SCIENCE AND THE FARMER: THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN WEST WALES, 1900-1950 JULIE ANN COGGINS, G.I.BIOL., MA Director of Studies: Dr Jeremy Smith Supervisor: Mr Conway Davies Submitted in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Wales Trinity Saint David 2018 DECLARATION This work has not previously been accepted in substance for any degree and is not being concurrently submitted in candidature for any degree. Signed ...........Julie Coggins........................................ (candidate) Date ...............8/5/2018......................................................... STATEMENT 1 This thesis is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. Where correction services have been used the extent and nature of the correction is clearly marked in a footnote(s). Other sources are acknowledged by footnotes giving explicit references. A bibliography is appended. Signed ..........Julie Coggins......................................... (candidate) Date .............8/5/2018........................................................... STATEMENT 2 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for photocopying and for inter-library loan, and for the title and summary to be made available to outside organisations. Signed ...........Julie Coggins........................................ (candidate) Date ..............8/5/2018.......................................................... STATEMENT 3 I hereby give consent for my thesis, if accepted, to be available for deposit in the University’s digital repository. Signed ..........Julie Coggins........................................ (candidate) Date ..............8/5/2018.......................................................... ii ABSTRACT This study contends that agricultural science significantly contributed to the development of agriculture in West Wales and argues that farming during the decades under study was progressive and not, as portrayed by some historians, that farmers in general were suspicious of change, resentful of science and irresponsive to the opportunities available. The research has shown that farmers were receptive to new ideas but the process of adoption and adaption was often challenged by conservative farmers and the scientific information and its practical use had to be rigorously tested and confirmed before becoming an established process. The application of agricultural science is shown in this study to be a complex process and local knowledge combined with the new science was at the heart of any changes in procedures by farmers in West Wales. The slow rate of adoption of agricultural science that has been attributed to the traditional conservatism of farmers may be justified in part but the complexity of the processes necessitated trials and validation and this shows an acceptance and an understanding by farmers of the difficulties inherent in the techniques and applying them to individual farms. Agricultural improvement is not just confined to increases in production and profitability but also encompasses quality and importance and this study acknowledges the value of both county advisory support and the leadership of progressive farmers. This research shows how their roles became the means of channelling the scientific information from the laboratory scientists to the farmer in order to contribute to the adoption of new technology and the production of new foodstuffs. Agrarian policy and strategies are seen to support the challenges of the farmers and the scientific principles of the plough-up campaigns in the First and Second World Wars and the formation of the Development Commission and the Agricultural Research Council iii are considered within a scientific context that contributed to changing attitudes in the farming community. The considerable historiography of twentieth century Welsh agriculture has paid little attention to the value of agricultural science and the farmers’ acceptance and implementation of this science within agricultural development. The vast literature tends to focus more on economic progress and the social history of estates, tenants and tenancies, and the farm labourers. Agricultural progress and development encompasses many components such as inputs and outputs, market forces, labour, agricultural policy and pricing policies and these subjects are well documented and referenced. This study addresses the disparity within historical agricultural literature on the application of agricultural science and its role in contributing to agricultural progress. This thesis demonstrates that scientific methods applied to farming provided the essential foundation to progress in West Wales in the decades 1900-1950. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my supervisors, Dr Jeremy Smith and Mr Conway Davies, for their advice and comments during the writing of this thesis. I am grateful for the many constructive, productive and positive discussions that guided me along the way. I would particularly like to thank Conway for his continuous support and encouragement. Thanks are also due to the very helpful staff of the Pembrokeshire Archives, Glamorgan Archives, National Archives, Museum of English Rural Life and the National Library of Wales. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my husband, family and friends for their support throughout this study. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Declaration ii Abstract iii Acknowledgements v Table of Contents vi Abbreviations ix List of Tables x List of Figures xi List of Appendices xiii Chapter One: Science and the Farmer - Introduction 1 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Methodology 1.3 Historiography Review 1.4 Thesis Structure Chapter Two: The History of Agricultural Science 28 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Agricultural Science: a definition 2.3 The Emergence of Agricultural Science 2.4 Agricultural Science in the Nineteenth Century: From the Laboratory to the Farm Chapter Three: Science and the Livestock Farmer 55 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Science and Stock Breeding 3.3 Science and Sheep Farming 3.4 Science in the Dairy Chapter Four: Science and Crop Husbandry 90 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Crop Rotation 4.3 The Development of Root Crops 4.4 The Development of Cereal Crops 4.5 Disease and Pest Control vi Chapter Five: Science and Grassland Management 119 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Science and Grassland Management and Improvement 5.3 Improvement of Hill Land 5.4 Eradication of Bracken 5.5 Improvement of Grass Nutrition 5.6 Science and the Production and Utilisation of Grass Seeds and Strains Chapter Six: Science and Soil Management 144 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Soil Fertility Improvement 6.3 Organic Farming Chapter Seven: The Dissemination of Information 160 7.1 Introduction – The Diffusion and Adoption of New Methods 7.2 Agricultural Education 7.3 Societies, Clubs and Shows 7.4 County Council Organised Education in Pembrokeshire Chapter Eight: Agricultural Advisory Service and County Organised Support 191 8.1 The Development Commission 8.2 The County Advisory Service in Pembrokeshire 8.3 Commercial Advisory Services Chapter Nine: Agricultural Co-operation 218 9.1 Introduction 9.2 The Formation of the Agricultural Organisation Society 9.3 The Early Co-operative Movement in Wales 9.4 The Formation of the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society 9.5 The West Wales Farmers’ Dairy Society Chapter Ten: Scientific Support in the First and Second World Wars 236 10.1 Agriculture and National Defence 10.2 Scientific Support in the First World War 10.3 Scientific Support in the Second World War 10.4 The Control of Rabbits 10.5 Scientific Farming and Post War Strategy Chapter Eleven: Conclusion 281 vii Bibliography 292 Primary Sources: a) Manuscript Collections b) Printed Sources c) Private Collections d) Oral Testimony e) Miscellaneous Testimony Secondary Material: a) Published Articles b) Published Books c) Theses and Dissertations d) Miscellaneous Reports and Publications Appendices 327 viii ABBREVIATIONS AH Agricultural History AHR Agricultural History Review AI Artificial Insemination AP Agricultural Progress CAEC County Agricultural Executive Committee EHR Economic History Review JMA Journal of the Ministry of Agriculture JRASE Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England JRWAS Journal of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries MERL Museum of English Rural Life NAAS National Agricultural Advisory Service NFU National Farmers Union NFYFC National Federation of Young Farmers’ Club NLW National Library of Wales NLWJ National Library of Wales Journal PP Parliamentary Papers PA Pembrokeshire Archives PACR Pembrokeshire Agricultural Committee Report PWAEC Pembrokeshire War Agricultural Executive Committee RC Royal Commission TNA The National Archives WAEC War Agricultural Executive Committee WAOS Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society WHR Welsh History Review WPBS Welsh Plant Breeding Station YFC Young Farmers’ Club ix LIST OF TABLES Page No. Table 1 Live Stock Improvement Grants 1914-1915 60 Table 2 Grants Paid in Respect of Premium Bulls 63 Table 3 Number of Cattle in Pembrokeshire 1902-1947 64 Table 4 Trials of Potato Varieties in Pembrokeshire 1920 94 Table 5 Results of Potato Experiments at Lower Treginnis 97 Table 6 Potato Variety Trials at Angle in Pembrokeshire 1936 98 Table 7 Oat Varieties Trials at Cilwendeg in 1920 107 Table 8 Oat Trials at Somerton Farm 1926 108 Table 9 Experiments comparing Imported Oat Seeds 109 Table 10 Scholarships granted by West Wales Counties 1938 170 Table 11 Dairy Classes in Pembrokeshire