DOCSLIB.ORG

The Development of Horticultural Science in England, 1910-1930

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

The Development of Horticultural Science in England, 1910-1930 Paul Smith Department of Science and Technology Studies University College London Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy July 2016 I, Paul Smith, confirm the work presented in this thesis is my own. Where information has been derived from other sources, I confirm it has been indicated in the thesis. 2 Abstract This thesis explores how horticultural science was shaped in England in the period 1910-1930. Horticultural science research in the early twentieth century exhibited marked diversity and horticulture included bees, chickens, pigeons,pigs, goats, rabbits and hares besides plants. Horticultural science was characterised by various tensions arising from efforts to demarcate it from agriculture and by internecine disputes between government organisations such as the Board of Agriculture, the Board of Education and the Development Commission for control of the innovative state system of horticultural research and education that developed after 1909. Both fundamental and applied science research played an important role in this development. This thesis discusses the promotion of horticultural science in the nineteenth century by private institutions, societies and scientists and after 1890 by the government, in order to provide reference points for comparisons with early twentieth century horticultural science. Efforts made by the new Horticultural Department of the Board of Agriculture and by scientists and commercial growers raised the academic status of horticultural science and the professional status of its practitioners. Horticulture is treated as a working world and the response of the commercial sector to research station science is analysed. In detailing the scientific investigations conducted by the state and the commercial sector, in discussing state consumer-oriented policies based on research station science and in examining responses of allotment holders and consumers of fruit and vegetables to these policies, this dissertation offers an original contribution to the history of the life sciences. 3 List of Tables and Figures Table 3.1 UK research stations in horticulture, agriculture and fisheries founded between 1880-1909……………………..........................102 Table 3.2 UK research stations in horticulture, agriculture and fisheries founded between 1910-1930………............................................103 Table 3.3 Increase in staff numbers in the period 1910-1930 at ten government-funded research stations undertaking cumulatively a range of horticultural science experiments……………………...106 Figure 3.1 Distribution in the UK of state and privately funded horticultural, agricultural and fishery research stations founded between 1880-1930……………………………………………………………107 Table 7.1 Engagement with science of major seed firms, 1910-1930.........248 4 List of Photographs Figure 4.1 Cheshunt Experimental and Research Station c1933………….115 Figure 4.2 East Malling Research Station 1924……………………………...124 Figure 4.3 East Malling Research Station Laboratory 1922………………...126 Figure 4.4 Low Temperature Research Station 1922……….......................136 Figure 4.5 Rothamsted Research Station New Laboratory 1915-1916……………………………………………………………151 Figure 7.1 Suttons Lawn Science Exhibition 1920s………………………....257 Figure 7.2 Assessment of the effects of radioactive ores at Reading in 1915………………………………………………….261 Figure 8.1 Derby Market c1927..……………………………………………....290 5 List of Abbreviations ARBGK – Archives Royal Botanic Gardens Kew BAAS – British Association for the Advancement of Science BAF – Board of Agriculture and Fisheries BAS – Board of Agriculture for Scotland BBA – British Beekeepers Association BOE – Board of Education BWSCS – Bath and West Southern Counties Society CERS – Cheshunt Experimental and Research Station DATI – Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction DC – Development Commission DF – Development Fund EMB – Empire Marketing Board EMRS – East Malling Research Station FVPRS – Fruit and Vegetable Preservation Research Station JIHI – John Innes Horticultural Institution LAA – Lancashire Archives LARS – Long Ashton Research Station LIA – Lincolnshire Archives LS – Linnean Society of London LTRS – Low Temperature Research Station MAF – Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries MERL – Museum of English Rural Life MSCAUL – Marks and Spencer Company Archive, University of Leeds NA – National Archives (Kew) 6 NIAB EMRL – National Institute of Agricultural Botany East East Malling Research Library NIPH – National Institute of Poultry Husabandry PA – Parliamentary Archives PGCCC – Pennells Garden Centre Catalogue Collection RAC – Royal Agricultural College RASE – Royal Agricultural Society of England RBGK – Royal Botanic Gardens Kew RCHS – Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society RHSI – Royal Horticultural Society of Ireland RHSLL – Royal Horticultural Society Lindley Library RS – Royal Society SEAMC – Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce SHAC – Seale Hayne Agricultural College THSL – The Horticultural Society of London TKMOA – The Keep Mass Observation Archive TMCC – Thompson and Morgan Catalogue Collection TSAML – The Sainsbury Archive, Museum of London UCSC – University College Special Collections 7 Table of Contents Title page………………………………………………………………………………1 Confirmation…………………………………………………………………………..2 Abstract………………………………………………………………………………..3 List of Tables and Figures……….