CHAPTER
2
THE EARLY YEARS UP TO 1900
Thereafter the Show became an annual
event, and for the next five years was held on a Saturday
in September in
the Free Church Schoolroom, as the "Horticultural
and Ornithological Exhibition". Generally the number
and quality of exhibits increased yearly, though 1871 and
1872 were reported as relatively poor years due to inclement
weather. A typical distribution of classes was -
Horticultural Department - Cut flowers 22 classes
Plants in pots 6 classes
Amateur department - Flowers & pot plants 7 classes
Vegetables 19 classes
Agricultural department 7 classes
Ornithological department 12 classes
Poultry 7 classes
Pigeons 4 classes
Miscellaneous 3 classes
Fruit 11 classes
Vegetables 25 classes
In 1873 a Silver Medal was awarded by Mr H.M.Rait of
Cranstonhill for vegetables, the winner being Mr. Norman
Foster. In
1879 another silver medal was awarded by Mr. Peter
McConachie for annuals in the amateur department, the
first winner
being Mr.T.Wilson, Gateside.
The financial stability of the Society
was enhanced through patronage by many local "gentry", such as E.H.J.Crauford,
Miss and Mrs Crauford, Lt.Col. & Mrs Weston; Mrs Anderson,
Carlung, and Miss Anderson; H.C.Hyndman, Springside; James
Boyd,Esq.,Orchard; Wm.Freebairn,Esq., Drumilling, and Mrs.Freebairn.
The press noted in 1873 that
" This Society endeavours to embrace and combine the different
tastes of the community, so that agriculture and the domestic
pets are admitted, and were also well represented; and
from the great and increasing interest evinced by the inhabitants,
it would seem to be in a flourishing condition, and exerting
a beneficial and salutary local influence. In this respect
the society is deserving of the liberal patronage and support
which the local gentry have given it, and which we understand
is, like the other departments, in excess of former years"
In 1873 D.C.Rait of Portencross accepted the Presidency
of the Society. The number of entries in that year was
some 400, exceeding that of previous years, and the show
format was now well established. Amongst unusual entries
reported from time to time were -
Case of local insects (much and deservedly admired)
Sample of peas, descendants of a pea extracted from
an Egyptian mummy.
A cockatoo which amused the youths with its power of
chopping vegetables, which was almost equal to a machine.
A model of the village church in moss and flowers
An 82 lb. marrow
A 56 lb gourd
In 1875 a new Hall was built in West Kilbride under the
auspices of the Good Templars (see Map and Appendix
2) and for a number of years thereafter it became the
venue
for the annual Flower Show. Show Reports for 1875 and
1876 have not yet been found but the 1877,78 and 79
events followed the now standard format, the 1879 year
being
reported as particularly successful. A somewhat earlier
show date of 21 August was adopted in 1880 (Advertised
admission charge one shilling) but September was reverted
to later. However from 1894 the date again went back
a week into August. An upsurge of entries, both quantity
and quality, in the ornithological section was noted
in 1881, and in 1886 the new feature of homer racing
was added, one race being for old birds over a 30 mile
distance (winner's time 55 minutes) and one race for
young birds over a distance of 10 miles, (winner's
time 15 minutes). Strangely, 1887 is the last year
in which
ornithological classes were a feature of the Show;
thereafter the Society's title reverted to West Kilbride
Horticultural
Society.
There was over this period a continual improvement in
the quality and range of horticultural exhibits, particularly
in pot/greenhouse plants and annuals, and also in exhibits
of fruit. In 1887 the number of prizewinning exhibitors
is recorded as 50, one of whom, Mr. R. Dickie, carried
off 36 first prizes and 17 seconds. There were 194 first
prize awards and 115 seconds.
In 1895 there was a change of both
venue and format. The 25th. Annual Show was held in a
marquee in the grounds
of Kirktonhall House, the proprietor of which, T.A.Robertson,
Esq., was the President, the Vice-president being J.K.Currie.
who had been connected with the West Kilbride Horticultural
Society since its inception. The Show was formally opened
by Lady Gertrude Cochrane. There was good weather, speeches,
important new prizes, music "discoursed" by the
Kilmarnock Military Band, with evening dancing "enjoyed
by the young men and maidens" - a clearly well-organised
social occasion as well as a very good show. There were
exhibits of beehives and appliances by Messrs J.R.Thyne
of Glasgow.
The 1897 show followed a similar pattern, and was formally
opened by the Countess of Glasgow; there were over
500 entries. By comparison, the largest entry number
ever
achieved in the Summer Show was 1420 in 1965.
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