Scottish agricultural implement makers

As we saw a few weeks ago, the Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement undertook an important survey of agriculture and rural improvement in Britain from 1793 to 1817. This series was referred to as the County Agricultural Surveys, with each report having the title “General View of the Agriculture of the County of …”.

Writing the Ayrshire survey, William Aiton states the following about ploughs and plough making in Ayrshire. It provides an interesting account of developments and the spread of more modern and improved designs from neighbouring Lanarkshire and an eminent plough maker there:

“The state in which the implements of labour are found in any district, may serve as another index for judging of the taste of the farmers, the progress of agriculture, and of refinement.
As agriculture was sooner attended to, and made greater progress in England; the implements of labour were brought to considerable perfection there, when they remained very clumsy, and but ill constructed in Scotland. But as soon as improvements were attempted in the soil, corresponding improvements were begin to be made in the construction and finishing of all sorts of implements of husbandry. From what I have seen of the implements in both countries, I am disposed to believe, that those in Scotland are now as properly constructed as those in England. I have seen a much greater profusion of utensils in the hands of English improvers, both in Scotland and England, than are generally used by Scotsmen. But if the are fewer in number in Scotland, they are generally constucted there more agreeably to mechanic principles, than they frequently are on the other side of the Tweed. The wheel ploughs I have seen used in England, and many other of their implements, are not formed according to the rules of mechanism, and are attended with a waste of power. It must be acknowledged, however, that though the Scots form their implements of husbandry on better plans, they d not finish them so handsomely, as is usually done in England. Perhaps the Scotch farmers are, as yet, too sparing in their implements of labour; but I am convinced that the generality of English farmers make by far too many farm utensils. There is no doubt great room for improvements in Scotland, both as to the structure and execution of implements, and I am happy to find that improvements are making in them every year.
Ploughs
The Scotch plough, of the strongest and most clumsy construction, was in general use in the county of Ayr, till near the end od the 18th century. Swing and wheel ploughs, as then formed in England, were used by the Earls of Eglinton and Loudon, as early as 1750, and by several other noblemen and gentlemen in Ayrshire, soon after that period. But it was not till after 1790, that the Scotch plough was generally abandoned.
The head of the Scotch plough was of wood, from 2 to 3 feet long, and about 6 or 8 inches on each square. The sock was 8 inches diameter at the hinter end, and near 2 feet long. The beam from 6 to 9 feet long, and nearly 20 inches long at the middle. There wrest about 2 1/2 feet in length, and the stilts or handles about 5 or 6 feet long.
It required great power to move this monster of a plough, but when rightly constructed, it cut and set up a well shaped furrow, of large dimensions, and it was well calculated for labouring land which was stiff and bendy, or much encumbered with small stones. As it was but partially covered with iron, much power was wasted in friction. This plough was begun about 1775 to be formed more handsomely than in former times. The English swing ploughs, Rutherglen plough. and Small’s plough, began to be introduced, and others made after their construction; some of which were tolerably well, and others very indifferently executed.
But the best plough ever used in the county of Ayr, or probably in Britsin, is constructed by Mr John Wilkie, formerly in Vambuslang, now in Uddingston, near Hamilton. “This profound artist, has had the good fortune to discover everything requisite to the construction of a complete plough; and has formed an implement, the best adapted to the purpose, of any thing that has yet appeared in this county (Lanarkshire)-It turns up a furrow with a bold shoulder, like that for which the Scotch plough was valued. Its shape, like that of a well tapered wedge, turns over the soil, with the application of very moderate powers, and its broad winged share, leaves nothing unstirred.” -General view of Clydesdale, by John Naismith, Esq, p. 94.
As several hundred of Mr Wilkie’s ploughs have found their way to Ayrshire, and their superiority to all others being now admitted, by all who have used them; and as the plough-wrights in Ayrshire, have procured draughts of that plough, with casts of its mould board, and are now making it their model, I considered it my duty to apply Mr Wilkie for every possible information anent that excellent plough. I did not apply in vain; for Mr Wilkie was not only at the greatest possible pains to show and explain to me every thing regarding it; but he also drew up a particular description in writing, of his celebrated plough, which, with his permission, I insert in his own words.