…………………………………………………4 List of Photographs…………………………………………………………………5 List of Abbreviations………………………………………………………………..6 Table of Contents……………………………………………………………………8 Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………...14 Chapter 1 Introduction……………………………………………………………..15 1.1 Research Questions, Arguments and Methodology…………………….....15 1.2 Horticulture and Agriculture Described……………………………………...18 1.3 Secondary Literature………………………………………………………….21 1.3.1 General Histories of England……………………………………………....22 1.3.2 Histories of Horticulture: General and Specific………………………......22 1.3.3 Histories of Agriculture……………………………………………………...23 1.3.4 General Histories of Science Focussing on the Life Sciences…………25 1.3.5 Histories of UK Horticultural Science……………………………………...26 1.3.6 Histories of UK Agricultural Science……………………………………....28 1.4 Chapter Summaries and Themes……………………………………………40 Chapter 2 Science Applied to Horticulture, 1800-1910: Setting the Scene...……………………………………………………………...46 2.1 Horticulture as a Science, 1800-1885……………………………………....47 2.1.1 Scientific Societies…………………………………………………………..49 2.1.2 Horticultural Institutions: The Horticultural Society of London………….52 2.1.3 Agricultural Institutions……………………………………………………...53 2.1.3.1 The Bath and West and Southern Counties Society……………….....54 2.1.3.2 The Royal Agricultural Society of England……………………………..55 2.1.3.3 The Royal Agricultural College…………………………………………..56 2.1.4 Plant Physiology and Horticulture……………………………………….....57 2.1.4.1 Rothamstead……………………………………………………………….57 8 2.1.4.2 John Lindley: ‘pointing out… the fundamental principles’…………....58 2.1.4.3 M. T. Masters………………………………………………………………60 2.1.5 Classification, Nomenclature and Cultivation: Botanic Gardens, Plant Collectors and Seedsmen…………………………………………...61 2.1.5.1 Botanic Gardens…………………………………………………………..61 2.1.5.2 Private Collectors, Nurserymen and Seedsmen……………………….62 Summary…………………………………………………………………………....63 2.2 Horticultural Science, 1885-1910: The Role of the Government…………65 2.2.1 Enquiries and Legislation, 1885-1910…………………………………….65 2.2.1.1 Enquiries……………………………………………………………….......66 2.2.1.2 Legislation………………………………………………………………....68 2.2.2 The Establishment of Educational and Research Institutes and Examples of their Work……………………………………………….71 2.2.3 Alfred Daniel Hall……………………………………………………………72 Summary……………………………………………………………………………74 2.3 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………...75 Chapter 3 The State and Horticultural Science: The Government Research Stations, 1910-1930………………………………………78 3.1 The Development Fund and Development Commission………………....82 3.1.1 The Influence of Left Wing Views………………………………………….84 3.1.2 Creating the State System of Pure and Applied Science……………….90 3.1.3 The Influence and Work of Alfred Daniel Hall……………………………93 Summary…………………………………………………………………………....97 3.2 The ‘research factories’……………………………………………………….98 3.2.1 Research Stations 1880-1930: A General Survey……………………….99 Summary……………………………………………………………………….....111 3.4 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………....112 Chapter 4 Research Stations: Four Case Studies…………………………..114 4.1 Cheshunt Experimental and Research Station…………………………...115 4.1.1 Early Work………………………………………………………………….116 4.1.2 The Influence of Pests and Diseases and the Drive to Increase Yields in the 1920s……………………………………………...118 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..123 4.2 East Malling Research Station……………………………………………...123 4.2.1 The Influence of the Director R. G. Hatton……………………………...125 4.2.2 The Research Work at the Station……………………………………….129 9 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..133 4.3 Cambridge University Low Temperature Research Station……………..134 4.3.1 Origins of the LTRS………………………………………………………..137 4.3.2 Developments in gas and cold storage………………………………….140 4.3.3 Influence…………………………………………………………………....141 4.3.4 Tensions…………………………………………………………………....144 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..148 4.4 Rothamsted Research Station: ‘a research machine ready to act’……..149 4.4.1 Soil and Plant Nutrition Research………………………………………..152 4.4.2 Weeds, Pests and Diseases……………………………………………...157 4.4.3 The Design of Experiments……………………………………………….159 Summary…………………………………………………………………………..160
Recommended publications
  • IB Process Plant Study Page 2 of 107

