a short history of agricultural education and research

A SHORT HISTORY OFAGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ANDRESEARCHSome key places, people, publications and eventsfrom the 17 th to the 21 st centuriesCarrie de SilvaHarper Adams UniversityNewport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB

A SHORT HISTORY OFAGRICULTURAL EDUCATION ANDRESEARCHCarrie de Silva, Ll.B (Hons), MAHarper Adams University© Carrie de Silva, April 2013.3

ContentsIntroduction 7A Chronology of Agricultural Education and Research 11Agricultural Societies 107More information sought from readers 113Index 1155

Ever wondered when your local agricultural college wasfounded?Ever asked yourself where veterinary science is or hasbeen taught?Or precisely where research on hops, potatoes or flatfish was carried out?Look no further. This is not an academic work. It is merely meant to provide signposts tosome key and interesting features in the development of agricultural education andresearch in the UK - essentially a chronological listing for quick reference or a startingpoint for further investigation.Where there are major developments from an original point, there may be two entries, onefollowing through from the earliest date of the founding organisation and one under thenew date. Where a body has simply developed or had name changes, the life story of theorganisation will flow down from the earliest date. For example the Scottish AgriculturalCollege is listed under 1990, when it was formed but can also been see under entries in1887, 1901 and 1904 to whence the three constituent colleges (the West of ScotlandAgricultural College , the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agricultural College and theNorth of Scotland Agricultural College) can trace their histories, and then follows throughwith a 2012 listing for the Scottish Rural University College.For universities, I have listed them under what I believe to be the earliest knownagricultural activity taking place at a given institution and have simply included a few keypoints. Again, the complications of mergers, the gaining and losing of autonomy andname changes can make the picture murky.An additional complication is to decide what is agriculture : horticulture, botany,zoology, entomology, mycology and more have been included, as relating to productionagriculture, but many related disciplines have largely been omitted - for example, forestry.And what is ‘education and research’? It has been interpreted in its widest sense taking inschools, colleges, universities and research institutes but also through to the other bodieswith an educational function, accredited or otherwise, such as agricultural societies,Young Farmers Clubs and the Women’s Institute, which have played such important roles.Books, journals and reports of influence are, of course, too numerous for comprehensivecoverage. There is, however, the inclusion of a few key publications, particularly in theearlier years, where the work was particularly ground-breaking or the author was soinfluential as to demand acknowledgement in a collation such as this. And some of the7

key government reports which have been shaped educational provision or research activityhave also been noted.There will be errors, illogicality in my choice of groupings and, doubtless, instances whereI have got it completely wrong. Please let me have your amendments or suggestions toallow this little reference guide to gain in usefulness over time.Readers’ help requestedIncluded, at the end, is a list of institutions for which I have little more than a name - anyfurther information as to dates and ultimate destiny would be much appreciated, as well asany additional items you think should be included.OverviewThe picture could, of course, have gone further back if one takes education to include notjust formal taught courses but texts. The Romans were writing on agriculture over 2000years ago with the principal offerings including Cato the Elder’s De Agri Cultura (OnFarming), Varro’s Rerum Rusticarum Libri Tres (Agricultural Topics in Three Books),Columella’s De Re Rustica (Agriculture) and Palladius’s Opus Agriculturae (an extensiveoffering in 14 books).But, in the interests of drawing an arbitrary line I have taken a starting point as the periodwhich saw some key developments, gradually leading to formal agricultural education andresearch. The background to these developments may be seen as a meeting oftechnological and methodological changes which arose to address the dramatic rise inproduction needs caused by population growth. The population of England in 1750 wasestimated to be around 5.7m, not wholly dissimilar to that of the 14 th century (albeit withconsiderable fluctuation in between). There were concerns, as a reduction in diseased andwar led to increasing population stability, that the population would soon outstrip foodsupply. The concerns to measure the problem and plan accordingly were met with theintroduction of the population census in 1801 which indicated an English population of8.3 million with 0.6 million in Wales and 1.6 million in Scotland. By 1901 this hadescalated dramatically to 30.5 million in England, 2 million in Wales and 4.5 million inScotland.The practical equation of production and population was, of course, overlaid in thenineteenth century by the politically divisive question of importation controls. Politicalpower lay with the landholding class who wished to protect the market for nationalproducers, leading to the Importation Act 1915, better known as the Corn Laws. Thetariffs on imported grain were finally eliminated by 1849 under the Importation Act 1846,many years of debate on either side being given added urgency by the Great Famine inIreland and some years of poor harvest in England. Developments in mechanisation in theUS prairies and cheap labour in Russia, coupled with cheaper and more efficient shipping,allowed those major producers to undercut British costs. The medium term effect of thiswas to greatly increase British reliance on imports and also to focus attention on how toimprove farming systems and productivity.If asking most people with an interest in such matters to name the key characters emergingin the earlier days of this period of agricultural progress, the names of Jethro Tull,8

