The Ayr Show of the Ayrshire Agricultural Association was one of the most important agricultural shows for implements and machines in Scotland. The most important one was the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.
The Ayr Show as important not only for local makers but also those coming from further afield, especially in Glasgow and Edinburgh. It was also attended by some of the major English makers such as John Fowler & Co., Leeds.
The west of Scotland newspapers, including the Ayrshire newspapers and the Glasgow herald published extensive accounts on what was exhibited at the show. The agricultural newspapers such as the North British agriculturist also published accounts.
The Glasgow herald published an extensive account of the show on 25 April in its pages of the following day. It provides an interesting account of how the display of implements and machines was undertaken at that time, including proposals for a central location for an exhibition. It provided a long list of exhibitors (showing the importance of the show). It listed all the key stands and their exhibits including horse rakes and mowing and reaping machines, new patent implements as well as the usual exhibitors with their routine exhibits. Awards (silver medals) were made for collections and specific implements.
“ Ayrshire Agricultural Association
The forty-first annual spring show of this association was opened yesterday in the Cattle Market Park, Ayr. As on former occasions, the first day was devoted entirely to the exhibition of implements, and owing to the success which has attended the efforts of the committee of the society in this direction, the show at Ayr has come to be looked upon as second only to that of the Highland Society. So much is this the case that all the leading implement makers in the country make it a point to have some of their goods exposed in the yard of the Ayr Show, and in this way the framers have a more extended choice than they could have in any merely local show. We heard yesterday, however, of a proposal which will doubtless please the leading implement makers, though it may not meet with the approval of the farmers. It is well-known that a considerable amount of expense is occurred in transporting implements of various kinds from one place to another, and the amount of money this spent must be in one way or another drawn from the pockets of the purchasers. The proposal is to form an association of all the agricultural implement makers in the country, with a committee of directors, whose duty it would be to look out for a piece of ground in a central locality, where shedding of a permanent character could be erected, and where for two or three weeks a year a general exhibition could be held. It is said that that would be more convenient to all concerned, save the makers a considerable amount of expenditure in the transport of their goods, and enable them to sell the machines at perhaps 10 per cent less than at present. It is also considered that it would be of great advantage to farmers, as in this central exhibition they would have specimens of all the different kinds of utensils that are required in husbandry, and would thus have an opportunity of selecting the best articles at a lower price than it can be obtained in the market at present. The suggestion is worthy of consideration, but how far it would meet the approval of the farmers or the various agricultural associations in the country is questionable. There is no doubt that the present system us a great convenience to framers, as it brings many good implements to their own doors; but some of the members are beginning to think that the time has now arrived when the farmers might without disadvantage to themselves come to them. This proposal will, however, require ventilation, and some years must necessarily elapse before it can be carried out, even supposing that all the preliminary arrangements had been concluded. In the meantime farmers will continue to use the opportunities placed at their disposal, and nowhere in this district do they possess a better chance than at Ayr. The number of implements in the yard has this year reached 1,024, being 100 more than last year and just about the same as that of the two or three years proceeding. For the sake of comparison we give the entries for the past ten years:-
1867 – 269; 1868 – 478; 1869 – 588; 1870 – 680; 1871 – 704; 1872 – 783; 1873 – 1040; 1874 – 1162; 1875 – 923; 1876 – 1024.