    IB Process Plant Study Page 2 of 107

    Industrial Biotechnology Process Plant Study March 2015 A report for: The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Innovate UK and The Industrial Biotechnology Leadership Forum (IBLF). Authors: David Turley1, Adrian Higson1, Michael Goldsworthy1, Steve Martin2, David Hough2, Davide De Maio1 1 NNFCC 2 Inspire Biotech Approval for release: Adrian Higson Disclaimer While NNFCC and Inspire biotech considers that the information and opinions given in this work are sound, all parties must rely on their own skill and judgement when making use of it. NNFCC will not assume any liability to anyone for any loss or damage arising out of the provision of this report. NNFCC NNFCC is a leading international consultancy with expertise on the conversion of biomass to bioenergy, biofuels and bio-based products. NNFCC, Biocentre, Phone: +44 (0)1904 435182 York Science Park, Fax: +44 (0)1904 435345 Innovation Way, E: [email protected] Heslington, York, Web: www.nnfcc.co.uk YO10 5DG. IB Process Plant Study Page 2 of 107 Acknowledgement NNFCC wishes to acknowledge the input of the many stakeholders who provided information on the pilot scale equipment present in their respective facilities and more specifically the following stakeholders who gave of their time and experience, either in the workshop, or in one-to-one discussions with the project team. We would like to thank all for their valued input. Sohail Ali Plymouth Marine Laboratory Mike Allen Plymouth Marine Laboratory
  • Long-Term Experiments

    Long-Term Experiments

    ROTHAMSTED LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTS Guide to the Classical and other Long-term experiments, Datasets and Sample Archive Edited by A. J. Macdonald Contributors Andy Macdonald, Paul Poulton, Ian Clark, Tony Scott, Margaret Glendining, Sarah Perryman, Jonathan Storkey, James Bell, Ian Shield, Vanessa McMillan and Jane Hawkins. Rothamsted Research Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK Tel +44 (0) 1582 763133 Fax +44 (0) 1582 760981 www.rothamsted.ac.uk 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 4 THE CLASSICAL EXPERIMENTS 7 Broadbalk Winter Wheat 7 Broadbalk and Geescroft Wildernesses 19 Park Grass 20 Hoosfield Spring Barley 31 Exhaustion Land 34 Garden Clover 36 OTHER LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTS 37 At Rothamsted 37 At Woburn 39 RESERVED AND DISCONTINUED EXPERIMENTS 41 Barnfield 41 Hoosfield Alternate Wheat and Fallow 41 Woburn Market Garden 42 Agdell 42 The Woburn Intensive Cereals Experiments 43 Saxmundham, Rotations I & II 43 Amounts of Straw and Continuous Maize Experiments 44 (Rothamsted and Woburn) METEOROLOGICAL DATA 45 LONG-TERM EXPERIMENTS AS A RESOURCE 45 THE ROTHAMSTED SAMPLE ARCHIVE 47 ELECTRONIC ROTHAMSTED ARCHIVE (e-RA) 49 THE ROTHAMSTED INSECT SURVEY (RIS) 50 UK ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE NETWORK (ECN) 52 NORTH WYKE FARM PLATFORM 53 MAP OF ROTHAMSTED FARM 28 REFERENCES 56 The Rothamsted Long-term Experiments are supported by the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Front cover under the National Capabilities programme Broadbalk from the air, 2015 2018 © Rothamsted Research grant (BBS/E/C/000J0300), and by the Back cover ISBN 978-1-9996750-0-4 (Print) Lawes Agricultural Trust. Park Grass from the air, 2015 ISBN 978-1-9996750-1-1 (Online) 2 FOREWORD It is a testament to the foresight and Managing and documenting these experiments commitment of Sir John Lawes and Sir Henry and their associated data and archives is Gilbert, as well as others who have come after not a trivial task.
  • Revised Edition 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    Revised Edition 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