“Uddingston, 15th January, 1810
Sir, In compliance with your request, I shall endeavour to give you a short account of the alterations and improvements which I have made upon the plough, within these last fifteen years. About the year 1794, the only plough in general use in this part of the country, and through the western parts of Scotland, so far as I know, was the old Scotch plough, and that constructed by Mr Small, cart and plough-wright in Midlothian. These ploughs were either procured from Mr Small himself, or from other plough makers in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, who had been instructed by him. They had acquired such celebrity, that many plough-wrights, in different parts of Scotland, endeavoured to copy them. But as some of the artists, who attempted to do so, did not fully understand the principles on which these ploughs were constructed, many of those who were made after the figure of Mr Small’s plough, and of course obtained his name, were far from being equal to those made by himself, or according to the original design.
About that time, Mr Thomas Findlay, farmer in Cambuslang, an intimate friend of mine, procured one of the ploughs made by Mr Small, or on his model, which he found made very bad work, especially on lea land. Mr Findlay, who is a very intelligent man, and had paid attention to the principles of mechanisation, immediately constructed a plough, somewhat improved, as he thought, in the wood work: and to which he affixed Mr Small’s mould board and iron work. The plough so constructed was found to be in many respects superior to those formed on Mr Small’s plan, as will be explained in course.
Being often in company with Mr Findlay, our conversation frequently turned upon improving the form of the plough; in consequence of which I gave up with another profession, to make plough making my sole business.
From 1794 to 1798. I formed the wood-work of all the ploughs which I made, on the improved plans suggested by Mr Findlay; but I still continued to use Mr Small’s mould board. During that period, however, my ploughs did nt reach farther than my immediate neighbourhood; which is generally a strong clay soil. Though my ploughs, at that time, made better work than those formerly used; yet they did not cut out such a deep and narrow furrow as the farmers wished, and did not make near work in lea land.
As the principal defect seemed to me to lie in the twist, or curve of the mould board, I put my invention to the rack, to get it remedied. After examining ploughs, of every construction, within my reach, I was of opinion, the twist ought to be more gentle than formerly, towards the point of the sock, or share, and that it should become gradually quicker or fuller, until the furrow has been set nearly on edge, after which the resistance of the furrow is diminished, by making the twist more gentle towards the hinder part of the mould board.
On these principles, I constructed a new mould board, altogether different from any I had ever seen, or that was then in use; and made many trials and alterations on its curve or twist, till I last fixed on that which I have since used. Of its merits it would be improper for me to speak. The approbation of almost all the farmer societies on the western counties of Scotland, and of the generality of the farmers who have used my ploughs; the numerous and increasing orders I have received, and the many thousands of ploughs in these parts, that have been made by other artists, on the model of my plough, or as near as they can follow it, are the best proofs of its superior utility.
I have in the course of the last eleven years, made and sold upwards of 2,500 ploughs, and the demand is increasing every year. Mr John Guthrie, in Mount, near Kilmarnock, ordered one of my ploughs about the year 1800; the first of my making that reached the shire of Ayr: and that gentleman has received many ploughs from me since that period, for himself and his numerous friends. In the year 1802. 17 ploughs were ordered by farmers in Ayrshire, and the number increased every year until 1806, they amounted to 84 for that year: and they have continued ever since, at or near that number annually; although several hundreds have since been made on the same model by plough-wrights in Ayrshire.” …
In so far as my knowledge of that plough extends, I am satisfied that it is the best every yet invented. I have not indeed had an opportunity os using it myself, for I have not had a plough of my own since it came into general use. But from having seen and examined it with all the attention I was capable of, having seen the beautiful work which it makes; in the ease with which it is drawn; heard the concurring testimony of plowmen and plough makers, every where in its behalf; and seen almost every plough-wright in the western counties, endeavouring to make their ploughs upon the same model, I conceive that Mr Wilkie’s plough is far superior to all others.”

Lots of significant developments!

The photographs were taken at the Daviot Vintage Rally, October 2017.

