There were numerous demonstrations of tractor ploughing throughout Scotland in the early 1920s. Some of them were especially important for showing exactly what the early tractors could (or could not) achieve. These included some of the earliest exhibitions in a county. In the central district of Banffshire, one such one was held in February 1921. Because of its importance, an extensive account of it was published in the Aberdeen press and journal of 24 February 1921. It provides a detailed account of the arrangements, the tractors and ploughs, as well as the quality of work that they undertook. Prizes were also awarded to the best work.
The account is worth quoting at length”
“Banffshire farmers’ tractors
Competition at Keith
Finest ploughing show in the north
Tractor ploughing is making great headway in the northern counties, and in this progressive branch of the agricultural industry the farmers of Central Banffshire have demonstrated their up-to-date methods and enterprise. The tractor competition held under the auspices of the Central Banffshire Farmers’ Club at Tarmore, Keith, yesterday was the biggest event of the kind that has been witnessed north of Perth, and attracted a large gathering of farmers from a wide district, who manifested much interest in the modern method of turning over the soil. There have been several horse-ploughing matches in the county which were supplemented by two or three tractors, but on this occasion the competition was confined solely to tractors pulling two or three-furrow plough. In this respect it was the first and finest competition that has been held in the northern counties, and much credit is due to the Farmers’ Club in promoting such an educative exhibition. An excellent day’s work was accomplished, and one farmer gave expression to the general admiration by the remark- “It fairly puts the death-knell on the horses”. In the district the tractor is well established. There are thirty or forty in Central Banffshire.
The competition took place on a 12-acre field placed at the disposal of the Farmers’ Club for the occasion by Mr James Weir, the enterprising farmer of Tarmore, and the weather was ideal for the event. It was a strong, clay soil, rather dry for the work, and the hollows severely tested the qualities of the tractors, and tried the skill of the most expert ploughman. The tractors were 13 in number-six Fordsons, four International juniors, one Glasgow, one Titan and one Case, the latter giving a demonstration under the agency of Auchinachie and Simpson, Keith, and making a very successful exhibition of power against the hill. It pulled a Ruston-Hornsby plough. The majority of the ploughs were the renowned make of Sellars, Huntly, and Auchinachie and Simpson, Keith.
The winning tractors
The prize-winners were:-
Three furrow ploughs-1 Mr McCallum, Auchenhove, Keith, with Titan tractor and Sellar plough; 2. Mr McKay, Mains of Tannachy, Portgordon, Glasgow tractor and Oliver plough.
Two furrow ploughs-1 and cup, Mr Wilson, Muckleton, Lessendrum, Huntly, with International tractor and Sellar plough; 2. Robert Allan, Bush, Keith, Fordson tractor and Sellar plough; 3. K. H. Gambles, Arnhall. Huntly, International tractor and Sellar plough; 4. Robt Cameron, Bogbain, Keith, International and Sellar plough; 5. S. Simpson, Berryleys, Keith, International tractor and Auchinachie and Simpson plough; 6. Alex Dey, Midthird, Botriphnie, Fordson tractor and Sellar plough; 7. Thomas Gordon Duff, Drummuir Home Farm, Fordson tractor and Auchinachie and Simpson plough; 8. John Cameron, Braehead, Keith, Fordson tractor and Sellar plough; 9. Jas. Robertson, Keithmore, Dufftown, Fordson tractor and Sellar plough; 10. A. McLean, Heads of Auchinderran, Fordson and Sellar plough.
Straihghtest furrows- Robert Allan, Bush.
Neatest ends-K. H. Gambles, Arnhall, Huntly.
Best manipulated tractor-Robert Cameron, Bogbain.
Not a bad-ploughed rig
Each of the tractors had to plough about an acre, and first class and expeditious work was done with any kind of plough. Indeed, there was not a bad ploughed rig in the field, and a veteran judge declared that he had been at six or seven horse ploughing matches this year, and the first prize tractor ploughing compared very favourably with any of the first prize work at the horse competitions.
Mr Wilson of Muckleton’s first prize and cup two-furrow plough tractor was a 10 to 12 hp International run with paraffin and starting on petrol. It was a very neat and easily managed one-man machine, with plenty of power for a two or three-furrow plough, working with a small consumption of oil. The engine was all cased in, a protection from the frost, with mud-guard and platform for the driver. The machine is capitally adapted for the soil of Banffshire, and requires about a gallon of paraffin an hour. The second was a Fordson tractor belonging to Mr Allan, Bush. Indeed, the type of tractor which was predominant in the competition was the Fordson, which is evidently a popular machine with the farmers on account of its handiness and cheapness. The Internationals, again, took the third, fourth, and fifth places, followed by the Fordsons. The first three-furrow Sellar plough was drawn by a Titan, and the second was an Oliver pulled by a Glasgow tractor.
The judge of the ploughing was Mr William Newlands, Lockand, Borharm, who gave complete satisfaction by his decisions, while Mr William Simpson, Stipeside, was equally successful in his selection of the neatest ends, straightest furrows, and best manipulated tractors.
After the prizes had been awarded the members of the committee and other friends were hospitably entertained at Tarmore by Mr and Mrs Weir, who were heartily thanked for their kindness.”