‘Turnip’ Townshend, Coke of Norfolk (or of Holkham) and Robert Bakewell woulddoubtless be near the top of the list. These estimable folk should, perhaps, more clearly beseen as a product of their time and geography rather than any of them inventing, as itwere, the wheel. They are inevitably and necessarily included but along with other,somewhat lesser known persons such as John Worlidge, whose seed drill designedpreceded Tull’s working model, and the Colling brothers, Charles and Robert, whosebreeding was arguably more effective than Bakewell’s.As well as people developing farming systems in practice, the late eighteenth century sawthe start of formal education and research with the first Chair of Agriculture beingestablished at the University of Edinburgh (1790). This post was supported by theHighland Society of Edinburgh. The University of Oxford appointed a Chair ofAgricultural Economy soon afterwards, in 1796. Learned and agricultural societies werethe earliest organised fora for discussion, the sharing of ideas and supporting research,often financially. Those societies which were key in more formal research andeducational developments are included in the main text. A sampling of the great numberof societies operating more locally, whilst still a key feature of the agricultural scene and avital cog in the dissemination of information, a listed in a separate chapter, AgriculturalSocieties.Although not formalised until the mid-twentieth century, the pattern of agriculturaleducation was set fairly early on.Universities were delivering higher level teaching and research, although not always athonours degree level, with agriculture and related courses such as forestry and estatemanagement being considered to be less than academic by some of the institutions whichdelivered early courses, including the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. For example,whilst Oxford gained a professor of Agriculture in 1907, pass degrees were not awardeduntil 1919 with honours degrees not conferred until 1945. Other universities to offeragriculture in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were Reading, Durham (thebranch which became the University of Newcastle), London (through Wye College),Leeds and the various Welsh institutions, notably Bangor and Aberystwyth.There were then a small number of colleges delivering extended courses, normallyreferred to as diplomas. These started with the Royal Agricultural College in 1845. Therewere then two relatively short lived colleges which enjoyed considerable educationalprestige at the time : Aspatria, established in Cumberland in 1874 (closing in 1914) andDownton, established in Wiltshire in 1880 (closing in 1906). Their closures were aproduct of the combination of increasing state provision for agricultural education, thedeath / retirement of extraordinary principals and, with Aspatria, the outbreak of war.Harper Adams in Shropshire (established 1901) and Seale Hayne in Devon (established1919) were also in this category. In addition to studies in Agriculture, these collegestrained students for the Surveyors’ Institution (now the Royal Institution of CharteredSurveyors) land agency qualification, which for Harper Adams and the Royal AgriculturalCollege, continues to be a key provision.Then came what have variously been termed farm institutes, county colleges and, latterly,simply agricultural colleges. Whilst many of the bodies, often with a history dating to thenineteenth century, are still thriving, it is sadly apparent that there are no institutions in theUK with the words ‘Agricultural College’ in their title.9