The weather yesterday was of a very uncertain character. The morning was rather showery, and as black clouds passed over the yard and deposited their contents on the visitors, a rush was made to the shedding, under which shelter was obtained till the shower passed over. In the afternoon, however, the aspect of affairs changed, and the visitors to the yard had every comfort for examining the specimens laid out for view, Messrs Haughton & Thompson, of Carlisle, had a number of their adjustable horse rakes and mowing and reaping machines forward, one of them being called a “royal clipper”, which was fitted with a front cutting apparatus. Reaping and mowing machines were also exhibited by Wm Ferguson of Boghall, while the Dunstan Engine Works Company, Gateshead, had a bone crusher and a small stone breaker on the ground. A very interesting collection was to be found in the fourth stand, occupied by Thomas Hunter, Maybole. Besides all the implements for which this maker is famed, Mr hunter showed a new patent excelsior double drill turnip topping and tailing machine. The maker, in speaking of this new implement, states that thirty of them have been tried during the past season in different parts of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and from all the farmers to whom the new implement has been entrusted the reports are exceedingly favourable as to the work done by it. “This implement”, says the maker, “is practically constructed for cutting or sawing off the leaves or shaws, also for cutting up the turnips from their roots, placing them in regular rows ready to be carted away for storage, or put into heaps for cutting up and consuming on the land on which they were grown. There are two saws (one on each side of the frame), about 3 feet long, placed on an acute angle with the drills. The shaws are lifted in front before the saws pass along, which enables them to be all neatly cut off. It is also fitted with a very simple powerful leverage, so that the saws can be instantly raised or lowered while passing over large or small turnips. There is also a cast-steel share on each side, which passes underneath the roots, and adjusted by two wheels, which can also be raised or lowered by means of a lever, and the wheels keep the implement or shares to their proper depth. It is also exceedingly simple in construction, easy to manage, and a light draught for one horse.” It is stated that it can take up eight acres per day, thus effecting a great saving of time and labour. We understand that sheep frequently die from eating too greedily of the green leaves of the growing turnips, but when these are cut off and partially withered they do not have an injurious effect on the stomach; and by using this implement the shaws can all be taken off before sheep are folded with the turnips. Mr Hunter has also in his stand the new patent turnip thinning machine by Hanson & Hunter. The implement thins two drills at a time, and the hoes can be regulated by spring levers to the greatest accuracy to any depth or height, while the machine is in motion, so as to enable the hoes to pass over any blanks or obstacle that might be in the way. By its use one man is said to be able to thin from eight to nine acres a day. John Wallace & Sons, of Glasgow, show specimens of their potato diggers and mowers and reapers, for which they have been famed for many years. Messrs Shearer & Williamson, of Garliestown, have a turnip topping and tailing machine and drill grubber combined. It is so constructed that when not required as topping and tailing machine, the apparatus can be easily removed and grubber teeth inserted. It then becomes an efficient grubber, and in that way saves the expense of another machine. A. & J. Main, Glasgow, and Thomas Turnbull, Dumfries, are among the implement exhibitors, and after a look through these we come to the stand of Fowler & Co., of Leeds. The “Baby” engine, which this firm introduced last year for ploughing and traction purposes, has had a new system of coiling gear attached to it, and the traction steerage has been adopted in place of the more cumbrous system in use among the heavier engines. John Dickie, Girvan, has in his lot a new horse hoe or scuffler. It is intended to work between the rows of machine sown grain, pulverising the ground, and rooting out the annuals growing between the rows, and is so constructed that it can be easily guided without injuring the plants. Wm. Young, Ardrossan, has set up and put in motion two vertical combined engines and boilers, which are simple in construction. All the parts are easy of access and work with great economy. They occupy little space, and no brickwork is required for foundations. The two-horse reaper and mower exhibited by Andrew Pollock, Mauchline, has two speeds, either of which can be used to suit the crop, has two tilt hecks, one for seed hay and one for grain, and it has a swather for meadow hay. His potato digger is also a useful machine. T. Pirie & Co., Kinmundy, have as usual a large quantity of their double furrow ploughs and other implements on the ground, one of the principal being the 5-tine grubber, which is so constructed as to prevent it from choking in the roughest land, and at the same time so thoroughly raising the land that it is said to be superior to ploughing. Alex. Jack & Sons, Maybole, occupy their usual stance, and among the many useful articles for which the firm is now so famous is a new pattern of horse rake, which is made with strong wrought-iron wheels, and the load is delivered by the combined action of arm and foot by a very simple arrangement and easy leverage. There is also a harvesting rake, by the use of which a labourer can tie three acres of corn per day, averaging 800 sheaves to the acre. Picksley, Sims & Co., Leigh, are represented by a number of their famous turnip cutters and reapers. James P. Cathcart, Ayr, has a specimen of Wood’s new iron frame mower, which has been specially constructed for Haddingtonshire, and is stronger than the other machines of the same maker. John Richardson, Carlisle, has several of how well-known prize winnowing machines on the ground. He has also an improved winnower which is made with double shaker and screen, and is adapted for separating the grain more efficiently from wild mustard seed, or wild oats. The Improved patent combined clipper, reaper, and mower of D. Gordon & Co., Ayr, is fitted with a patent wing wheel for crossing deep furrows, is possessed of two feeds, and there is a large front wheel which takes the weight off the necks of the horses. There are also a large variety of other implements, consisting of corn drills, broadcast sowing machines, self-delivery reapers, corn-dressing machines, carts, cheese pressers, churners, &c &c; besides a number of articles which have not the slightest bearing on practical agriculture. Among the exhibitors, besides those we have already mentioned, are-Hugh Wyllie, Ayr; John Hutchison, Maybole; David Proctor, Mauchline; Robert Begg, Dalry; John Drummond, Cumnock; George McCartney & Co., Cumnock; James A. Davidson, Irvine; Robert Wallace, Ayr; J. & R. Wallace, Castle-Douglas; Robert Kerr, Kilwinning; David Paton, Glasgow; James Wyllie, Kilmarnock; James McDowall, Glasgow; Head, Wrightson & Co., Stockton-on-Tees; Thomas Howie & Co., Kilwinning; Alfred Field, Liverpool; James Harvey, Carlisle; Wm Anson Wood, London; Thos. Sheriff, Dunbar; D. M. Osborne & Co., Liverpool; J. W. Robinson & Co., Liverpool; James Cuthill, Ayr; Corbett & Piell, Shrewsbury; Harrison, McGregor & Co., Leigh; J. & T. Young, Ayr; W. N. Nicholson & Son, Newark; W. McFarlane, Glasgow; Ware & Lewis, London; Holmes & Young, Irvine; M. & J. Craig, Stewarton; David Noble, Stranraer; A. Morton & Son, Kilmarnock; Ed. Bowden, Old Cumnock; McFarlane & Findlay, Glasgow; H. Pooley & Son, Glasgow; Robey & Co., Lincoln; and H. R. Marsden, Leeds.
