planter
A short time ago a potato planter, the invention of Mr Gordon Richmond, was tried on the farm of Brickhall, Bridge of Earn. The trials were very exhaustive, several varieties and sizes of seed being used. Seed size Up-to-Date were tried, also long-shaped seed of the Maincrop and Langworthy varieties, as well as large cwt potatoes, and in each of the tests the new machine made a superior job to the other, having few blanks or doubles, and hardly a cut set. Another feature of Richmond’s machine that should recommend it to large farmers is that it plants three drills at a time and the horse walks along the bottom of the drill. It is understood that the machine has been taken up by an eminent firm of agricultural implement makers in Glasgow, who will likely have on the market in time for next season.”
A further trial was held at Brickhall in March 1906, and was reported by the Dundee courier on 24 March 1906:
“Improvements in potato planter
Great improvements (writes a correspondent) have been made on the old potato planter by Mr T. G. Richmond of Dron. These improvements have been on the shape of the cup, the tipping of which gets rid of extra potatoes, while retaining a good hold of the potato therein. These along with the alteration of the formation of the hopper tends to the work of the new Richmond patent approaching, it is said, almost to a perfect potato planter. With it there is little danger of doubles, and blanks are unknown, while the potatoes are never smashed. A trial was made on Thursday afternoon on Brickhall Farm, and in 180 yards there was only one blank. The test was made with four different kinds of seeds-(1) up-to-Dates dressed between 1 ¼ inch and 1 5/8 inch riddle, (2) the same kind dressed between 1 ½ inch and 2-inch riddle, (3) Langworthys dressed between 1 ¼ inch and 1 5/8 inch riddle, (4) mixture of cut and uncut Dates-and in all cases it made satisfactory work. Its planting was far superior to that by hand for regularity. The trial took place in the presence of many well-known agriculturists, among those being the Hon Alastair Murray, Scones Lethendy; Roy, Kirkton; Law, Windyedge; Strang, Moneydie; Smith, Eastfield; Taylor, Broombarns; Stevens, Kilgraston; McNaughton, Lochelbank; Allan, Dalcrue; Philp, Dunning; Leitch, factor, Moncreiffe; Dr Govan, Taylor and Cameron, Bridge of Earn; Wilson, of Messrs Watt, seedsmen, Perth; Drummond, Fordell; &c.”
By July 1907 the Richmond potato planter was attracting much attention at agricultural shows including that of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland which held its show in Edinburgh. By 1913 it was described as a “first-class implement”. The planter continued to be widely used over the following decades. It continued to be found at displenishing sales into the 1940s and 1950s. In 1946 (13 November) The Scotsman noted them at Cauldcoats, Portobello (Mrs Gilchrist). In 1948 (23 October) it also noted one for sale at Lanark Auction Mart. The Aberdeen press and journal recorded one on 28 February 1948 at the Central Mart, Aberdeen. In 1950 (16 November) the Dundee courier reported one at Lumbennie, Newburgh (Mr Geo. Low). On 19 March 1951 it recorded one at Forfar Auction Mart.