    Revised Edition 2019 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Written and researched by: Ian Fitzpatrick, Richard Young and Robert Barbour with Megan Perry, Emma Rose and Aron Marshall. We would like to thank: Kath Dalmeny Adele Jones Christopher Stopes David Gould Stuart Meikle Marie Christine Mehrens Anil Graves Dominic Moran Thomas Harttung Jules Pretty Patrick Holden Hannah Steenbergen for helpful comments on draft versions or sections of the report. All interpretation, opinion and error is the responsibility of the authors alone. Designed by: Alan Carmody, Midas Design Consultants Ltd. and Blue Moon Creative Production Coordinator: Hannah Steenbergen Printed by Vale Press Ltd. First published November 2017 Revised and corrected July 2019 We would like to thank the following organisations for their invaluable support for our work on True Cost Accounting, as well as the Brunswick Group, who kindly hosted our report launch in November 2017: THE HIDDEN COST OF UK FOOD FOREWORD 3 PREFACE TO THE 2019 EDITION 5 PREFACE 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8 Hidden costs in 2015 ............................................................................................................................................8 Challenges to be overcome .............................................................................................................................10 Addressing the challenges ..............................................................................................................................10 The purpose of this report ...............................................................................................................................10
  • Agrochemicals - the Silent Killers Case Histories

    Agrochemicals - the Silent Killers Case Histories

    Case histories Agrochemicals - the Silent Killers Rosemary Mason MB, ChB, FRCA and Palle Uhd Jepsen former Conservation Adviser to the Danish Forest and Nature Agency JUSTIFICATION The purpose of this document is to highlight the problems of the current and future use of agrochemical products, using a series of case studies. Have we forgotten Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring from 1962? Many of these chemicals are far more toxic (and persistent) than DDT. They are the silent destroyers of human health and the environment. CONTENTS CASE HISTORIES 2 Honeybees 2 Bumblebees 3 Super-weeds 5 The controversial BBC Countryfile programme 6 Why are the European authorities determined to get GM crops into Europe? 7 EFSA has recently given positive opinions on old herbicides at the request of industry 8 Another GM, herbicide tolerant seed in the pipeline 9 What is the role of the Commissioner of the Health and Consumers Directorate? 9 The effects of GM crops on humans in Latin America 10 Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Produce Teratogenic Effects on Vertebrates by Impairing Retinoic Acid Signaling 13 Danish farmers report side effects with GM Soya fed to pigs 14 Desiccation of crops with glyphosate to dry them 15 Scientists complain that the EC has ignored independent scientific advice about Roundup® 15 RMS (DAR) studies on glyphosate 16 Other EFSA reasoned opinions for modification of MRLs in food 17 Lack of ecological knowledge from industry and governments 17 Humans are bearing the brunt of these genotoxic chemicals and will do so even more 18 The Faroes Statement: Human Health Effects of Developmental Exposure to Chemicals in Our Environment 2007 19 The Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal 19 Peoples’ Submission 19 The Verdict 23 Summary of Verdict by members of the Jury 23 1 Summary of complaints to the Ombudsman 1360/2012/BEH about the EC and EFSA CASE HISTORIES Honeybees Dead queens and workers.
  • Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 48 (2014) 51E62

    Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 48 (2014) 51E62

    Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 48 (2014) 51e62 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ibmb Identification of pheromone components and their binding affinity to the odorant binding protein CcapOBP83a-2 of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata P. Siciliano a,b, X.L. He a, C. Woodcock a, J.A. Pickett a, L.M. Field a, M.A. Birkett a, B. Kalinova c, L.M. Gomulski b, F. Scolari b, G. Gasperi b, A.R. Malacrida b, J.J. Zhou a,* a Department of Biological Chemistry and Crop Protection, Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Herts. AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom b Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Università di Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100 Pavia, Italia c Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the AS CR, v.v.i., Flemingovo nám. 2, CZ-166 10 Prague 6, Czech Republic article info abstract Article history: The Mediterranean fruit fly (or medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann; Diptera: Tephritidae), is a serious Received 30 July 2013 pest of agriculture worldwide, displaying a very wide larval host range with more than 250 different Received in revised form species of fruit and vegetables. Olfaction plays a key role in the invasive potential of this species. Un- 17 February 2014 fortunately, the pheromone communication system of the medfly is complex and still not well estab- Accepted 18 February 2014 lished. In this study, we report the isolation of chemicals emitted by sexually mature individuals during the “calling” period and the electrophysiological responses that these compounds elicit on the antennae Keywords: fl fl of male and female ies.
  • DICTIONARY of the HISTORY of SCIENCE Subject Editors

    DICTIONARY of the HISTORY of SCIENCE Subject Editors

    DICTIONARY OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE Subject Editors Astronomy Michael A. Hoskin, Churchill College, Cambridge. Biology Richard W. Burkhardt, Jr, Department of History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Chemistry William H. Brock, Victorian Studies Centre, University of Leicester. Earth sciences Roy Porter, W ellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London. Historiography Steven Shapin, & sociology Science Studies Unit, of science University of Edinburgh. Human Roger Smith, sciences Department of History, University of Lancaster. Mathematics Eric J. Aiton, Mathematics Faculty, Manchester Polytechnic. Medicine William F. Bynum, W ellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London. Philosophy Roy Bhaskar, of science School of Social Sciences, University of Sussex. Physics John L. Heilbron, Office for History of Science & Technology, University of California, Berkeley. DICTIONARY OF THE HISTORY OF SCIENCE edited by W.EBynum E.J.Browne Roy Porter M © The Macmillan Press Ltd 1981 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1981 978-0-333-29316-4 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without permission. First published 1981 by THE MACMILLAN PRESS LTD London and Basingstoke Associated Companies throughout the world. ISBN 978-1-349-05551-7 ISBN 978-1-349-05549-4 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-1-349-05549-4 Typeset by Computacomp (UK) Ltd, Fort William, Scotland Macmillan Consultant Editor Klaus Boehm Contents Introduction vii Acknowledgements viii Contributors X Analytical table of contents xiii Bibliography xxiii Abbreviations xxxiv Dictionary Bibliographical index 452 Introduction How is the historical dimension of science relevant to understanding its place in our lives? It is widely agreed that our present attitudes and ideas about religion, art, or morals are oriented the way they are, and thus related to other beliefs, because of their history.
  • Lecture 30 Origins of Horticultural Science

    Lecture 30 Origins of Horticultural Science

    Lecture 30 1 Lecture 30 Origins of Horticultural Science The origin of horticultural science derives from a confl uence of 3 events: the formation of scientifi c societies in the 17th century, the creation of agricultural and horticultural societies in the 18th century, and the establishment of state-supported agricultural research in the 19th century. Two seminal horticultural societies were involved: The Horticultural Society of London (later the Royal Horticulture Society) founded in 1804 and the Society for Horticultural Science (later the American Society for Horticultural Science) founded in 1903. Three horticulturists can be considered as the Fathers of Horticultural Science: Thomas Andrew Knight, John Lindley, and Liberty Hyde Bailey. Philip Miller (1691–1771) Miller was Gardener to the Worshipful Company of Apothecaries at their Botanic Garden in Chelsea and is known as the most important garden writer of the 18th century. The Gardener’s and Florist’s Diction- ary or a Complete System of Horticulture (1724) was followed by a greatly improved edition entitled, The Gardener’s Dictionary containing the Methods of Cultivating and Improving the Kitchen, Fruit and Flower Garden (1731). This book was translated into Dutch, French, German and became a standard reference for a century in both England and America. In the 7th edition (1759), he adopted the Linnaean system of classifi cation. The edition enlarged by Thomas Martyn (1735–1825), Professor of Botany at Cambridge University, has been considered the largest gardening manual to have ever existed. Miller is credited with introducing about 200 American plants. The 16th edition of one of his books, The Gardeners Kalendar (1775)—reprinted in facsimile edition in 1971 by the National Council of State Garden Clubs—gives direc- tions for gardeners month by month and contains an introduction to the science of botany.
  • Statutes and Rules for the British Museum