The judges for the implements and machines were Messrs James Wilson, Wester Cowden, Dalkeith; John Taylor, of J. & A. Taylor, engineers, Townhead Works, Ayr; David Scott, Boghead, Girvan; and Robert Wallace, Braehead, Ayr. The following are their awards:-
Silver medals-Thomas Hunter, Maybole, for patent excelsior double-drill turnip topping and tailing machine; John Wallace & Co., Graham Square, Glasgow, for improved potato digger; John Fowler & Co., Leeds, for six-horse power traction engine; John Drummond, millwright, Cumnock, for collection; Geo. McCartney & Co., Cumnock, for collection; Wm Young, Ardrossan, for engines and boilers; T. Pirie & Co., Kinmundy, for collection; Robert Wallace, Whitletts, for collection; Alex. Jack & Sons, Maybole, for chaff-cutters, and another for collection; Picksley, Sims & Co., Leigh, for collection; Richmond Hornsby & Sons, Grantham, for collection; Thos. Howie & Co., Kilwinning, for collection; Corbett & Peele, Shrewsbury, for collection; Harrison. McGregor & Co., Leigh, for mowers and reapers; J. & T. Young, Ayr, for collection; W. N. Nicholson & Son, Newark, for rakes; Wm McFarlane, Glasgow, for collection; Wren & Lewis, London, for collection; Robey & Co., Lincoln, for patent Robey traction engine, and another for double-blast thrashing and finishing machine, with patent angle iron frame; and H. R. Marsden, Leeds, for stonebreaker.
Bronze medals-Haughton & Thompson, Carlisle, for collection; A. & J. Main & Co., Glasgow, for collection; Robert Begg, Dalry, for collection; John Dickie, Girvan, for collection; Robert Kerr, Kilwinning, for collection; Alex. Jack & Sons, Maybole, for carts and lorries; James P. Cathcart, Ayr, for collection; Alfred Field & Co., Liverpool, for collection; D. M. Osborne & Co., Liverpool, for collection; J. & T. Young, Ayr, for improved division stop churn and horse-gear to work it; Holmes & Young, Irvine, for collection; R. Tinkler & Co., Penrith, for collection; H. Pooley & Son, Glasgow, for collection; Robey & Co., Lincoln, for improved portable steam engine; Smith & Wellstood, Glasgow, for boilers; and Kimball & Morton, Glasgow, for collection.
The following firms had their collections highly commended:- John Hutchison, Maybole; Andrew Pollock, Mauchline; James A. Davidson, Irvine; J. & R. Wallace, Castle Douglas; James Wyllie, Kilmarnock; John Richardson, Carlisle; Edward Kerr, Dublin; W. A. Wood, London; Thomas Sheriff, Dunbar; James Cuthill, Ayr; Ord & Maddison, Darlington; Edward Bowden, Old Cumnock; Joseph Davis & Co., London; Macfarlane & Findlay, Glasgow; and William Culton, Whithorn.
Peter Winton, Thorn, by Falkirk, had his potato-digger recommended for trial at the end of July. The judges also agreed to try Aspinwall’s American potato-planter, exhibited by J. W. Robinson & Co., Liverpool, in a field about half-a-mile from Ayr this morning.”