If you were in Lanarkshire you would have known the name of County Garage (Lanark) Ltd at Hyndford Road, Lanark.
The company started business in 1928 and continued until 1975. By 1934 it was a Fordson dealer, retraining that agency into the 1970s. In 1955 it was also an agent for David Brown tractors.

Ploughing matches have been held in Scotland since the late eighteenth century. One of the earliest matches was held in Alloa in 1784. The Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland gave early encouragement to matches – and still does – through the awarding of premiums to ploughmen. The first ploughing match at which the Society gave awards to was held on 7 November 1801 on the Hoddam estate.

Ploughing matches played an important role in developing the skill and technique of ploughing, encouraged a competitive spirit among ploughmen (and plough women), and also stimulated improvements in plough design. Some plough makers had their own range of competition ploughs: in the mid 1850s Gray & Co, Uddingston, boasted of the awards gained by its competition ploughs.
Henry Stephens, the celebrated agricultural writer, wrote on ploughing matches in 1889. He provides a number of insights into them:

“Ploughing matches – Although differences of opinion exist as to the usefulness of ploughing-matches, it can hardly be doubted that since their institution the skill of our ploughmen has risen considerably; not but that individual ploughmen could have been found before as dexterous as any of the present day. This improvement is not to be ascribed to the institution of ploughing-matches alone, for, no doubt, superior construction of implements, a better kept, better matched, superior race of horses, and superior judgement and taste in field labour in the farmer himself, have been potent elements in influencing the handicraft of ploughmen. …
How ploughing matches are conducted – Ploughing-matches are generally very fairly conducted in Scotland. They usually take place on lea ground, the ploughing of which is considered the best test of a ploughman’s skill, though drilling is perhaps quite as difficult of correct execution. The best part of the field is selected for the purpose, and the same extent of ground is allotted to each competitor. A peg, bearing a number, is fixed in the ground at the end of each lot, which are as many as ploughs entered in competition. Numbers on slips of paper corresponding to those on the pegs, are drawn by the competing ploughmen, who take the lots as drawn. Ample time is allowed to finish the ploughing of each lot. Although quickness of time in executing the same extent of work is not to be compared to excellency of execution, it should enter as an element in deciding the question of skill; but this it seldom does at ploughing-matches. Each competitor is obliged to “feer” his own lot, assort and guide his own horses and trim his plough-irons, without assistance.

Judges at ploughing matches – The judges are brought from a distance, so that they can have no personal interest in the exhibition, and in some cases have been requested to inspect the ground after all the ploughs have been removed, having been kept away from the scene during the time the ploughs were engaged. This appears to be an objectionable part of the arrangements, which is made on the plea that, were the judges to see the ploughs at work, some particular ones might be recognised by them as belonging to friends, and their minds might thereby be biased in their favour. Such a plea is a poor compliment to the integrity of a judge; and any farmer who accepts that responsible and honoured office, that would allow himself to be influenced by so pitiful consideration, would deserve not only to be objected to on every such occasion, but banished out of society. One consequence of the exaction of this rule is, loss of patience by the spectators, while the judges are occupying no more than the necessary time for deciding the ploughing of, it may be, a large extent of ground. The judges ought to be present all the time of the competition, when they could leisurely, calmly, and minutely ascertain the position and depth of the furrow-slices, and mature their thoughts on points which might modify first impressions. Inspection of the finished surface cannot furnish information whether the land has in all respects been correctly ploughed, which can only be obtained by comparing the soles of the furrows while the land is being ploughed. There is something to be gained in observing the manner in which the ploughman guides his horses in making the best work in the shortest time.”

Some aspects of the ploughing match have changed, while others have remained the same.

Source: Henry Stephens, The book of the Farm, division 1, Edinburgh, 1889, pp. 104-105.

The photographs were taken at the Scottish Ploughing Championships, 2014.

In Scotland ploughing matches started to be held in the late eighteenth century. By the first decade of the nineteenth century matches were held in a number of locations across Scotland. One such match was held in Easter Ross. An extensive account of it was published in the Caledonian Mercury. It provides a range of insights into how early matches were organised and some of the issues facing ploughing, the skill of ploughmen and ploughing developments.