    Statutes and Rules for the British Museum

    (ft .-3, (*y Of A 8RI A- \ Natural History Museum Library STATUTES AND RULES BRITISH MUSEUM STATUTES AND RULES FOR THE BRITISH MUSEUM MADE BY THE TRUSTEES In Pursuance of the Act of Incorporation 26 George II., Cap. 22, § xv. r 10th Decembei , 1898. PRINTED BY ORDER OE THE TRUSTEES LONDON : MDCCCXCYIII. PRINTED BY WOODFALL AND KINDER, LONG ACRE LONDON TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. PAGE Meetings, Functions, and Privileges of the Trustees . 7 CHAPTER II. The Director and Principal Librarian . .10 Duties as Secretary and Accountant . .12 The Director of the Natural History Departments . 14 CHAPTER III. Subordinate Officers : Keepers and Assistant Keepers 15 Superintendent of the Reading Room . .17 Assistants . 17 Chief Messengers . .18 Attendance of Officers at Meetings, etc. -19 CHAPTER IV. Admission to the British Museum : Reading Room 20 Use of the Collections 21 6 CHAPTER V, Security of the Museum : Precautions against Fire, etc. APPENDIX. Succession of Trustees and Officers . Succession of Officers in Departments 7 STATUTES AND RULES. CHAPTER I. Of the Meetings, Functions, and Privileges of the Trustees. 1. General Meetings of the Trustees shall chap. r. be held four times in the year ; on the second Meetings. Saturday in May and December at the Museum (Bloomsbury) and on the fourth Saturday in February and July at the Museum (Natural History). 2. Special General Meetings shall be sum- moned by the Director and Principal Librarian (hereinafter called the Director), upon receiving notice in writing to that effect signed by two Trustees. 3. There shall be a Standing Committee, standing . • Committee. r 1 1 t-» • 1 t> 1 consisting 01 the three Principal 1 rustees, the Trustee appointed by the Crown, and sixteen other Trustees to be annually appointed at the General Meeting held on the second Saturday in May.
  • Reflections on the Historiography of Molecular Biology

    Reflections on the Historiography of Molecular Biology

    Reflections on the Historiography of Molecular Biology HORACE FREELAND JUDSON SURELY the time has come to stop applying the word revolution to the rise of new scientific research programmes. Our century has seen many upheavals in scientific ideas--so many and so varied that the notion of scientific revolution has been stretched out of shape and can no longer be made to cover the processes of change characteristic of most sciences these past hundred years. By general consent, two great research pro- grammes arising in this century stand om from the others. The first, of course, was the one in physics that began at the turn of the century with quantum theory and relativity and ran through the working out, by about 1930, of quantum mechanics in its relativistic form. The trans- formation in physics appears to be thoroughly documented. Memoirs and biographies of the physicists have been written. Interviewswith survivors have been recorded and transcribed. The history has been told at every level of detail and difficulty. The second great programme is the one in biology that had its origins in the mid-1930s and that by 1970 had reached, if not a conclusion, a kind of cadence--a pause to regroup. This is the transformation that created molecular biology and latter-day biochemistry. The writing of its history has only recently started and is beset with problems. Accounting for the rise of molecular biology began with brief, partial, fugitive essays by participants. Biographies have been written of two, of the less understood figures in the science, who died even as the field was ripening, Oswald Avery and Rosalind Franklin; other scientists have wri:tten their memoirs.
  • Profits and Potatoes

