NEW CUMNOCK• FRIENDLY DAY'S PLOUGHING.Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 02 April 1864
Mr D. Craig, of Blackwood, having entered on a lease of the farm of Glen, a few of his friends, in conformity with the good old custom, turned out on Friday week to give him a friendly lift with his ploughing.
And on Saturday a similar tribute of good will was paid to Mr John Steel, jr., of Fardenreoch, who has entered to the farm of Cairnhill. Twenty-nine ploughs appeared on the ground on the latter occasion, and completed their various lots in a creditable manner. Both at Glen and Cairnhill the ploughmen were liberally treated by the youthful farmers, who seemed fully sensible of the obligations under which their friends, and well-wishers had laid them.
FRIENDLY PLOUGHING.— Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 28 March 1868
SeveraI farmers in the neighbourhood, anxious to testify their respect towards Mr W. Dalgliesh, Draper, and Tweed manufacturer, for his straightforward and obliging disposition, lately resolved to give him a day's ploughing, and on the morning of Saturday last, the 20th inst., eleven ploughmen, with well-appointed teams, appeared on a field in his possession, and turned it over in excellent style. The ploughmen were, it is almost needless to say, liberally supplied with creature comforts during the day by Mr and Mrs Dalgliesh.
WEATHER, &c.—Up to the end of the week it continued raining, and blowing and roaring, and roaring and blowing, alternately, and occasionally frosty in the mornings. Field labour is progres- sing slowly. From the wet state of the soil little, indeed can be accomplished, and sowing, under present circumstances, it quite out of the question. Out-of-door work has been much retarded, and little progress has been made in the several undertakings in and around the town; the men engaged in these being frequently hindered from prosecuting their work from the unpropitious state of the weather.
FRIENDLY PLOUGHING.—On Friday last the friends and neighbours of Mr Robert Weir of Borland Mains, resolved on giving him a day's ploughing in consequence of his having entered upon the last year of his lease and the farm having been let to another party. Mr Weir and his father have been tenants of Borland Mains for the long period of nearly eighty years, and all along they have been noted for quiet, neighbourly, and industrious habits, and were, in consequence, much respected in the locality. Forty ploughs appeared on the ground, and turned over a goodly quantity of ground. The ploughmen awl the large number of spectators were well regaled with good-cheer by Mr and Mrs Weir during the day. Many are sorry that the farm has been let to another party, and were not a little surprised at hearing of it, as Mr Weir is considered, if not a model, at least a good farmer, very much esteemed in town and country, and not behind in pecuniary matters ; and amongst the first to sympathise, not merely in word but in deed, withfriends and neighbours in adversity. We hope, and feel certain, that all who know him, heartily wish he may soon get another farm, and be yet long spared to plough, and sow, and reap successfully the fruits of the soil.
NEW CUMNOCK FRIENDLY DAY'S PLOUGHING.- Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 31 January 1863
Mr Andrew M`Cartney, of Littlemark, having entered on a lease of the farm of Farden, a number of his friends and neighbours turned out on Saturday last to assist him with the ploughing of his first crop. The number of ploughs on the ground was twenty-two, which proved sufficient for turning over, in a very satisfactory manner, the lea lift for the season. The number of ploughs would have been much greater had they been required, but as Mr M'Cartney seems to be a believer in the proverb that " the gods help those that help themselves," he has kept his own plough pretty busy during the winter, and thus stands less in need of assistance. Mr M'Cartney has proved himself an enterprising and sucessful agriculturist, and we wish him all success in his new undertaking. The present tenant, Mr Douglas, has given up his 'lease in consequence of his being about to emigrate with his family.
NEW CUMNOCK. FRIENDLY DAY'S PLOUGHING Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald - Saturday 19 March 1870
Saturday last, a number of the friends and neighbours of Mr Wilson, Oldmill, turned out and gave him a day's ploughing. Owing to the illness of Mr Wilson's horses during the greater part of the winter, he was unable to get his land ploughed before the usual seed time. Accordingly, the neighbours having kindly consented to give him a lift, ploughs to the number of 25 came forward at an early hour. Notwithstanding the severe frost of the previous night. all the lots were finished in admirable style. Throughout the day the wants of the ploughmen were carefully attended to, and when the work was completed, they repaired to the farm house, where an excellent tea was prepared for them.
Ian Howat in his 2021 interview describes it as "Neeboring"