“The Easter Ross branch of the Ross-shire Farming Society held their first ploughing match at Blackhill, the property of E. Hay McKenzie, Esq, of Cromarty, near Balnagown Castle, upon Thursday the 17th April last, when eleven ploughmen took their ground as competitors, for premiums granted by the Society; and after the work was accomplished, the Judges, who were selected from the most improved class of agriculturists, after a minute and critical inspection, unanimously adjudged the prizes to the following persons:
The first to John Ross, ploughman to Sir Charles Ross, of Balnagown, Bart, the second to Hugh Ross, ploughman to Hugh Rose, Esq of Glastullich; the third to Hector Bain, ploughman to E. H. McKenzie Esq of Cromarty; and the fourth prize to William McLeod, ploughman to Mr James Monro, taxman of Delny.
The ploughmen in general executed the work with so much skill and precision, that it was with some difficulty the judges could form their determination.
The members of the Society, in consideration of the different take being performed with so much regularity, gave a gratituity to each of the unsuccessful candidates, who were all amply refreshed with strong ale, spirits &c by the members present.
Mr Those of Glastullich was also present, and with that sentiment which so materially marks all his measures of a public nature, he gave a gratification to all the ploughmen that appeared.
Colonel John Ross, of Castle Craig, offered, previous to the competition, to give premiums to the sourth country ploughmen in the country, if they appeared, or in order to lay down a superior example to the ploughmen bred in this part, but none came forward. Colonel Ross further offered a premium for the best implements of husbandry, to those that would exceed Mr Small’s of Leith Walk, five guineas; that would equal Mr Small’s, three guineas; or that which appeared to the Society the best executed article of husbandry, three guineas. A cart made byMr John Munro at Newtarbat Shore was produced, and no other implement of husbandry having been produced, he is considered by the Society the first tradesmen in Easter Ross.
The next ploughing match of this Society is to be held in November next, of which due intimation will hereafter be given; and it is hoped there will be a more full attendance of the Gentlemen and Farmers, to countenance and forward a measure of such importance to the growing wealth of the country, and that has succeeded so perfectly in the southern parts of the kingdom.
After the ploughing match, all the members of the Society, and other gentlemen that were spectators, retired to Urquhart’s Inn, at Milntown, where they spent the evening with becoming harmony and conviviality.

Source: The Caledonian Mercury, 15 May 1806.

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

Sack barrows were an important piece of barn equipment for moving grain and other foodstuffs around. Barrows came in all shapes and sizes, and had a great impact on how easy or otherwise it was to move produce around. In 1875 Thomas Gibson & Son, Bainfield Iron and Wire Works, West Fountainbridge, Edinburgh, made a number of sack barrows. These included the light sack barrow, the heavy sack barrow and the wood sack barrow. Other companies such as Ben Reid & Co., Aberdeen, also made an iron sack barrow. In 1900 William Elder, Berwick Upon Tweed, made and sold “various” sack barrows.

If you were a Perthshire farmer looking to buy a new plough in the 1950s and 1960s you might have considered purchasing one of the ploughs from James S. Low, Perth Street, Blairgowrie.

James S. Low was already an agent of agricultural implements in 1909. By 1927 when he was joined by his sons, to become Low & Sons, (also known as James S. Low & Sons), he had expanded his business to be a repairer of implements and machines as well as being a mechanical engineer and a wholesale agricultural implement maker. By 1940 his business was described as an agricultural engineer, an agricultural implement agent and dealer and a smith.

The firm was a local one, though in 1927 and 1927 advertised its manufactures in the Scottish Farmer, and in the early 1960s in the Farming News.

One of the names associated with the making of snow ploughs today is James A. Cuthbertson Ltd of Biggar, Lanarkshire.

The company stated to trade in 1936 under the name James A. Cuthbertson, Biggar. It was in 1946 that it became a limited company.