    Profits and Potatoes

    Rothamsted Research and the Value of Excellence: A synthesis of the available evidence Report to Rothamsted Research By Sean Rickard October 2015 Séan Rickard Ltd. 2015 1 Forward by the Director and Chief Executive of Rothamsted Research Professor Achim Dobermann Assessing the impact of agricultural research is difficult because science is a complex and lengthy process, with pathways to impact that vary widely. It is common that research and development stages towards new technologies and know-how last 15 or even more years, followed by many more years for reaching peak adoption by farmers and other users of new technology. Adoption is often slow and diffuse, also because unlike in manufacturing many agricultural innovations need to be tailored to specific biophysical and even socioeconomic environments. Some of the many impact pathways may be known well, whereas others are not or are very difficult to quantify. Attribution presents another problem, i.e., it is often very difficult to quantify how much of the observed technological progress or other impact can be attributed to a specific innovation or an institution. Progress in productivity and efficiency is the result of many factors, including technology, knowledge and policy. Even more difficult is to assess the impact of agricultural technology on a wider range of ecosystem services and consumer benefits. Nevertheless, in science we need to be willing to rigorously assess the relevance of our research. In his report, Sean Rickard has attempted to quantify the cumulative impact Rothamsted Research has had through key impact pathways that are most directly linked to its research. The economic approach used is in my view sound, providing a robust framework and a first overall estimate of the wider impact.
  • “Other Histories, Other Biologies.” in Philosophy

    “Other Histories, Other Biologies.” in Philosophy

    Gregory Radick, 2005. “Other Histories, Other Biologies.” In Philosophy, Biology and Life, ed. Anthony O’Hear. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 21-47. Supplement to Philosophy, Royal Institute of Philosophy Supplement: 56. Other Histories, Other Biologies GREGORY RADICK 1. Taking the counterfactual turn When philosophers look to the history of biology, they most often ask about what happened, and how best to describe it. They ask, for instance, whether molecular genetics subsumed the Mendelian genetics preceding it, or whether these two sciences have main- tained rather messier relations.1 Here I wish to pose a question as much about what did not happen as what did. My concern is with the strength of the links between our biological science—our biology—and the particular history which brought that science into being. Would quite different histories have produced roughly the same science? Or, on the contrary, would different histories have produced other, quite different biologies? I shall not endeavour to address the whole of biology or its history. I will concentrate on genetics, the headline-grabbing branch of biology in our time. The claims of this science on our future have given its history an unusually high public profile. Newspaper articles on the completed Human Genome Project came with timelines of genetic achievement, stretching back into the pre- Mendel mists, and forward to a future where, thanks to genetics- based medicine (we were told), the average person will live to more than ninety. Even more recently, the fiftieth anniversary of the introduction of the double-helix model of DNA in 1953 prompted books, symposia, television programmes, even a cover story in Time magazine.
  • The Side Saddle Association® Newsletter Autumn 2018

    The Side Saddle Association® Newsletter Autumn 2018

    The Side Saddle Association® Newsletter Autumn 2018 THE 2018 NATIONAL SHOW Chloe wins Rider of the Year Title Cripps with ‘The Pirates of the Carribean’, riding Fabien van de Pluum, a magnificent Friesian stallion. This is the first time that the competition has been won by an overseas competitor and she and her team also won the “Wow” factor award. Kamilla Rohankova played Davy Jones and made the incredible outfit she wore, and the darkly handsome pirate was enacted by Jiri Budin. The Best Costume and Best over 40 went to Sarah Moreland whose Doris patiently put up with being dressed as an elephant with enormous ears. There was a large contingent from abroad attending the Association’s Show both as competitors and spectators. Juniors Carlijn and Annemarijn Arnoldus had a very successful show on the two ponies they had brought over from Holland, winning the Show Pony class and the Fancy Dress l-r: Mme E. Goudsmit-van der Putten, President the late Roger Philpot, 2018 Rider of the Year Chloe Marsh, plus numerous class placings. Alessandra Chairman Janet Senior and President of the Nederlandse Vereniging Het Damensadel, Mr Harro Goudsmit Continued....... arriage obviously suits 2017 Ireland with two horses. Her many other Reserve Rider of the Year, Chloe successes included the Working Hunter Marsh (nee Gunn), as she went Championship (Arctic Eclipse) and the Mone better this year to become Show Hunter Championship (Carnsdale Irish The Association’s 2018 Rider of the Year. Times). Reserve Adult Novice was Jennie She also took the Adult Amateur award Daniels riding her versatile Tilly Kingsclough and her mount Oaklawn Gypsy, owned by who also takes part in Re-enactments.