It is hoped that this guide has picked up the major developments and that the chronologyallows a brief picture of how developments have emerged over the past three centuries orso, particularly highlighting links between various institutions and people. A scan throughthe alphabetical listing at the back should allow the reader to easily locate particular pointsof interest.Please send any comments, corrections and suggestions to me :Carrie de Silva Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB 01952 815304 cdesilva@harper-adams.ac.uk10

A Chronology of Agricultural Education and Research1669 John Worlidge (1640–1700), a pioneering Hampshire agriculturalist, publishedhis Systema Agriculturæ, or the Mystery of Husbandry Discovered which was thefirst systematic treatment of farming, both arable and livestock, which drew onand considerably developed the somewhat vague works of the previous century.The chapter on cider was later expanded as a separate work, VinetumBritannicum, or, A Treatise of Cider. He was one of the first to discuss theimportance of farming as an industry and developed designs for a seed drillwhich Jethro Tull (see 1731) developed and put into practice.1723 Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture in ScotlandThis society gained its impetus largely from one Robert Maxwell (1695-1765)and was concerned with the spread of knowledge to allow farmers to better theiragricultural practices. Few publications were released and in later years Maxwellswitched his attention over to the Edinburgh Society for the Encouragement ofArts, Sciences, Manufactures, and Agriculture (see 1737).1745 Dissolved.1730sViscount Charles Townshend (1674-1738) introduced the four-year croprotation system (wheat, barley, turnips and clover) to his estate at Raynham Hall,Norfolk, and to Britain, at some point between his retirement from nationalpolitics in 1730 and his death. It should be noted that he did not invent thissystem, it having been used in Europe, probably first in the Waasland area ofFlanders, since the 16 th century. Nor did he introduce the turnip, from which hegained his widely known nickname, Turnip Townshend. He did, however,popularise its widespread planting as a key element of the four-year system.1731 The New Horse-hoeing Husbandry, or an Essay on the Principles of Tillage andVegetation by Jethro Tull (1674-1741) must be mentioned as one of the earliestagricultural publications to gain relatively wide coverage and for the fame of itsauthor, but its theory that ploughing without fertilisation could produce the bestsoil did not stand long without detractors (see Dickson, 1762). Berkshire bornTull, who farmed in Oxfordshire after his marriage, also developed andpopularised the use of the seed drill, although almost certainly did not invent itfrom scratch (see John Worlidge, 1669).1737 Edinburgh Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Sciences, Manufacturesand AgricultureEstablished as a subsidiary of the Select Society, this group was set up by AllanRamsay (1713-1784) to encourage all aspects of debate ‘apart from revealedreligion and Jacobitism’.11

1739 Kilsyth, LanarkshireA half acre potato field becomes one of the first experimental plantings in theUK.1760 Robert Bakewell (1723-1795) is listed at this date, being the point at which hetook over the tenancy of his father’s farm in Leicestershire. Although seen as oneof the key figures in agricultural improvement his work was not whollysuccessful.He did, however, develop ideas on systematic selective breeding, mostsuccessfully with sheep (developing the New/Dishley Leicester from which theEnglish Leicester/Leicester Longwood is descended) and horses (breeding theImproved Black Carthorse which later developed into the Shire), and rather lesssuccessfully with cattle (the Dishley Longhorn, developed from a Westmorlandbull cross, did not survive in Bakewell’s form). His ideas on artificial selectionwere later studied by Darwin.1762 Treatise of Agriculture, Volume 1 by Rev. Adam Dickson (1721-1776). Dicksonwas for most of his working life the minister of Dunse (now Duns), Berwickshireand was much missed after his premature death in a riding accident.1770 Treatise of Agriculture, Volume 21772 Essay on Manures, which was highly critical of Jethro Tull’s convictionthat ploughing alone could produce good soil.1766 The Gentleman Farmer by Henry Home, Lord Kames of Blair Drummond(1696-1782). An important advocate and judge as well as an agriculturalimprover, Lord Kames was famed for (and gained substantial financial benefitfrom) bringing large tracts of waterlogged peat moss into productive agriculturaluse.1768 Farmer's Letters to the People of England by Arthur Young (1741-1820)Young was known as much for his statistical developments (as seen, for example,in Political Arithmetic, 1774) as for his agricultural writing and experimentation.He also published the Annals of Agriculture (1784-1815) which was the mostprominent of the 18th century agricultural periodicals. His reputation is notwithout detractors, however, and he has been described as everything from 'amountebank, a charlatan and a scribbler' to a proto-social scientist (per ProfessorMark Overton, University of Exeter).1770 A Course of Experimental Agriculture described the work on his farm inBradfield, Essex.12