In 1937 the company described itself as agricultural engineers. By 1946 it was also a general engineer, and in 1948 agricultural engineers and contractors. An advert in the Farming News on 15 December 1946 provides clues to the early specialities of the company. It described itself as “pioneers in mechanised draining”. The development and production of draining machinery and accessories was to become intimately associated with the Cuthbertson name.

In 1948 the company entered a drainage plough for the new implement award of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland. It was awarded a silver medal for it. The company described the plough as thus:

“The plough will cut open drains to a maximum depth of twenty-two inches by a maximum width of thirty inches, at speeds varying from fifteen to thirty chains per hour, according to the nature of the ground, The plough consists of a simple sided mouldboard mounted at the rearward end of a box-girder beam, the whole being carried on a transport frame when not in operation and stabilised by a hinged sliding shaft whilst working. Beam and transport assembly are hinged about a steel rocker-pin, thus allowing the depth of the drain cut to be automatically controlled, irrespective of local undulations on the ground surface over which the transport wheels pass. Two steel cutter discs are pivotally mounted on the rocker-shaft, which is attached to the forward end of the beam, and a system of semi-elliptic springing allows the discs to rid over any obstruction and return to the pre-determined depth required. A hinged drawbar mounted at the extreme front of the beam gives a rough adjustment for depth control and has incorporated in it a shearing pin device which prevents damage to the implement should an immovable obstruction be encountered. The beam and components assembled thereon are raised into the carrying position by means of a steel cable, which should be operated by a suitable power winch mounted on the tractor. A spring-loaded catch is automatically engaged when the beam assembly has been raised to sufficient height and can be disengaged by the tractor driver without leaving the driving position. Any pre-determined depth of cut within the limits of the plough may be obtained by tilting the mouldboard by means of an adjusting screw situated at the extreme rear of the implement. This has the effect of altering the angle at which the share enters the soil in relation to the line of traction and so varying the depth of cut obtained. The spoil discharged by the mouldboard from the drain is removed a distance of one foot six inches back from the side of the drain by means of an adjustable, articulated pusher-blade which is mounted to the rear of the mouldboard.”

Another silver medal was to come for the company’s deep drainage plough with tile laying attachment in 1950:

“The Cuthbertson deep draining machine is designed to be hauled behind a heavy crawler tractor of 70hp to cut a drain up to a depth of 3ft, with a bottom width of 8in and a top width of 2ft 4in at the maximum depth, and to lay the tiles in perfect position, close and in line. The drain section is left ready to be covered in after the operation. The speed of the operation is 22 yards per minute.
The machine is a mild steel, electrically welded fabrication, except for the cutting share and wearing heel, which are of chilled cast steel. The machine consists primarily of a beam, transport frame and wheel, side and centre spring-loaded cutting discs, and a mould board tso shaped that it lifts the soil from the drain and deposits it on one side of the drain.
The tile laying attachment is attached directly behind the mouldboard, and the tiles are fed into this by hand from a trailer travelling alongside. The weight of the tiles being constantly fed into the attachment keeps the end butted closely together.
Automatic depth control is incorporated in the machine, as without this factor it would not be possible to lay the tiles directly behind the machine, as the bottom of the drain would require to be levelled by hand. The bottom of the drain is in “V” formation to facilitate the centralising of all sizes of tiles in the drain.
The machine is lifted from the working position to the carrying position on the frame by means by means of a wire rope connected to a winch on the tractor. The wire rope is not in use when the plough is actually working, as the wheels can rise and fall, following the undulations of the ground, without altering the level of the drain being cut.”

The company also invented a number of other key machines for reclamation and forestry work. They included a bracken cutter (which won a silver medal from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland in 1949), a grass land rejuvenator and lime spreader in 1948, a double purpose forestry planting plough, double furrow, in 1949, and a lime spreading outfit in 1951. The company was also well known for the “Cuthbertson” half track for Fordson Major conversion, in 1951. It also invented and made the “Cuthbertson” trailer track in 1952.

Today the company specialises mainly in winter maintenance equipment. In these wintry days you might just see a Cuthbertson snowplough. When you do, think about the important role that the company played in reclamation machines from the mid 1930s onwards!

The photographs of the Cuthbertson gritter were taken at the Bon Accord Steam Engin Rally, June 2017.

By 1844 the company of P. & R. Fleming described itself as an iron merchant and ironmongers 29 Argyll Street and 18 Stockwell Street, Glasgow.

The company’s base remained firmly in Glasgow. By 1874 it had a branch establishment at 1 Downhill Place, Patrick. It opened its works in Kelvin Street, Patrick, by 1889. Premises were opened up in Edinburgh, in the Grassmarket, by 1896. It had stands at the Edinburgh and Cupar Corn Exchanges in 1928 – as had a number of the leading implement and machine makers in Scotland.

The company developed a specialist range of trades and manufactures. By the mid 1850s it described itself as smiths and weighing machine makers. The company continued to develop its expertise and trades. By 1889 it described itself as wire fence and gate manufacturers and as having an agricultural implement warehouse. It was to become renowned as a structural engineer. These were to form its major activities until the company passed a special resolution to voluntarily wind up its affairs which it passed on 11 August 1982.

In 1940 the company described itself as an agricultural implement manufacturer, anvil manufacturer, axl maker, belt and screw maker, colliery plant merchant and furnisher, corrugated iron merchant, constriuctional engineer, engineers’ furnisher, engineer and mill furnisher, felt manufacturer, fencing contractor, galvaniser, also iron house and roof constructor, grindstone maker, hoop merchant, horse-shoe nail manufacturer, house furnishing ironmonger, iron church builder, iron door maker, iron fence maker, iron founder and iron forger, iron house and roof instructor, iron merchant, retail iron founder, iron and steel bridge builder, lawn mower maker, nail maker, plough maker, roofing, scale-beam maker, screw maker, smith, spade and shovel maker, steel manufacturer and merchant, steel roof builder and structural engineer, wire merchant, and wire netting manufacturer. Quite a list of specialisms, trades and activities.

The company actively promoted its manufactures at the Highland Show from 1867, though it was a sporadic exhibitor until the early 1890s. Thereafter it was a regular exhibitor until 1954. It was awarded a minor silver medal for its collection at the 1875 show. It also entered machines to the Society’s trial of binders in 1893 and swathe turners in 1905. It was a regular advertiser in the agricultural press, especially the North British Agriculturist, from 1863.

The company was a major agricultural implement agent from at least 1867. In that year it acted as an agent for Richmond & Chandler, Manchester, and Samuelson & Co., Banbury. By 1896 its agencies included ones for R. Hornsby & Sons Ltd, Grantham, Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Machine Co., London, Harrison, McGregor & Co. Ltd, Leigh, Blackstone & Co. Ltd, Stamford, T. Bradford & Co., Manchester, Ransomes, Sims & Jefferies Ltd, Ipswich, Richmond & Chandler. These agencies ensured that the Scottish farmers had implements and machines from the leading English makers.
Look out for the Fleming name at rallies and other events – though most of their manufacturers were found as structural elements of the farm, in fencing and buildings.

The photographs of the P. & R. Fleming weighing machine were taken at the Scottish National Tractor Show, September 2015.

The Board of Agriculture and Internal Improvement undertook an important survey of agriculture and rural improvement in Britain from 1793 to 1817. This series was referred to as the County Agricultural Surveys, with each report having the title “General View of the Agriculture of the County of …”. Each survey generally focused on a county or a small number of counties.

Each survey was systematically undertaken and written up under a number of headings. These included geographical state and circumstances, state of property, buildings, mode of occupation, enclosing, draining, arable and grass grounds, implements, gardens and orchards, woods and plantations, wastes, livestock, rural economy, political economy, obstacles to improvement, and means of improvement.

The accounts contained detailed accounts of the implements and machines used in each county, together with the changes that were being made to them.