1776 Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester (1754-1842) inherited the property which gavehim his nomenclature as Coke of Holkham (otherwise Coke of Norfolk). Cokewas active and vocal in his agricultural pursuits, which he ran alongside a lengthyparliamentary career.His notable achievements were the use of cocksfoot and lucerne as feed andgrazing, thus dramatically improving sheep stocking rates, the selective breedingof sheep and bringing the English Leicester to Norfolk in replacement of the slowmaturing Norfolk Horn, the monitoring of milk yields with regard to differentfodder (particularly a comparison of the denser Scottish turnip against the morewatery Norfolk variety), the favouring of the ox plough as against the horse, andalso considerable forestry improvements on his estate. He was on the first Boardof Agriculture (see 1793).Despite his fame, a deeper examination would indicate that his plantingprogramme was not faultless and that far less famous names were responsible forthe development of the ideas implemented and expanded on by Coke. Hisundoubted influence, however, deserves an entry in any summary of agriculturaldevelopment.1777 Bath SocietyThe Bath Society was formed under the presidency of Henry Thomas Fox-Strangways, 2nd Earl of Ilchester (1747-1802). Now known as the Royal Bathand West of England Society.1779 10 acres of land at Weston became one of the first experimental fields inEngland.1780 The Society commences regular publication, which became the Journalof the Bath and West of England Society.1790 The name was changed to the Bath and West of England Society for theEncouragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.1840sSir Thomas Dyke Acland (1787-1871) takes editorship of the Journaland furthers the Society’s scientific endeavours by engaging AugustusVoelcker (see 1876) as the Society’s Consultant Chemist.1851 Merged with the Devon County Agricultural Society.1869 Re-named Bath and West of England Society and Southern CountiesAssociation for the Encouragement of Agriculture, Arts, Manufactures,and Commerce.1880 A 10 day course was established in the form of a travelling dairy school,costing one guinea and run in various locations in the area. First run inSwindon, then Shepton Mallet, Chippenham, Exeter and Oxford andlater at Wells and Frome.1890 Re-named the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society.13