The account for Clydesdale (Lanarkshire), written by John Naismith, provides a range of insights into the character and state of implements used in that county. It is worth quoting at length:

“The ploughs used here are, 1st, the Scotch plough: this well-known instrument has long been esteemed the best for ploughing stiff or stony land. It was preferred to some of the later invented ploughs, as setting up the furrow with a bold shoulder, and so furnishing a plentiful mould to cover the seed. Some improvements have lately been made on it, particularly the head, beam, and stilts or handles, are made shorter, in order to make it easier drawn. It is still found, however, to require greater power to work it than some others, and therefore, since ploughing with only two horses is become more prevalent, this plough is on less esteem.
2ndly, a little plough, brought to this county many years ago from Northumberland; it seems to be the same with that described by Lord Kaimes, under the name of the Rotherham plough, and has been found to answer very well for stirring of fallow.
3dly the Rutherglen plough, invented for the purpose of turning up the deep soil of the valleys with a strong furrow: it has been used chiefly in the neighbourhood of that town.
4thly, Small’s plough: the improvements which this ingenious mechanic made in the construction of the plough, make it easier drawn, and it quickly obtained reputation, and was generally adopted. But it fell short of the perfection aimed at, and has undergone many modulations, almost every plough-wright having its own particular cast of the mould-plate, &c.
5thly, Wilkie of Uddingston’s plough: this profound artist has had the good fortune to discover every thing requisite to the construction of a complete plough, and formed an implement the best adapted to the purpose, of any that has yet appeared in this county. It turns up the furrow with a bold shoulder, like that for which the Scotch plough was valued. Its shape, like that of a well-tapered wedge, turns over the soil with the application of very moderate powers; and its broad-winged share leaves nothing unstirred. There are instance of other different constructions of ploughs, but they seem only to be variations of the kinds above-enumerated.
The common harrows, which are still the most generally used, with four bills or beams, containing 20 teeth, are much the same as have been described in the Reports from other counties. It is found necessary, both for reducing stiff ground, and collecting the roots of weeds, to give the teeth a considerable evil forward, so as to stand at an angle of from 70 degrees to 75 degrees with the plain of the harrow. There are others heavier, commonly called brakes, of different weights and constructions, according to the fancy of the owner, and the purposes for which they are intended. Of late, pairs of jointed harrows have been introduced, each having three bills, and the pair connected by joints, by which, while they are kept together, they are allowed to ply to the surface; the teeth area also placed so as not to follow one another directly in the line of draught. These are drawn by a pair of horses, and have been found to be very executive.
The roller is an important implement in the culture of the fields. Besides smoothing the surface, and bruising clods, to forward pulverisation, the use of it can never be too much recommended for condensing open soils, in the droughts which frequently succeed in seed time. Even in the heavy soils, which are for the most part but too solid, the application of the roller is of great importance, during the droughts of the spring. By pressing down the mellowed clods around the roots of young grass and wheat, the plants are re-animated, and a fresh luxuriancy soon appears. By compressing the surface of fields sown with spring corn, which, however solid they may naturally be, heave with the spring drought, the interstices are closed, the moisture retained, the roots of the corn fastened, and the progress of the vermin which prey upon them checked. The rollers here are offer stone, or of solid timber, and very rarely of cast iron, this last being too dear for common husbandmen; but the most approved rollers, and which are now getting pretty much into general use, and hollow cylinders built of wood, the circumference clothed round with strong plank; the diameter is about three feet, and the roller is divided into two equal parts, which turn round on an iron axis. The largeness of the diameter makes the draught so easy, that one horse can pull as much weight as two could do of solid stone, and the division of the roller into two parts facilitates the turning, the half on the inside moving back, while that on the outside comes forward.
The drilling implements are, the turnip drill, and one which, by changing nut upon the axis which turns round at the bottom of a hopper, sows wither beans or smaller grain. Both of these sow only one drill at a time, and are used chiefly in the upper part of the county, the heavy sold lower down being less adapted to the drill husbandry. The instruments used for horse-hoeing, are small ploughs of different constructions, all of them very simple.
It is needles to describe the spade, the hand-how, the wheel-barrow, &c simple instruments which, in the hands of the dextrous and intelligent labourer, are perhaps not much less important than all the machinery which has yet been invented for cultivating the ground.
An instrument composed of two sticks joined by a pin, and resembling the smith;s tongs in appearance and use, is applied to pull thistles and docks in the corn fields; but the dock-iron is the fittest instrument for clearing grass grounds of docks. In all cases where the hoe cannot be used, if smaller weeds appeared to prevail so much as to injure the crop, women and children used to be employed to pull them with the hand; but from the scarcity of such hands, and the high price of labour, this is almost given up. Husbandmen now, when annual weeds appear to prevail much among the spring corn, harrow the ground while the weeds are young, and their roots have not taken a deep hold.
The carts of this county are still mostly of a plain and simple construction, at the same time light and strong; but, of late, many alterations ane new constructions have been introduced, which probably tend much more to increase the expense than to add to the conveniency. Indeed, refinements of this kind seem to be unwisely followed in the constructions of many implements of husbandry, and particularly in carts, harnessing, &c so that a horse seems to groan under a load of iron and leather, without any good purpose being served. But the iron axle ought certainly to be excepted, as it compensates in durability, and diminution of friction, the expense of purchase and the weight it adds to the carriage. The general effect, however, of all such refinements, is to abstract a part of the stock of husbandmen from its proper employment. Carts are drawn by a single horse, experience having evinced that, in this way, the animal is capable of the greatest exertion.
The sickle is almost the only instrument used in reaping. Several mowing instruments have been introduced, but soon given up, and now that thrashing-mills are coming much into se, it is probable the use of the sickle will be still more confirmed, as corn thus reaped is in best order for thrashing in the mill.
Every farm has manners, and there are now a good many thrashing-mills in different parts of the county. Where these are wanting, a considerable part of the corn is thrashed with flails by the farm servants, in the winter mornings, by candle light.

Haven’t farm implements and machines changed significantly over the last two centuries!

The photographs of the wooden implements were taken at the Strathnairn vintage rally, 2015.

Did you ever keep a diary? Farmer’s diaries are a great resource for remembering the past and our agricultural history. They record a wide range of activities and events, including details of the weather (and especially backward seasons), tasks undertaken, the delivery of new implements and machines, and notable events that happened on the farm. Some diaries have short entries, while others are more descriptive.

My father kept a diary of his activities in western Midlothian in the 1950s and 1960s. It is straight to the point, having very short entries which describe exactly what he was doing and the key events on the farm: “painting baler”; “leading in”, “start digging potatoes”, and “finish digging potatoes”.

The diary is a helpful record for the use of particular implements and machines. His diary for October 1958 notes that he had a baler which he was painting on 4 October. It must have been new on the farm in that year as the harvest was being cut by both binder and combine harvester. Indeed, on 1 and 2 October my father was re-stooking grain, while on 7 October, “combine comes-finishes 11th”. He must have been using a contractor with a combine harvester as all the grain was cut by binder in the following year. It was one way to trial these new machines!

The entry for 8 November records that he was bringing a tipper trailer from Gardener’s Crescent. This was the Rosemount Works of Alexanders of Edinburgh Limited, one of the main machinery dealers that dealt with farmers to the west of Edinburgh, and in the Edinburgh area. Alexanders had started up as Alexander & Co. motor agents, in Lothian Road, Shandwick Place and Nottingham Place, Edinburgh, around the end of the First World War. It was a Ford agent, for both cars and tractors. It took part in the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland’s tractor trials in 1922 – marking it out as one of the early companies interested in tractors for the farm in Scotland. My father (and grandfather) used Alexander’s for many years after the last war: it had its dealer plate on the side of most of our Ford tractors, and we purchased a good deal of implements and machines from it as well.

The summer of 1958 was a backward one. October saw my father re-stooking sheaves in the early days of the month, combining in early October, as well as undertaking the usual task of digging the tatties. But the end of the month was spent baling hay and straw. leading the harvest was not completed until 25 October.

The diagram on the left hand page – that was a map of the stackyard with its roads and stacks. My father was meticulously working out how the year’s harvest was to be set out in the stackyard.
If you have a farming diary, have a look through it and see what it says about the farming practices and implements and machines that were being used in particular years. Its surprising the memories that come back. Even talk about the diary with the younger generations. I’m sure that the old diaries will come to have an even greater significance with them in bringing yesterday’s farming back to life.