1965 The major annual agricultural show which had, since the 1850s, movedto a different location each year acquired a permanent ground at SheptonMallet, Somerset.1780 Vaughan Charter School, Castlehasset, Co. FermanaghThis school for boys and girls was set up to provide training and agriculturalwork under the trust established by the will of George Vaughan of BuncranaCastle, County Donegal on his death in 1763. The school ran in the village ofTubrid on Vaughan’s Castlehasset estate in the neighbouring county.1934 The Charter School closed.1936 The Vaughan Agricultural Institute was established with trust monies.1972 The Agricultural Institute closed, largely after the establishment ofEnniskillen Agricultural College (see 1967).The Vaughan Trust continues to support the development of agriculture inCounty Fermanagh.1780sCharles Colling (1751-1836) farmed at Ketton Hall, Co. Durham. He learnedabout selective breeding after a visit to Robert Bakewell (see 1760) and practisedthe ideas with his brother, Robert Colling (1749-1820) who farmed in nearbyBarmpton. Although the younger, Charles seems to have been the moreprominent improver and businessman, and his wife Mary (1763- 1850) was alsokeenly involved in his cattle breeding and business enterprise. He clearlyenjoyed his success ‘being not behindhand in high living and hard riding’.The brothers were noted for their developments with the Durham Shorthorn andtheir prime herds can be traced to the Hubback bull, also known as the KettonOx. A grandson of this beast was the famed Durham Ox (1796-1807). This bullwas most unusually large and was exhibited throughout the country, attractingadmission fees of £97 in one day in London, and was the subject of manypaintings (most famously by John Boultbee), his likeness even appearing on blueand white china. His fame was only outstripped by the acknowledged peak of theColling brothers’ breeding programme, Comet, born in 1804 who went on tobecome the first 1,000 guinea bull when sold at Charles’s retirement auction in1810. (The current value of 1,000 guineas varies from £61,000 - £3 milliondepending on measure - a substantial sum by any reckoning.)The final dispersal of Colling cattle came in 1818, at which sale Viscount Althorpestablished a major part of his notable herd.A piece in the Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England in 1899 notesthat the Colling brothers’ ‘life-work has achieved a centennial permanence, and aworld-wide extension which Bakewell (see 1760) failed to attain with theLonghorn’.14

1783 Odiham Agricultural SocietyThis Society was founded particularly to investigate horses, notably anextraordinarily successful racehorse called Eclipse (1764-1789).1791 The Veterinary College of London formed as an independent body outof the animal research committee of the Society.c1844Society wound up.1784 Highland Society of EdinburghThe original objects of the Society included the improvement of the Highlandsand Islands of Scotland and the conditions of their inhabitants through advancingagriculture and extending fisheries. It had a strong cultural, as well asagricultural, remit and promoted the Gaelic language and poetry.It is now known as the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland.1785 Medals for essays on agricultural subjects were offered.1787 Re-named the Highland Society of Scotland at Edinburgh.1799 Prize Essays and Transactions.1822 The first show was held in Canongate, Edinburgh.1828 Prize Essays and Transactions published in conjunction with theQuarterly Journal of Agriculture.1834 It became the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland1843 Prize Essays simply styled Transactions.1848 The current name of the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society ofScotland was acquired.1856 The Society introduced examinations leading to a diploma in scientificand practical agriculture1895 The Society collaborated with the Royal Agricultural Society onNational Diploma examinations.1788 Hippiatric InfirmaryEdward Snape, farrier to George III, and author of The practical farrier. Atreatise on all the diseases incident to that noble animal, the horse (pub. 1797),established a hospital for horses in Knightsbridge. It closed very soon afteropening for lack of money, although the King did support such a hospital inHanover.1790 University of EdinburghThe first Chair of Agriculture was appointed with the support of the HighlandSociety of Edinburgh, in the person of Dr Andrew Coventry (1764-1832) who15

took the £50 per annum post in the face of some opposition from the chairs ofNatural History and Botany who were keen that their domains were notencroached upon.The university currently has farms at Easter Bush and Langhill, now used by theveterinary school as agriculture is no longer offered.1840 The first Professor of Veterinary Studies, William Dick (1793-1866),was appointed with the support of the Highland Society. His school wasknown in the early days as the Clyde Street Veterinary College.1919 The Institute of Animal Genetics (IAG) was established under the firstdirectorship of Professor Frances A E Crew (1886-1973), being the startof what is now, in part, the Roslin Institute.1931 The Institute of Animal Genetics was brought under the ARC umbrella.1947 On the formation by the Agricultural Research Council (later theAgriculture and Food Research Council - AFRC) of the PoultryResearch Centre (PRC) and the Animal Breeding Research Organisation(ABRO), the University of Edinburgh retained a residual presence withthe Unit of Animal Genetics (UAG).1951 The Royal (Dick) Veterinary College was formally affiliated to theuniversity.1966 The ARC Unit of Statistics transferred from the University of Aberdeen.1970 The Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine was established.1981 The Neuropathogenesis Unit (NPU) was established within the Instituteof Animal Health.1985 The Unit of Animal Genetics closed. The Poultry Research Centre andAnimal Breeding Research Organisation combined with the Institute ofAnimal Physiology at Babraham to form the Institute of AnimalPhysiology and Genetics Research (IAPGR). ABRO staff wereprogressively relocated onto the PRC site at Roslin to form theEdinburgh Research Station of the IAPGR.1993 Roslin and Babraham were developed into independent Institutes. TheRoslin Institute was established as wholly owned Institute of theBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).1995 The Roslin Institute became a company limited by guarantee and aScottish Charity sponsored by BBSRC.2007 The Roslin Institute was integrated with the NPU.1791 Veterinary College of LondonWhat is now the RCVS grew out of a committee of the Odiham AgriculturalSociety (see 1783).16

1826 Re-named the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.1923 The Institute of Animal Pathology was established at the College.1931 The Institute of Animal Pathology was bought under the ARC umbrella.1949 It became part of the University of London (see 1898) as the RoyalVeterinary College.1793 Board of AgricultureThis first board was established to prepare a county by county survey on the stateof agriculture. It aimed to foster innovation in farming and stimulate agriculturaldevelopment although was hampered from the start by erroneous suspicions inthe farming world that it was a branch of government. In fact, it receivedrelatively little public funding and still less interest. Its first president and chiefarchitect was John Sinclair (1754-1835), who introduced the word ‘statistics’into the English language, in his vast, pioneering work, Statistical Account ofScotland.The main achievement of the Board was the county surveys and suggestedimprovements published as General Views.1822 The Board was disbanded and the role picked up by the RoyalAgricultural Society (see 1838) as Sir John Sinclair and others had bynow decided that a private institution would be more effective than aquasi-governmental body.1793 Canterbury Agricultural SocietyLater the Canterbury Farmers’ Club, this organisation worked particularly closelywith Wye College (see 1881), linking research with the farming community.1796 University of OxfordThe Sibthorpian Chair of Rural Economy was established under the will ofbotanist John Sibthorp (1758-1796) who had held the Sheridan chair of Botanyand Oxford, as had his father before him, Sir Humphrey Waldo Sibthorp (1713-1797). The position is currently the Sibthorpian Professorship of Plant Science.1907 A full time professor of agriculture was appointed although agriculture(along with forestry) continued to be viewed as a craft, rather than anacademic subject.1913 The Institute for Research in Agricultural Economics was establishedunder the directorship, until 1945, of Charles Stewart Orwin (1876-1955), adviser from 1905 to the hop farm of Guiness where hedeveloped farm management accounting systems. Prior to this Oxfordpost he had been land agent for the Turnor estate in Lincolnshire. In the1924-25 Rural Report of the Liberal Land Committee, he expressedradical views calling for the state ownership of all agricultural land,17

which he saw as the only means to implement widespread efficient farmmanagement.1919 Pass degrees in Agriculture were introduced.1924 The Farm Engineering Research and Testing Unit in the Institute ofAgricultural Engineering, later the National Institute of AgriculturalEngineering (NIAE) was established (see 1924).1943 Wytham Farm, just north of Oxford, was acquired.1945 Honours degrees in Agriculture were introduced.1950 The ARC Unit of Experimental Agronomy was founded under thedirectorship of Professor Geoffrey Emmet Blackman (1903-1980)* In1960 part of the operation was transferred to the Weed ResearchOrganisation. The Unit closed in 1970 with the remaining activitytransferred to the Unit of Developmental Botany, Cambridge.* The son of notable plant physiologist, Vernon Blackman (1872-1967)who had studied at the universities of Cambridge and Bonn and workedlargely at Imperial College.1953 The ARC Unit of Plant Cell Physiology was founded to support thework of Dr Robert Brown (1908-1999) and was disbanded when he wasappointed as Chair of Botany to the University of Edinburgh in 1958,with remaining staff transferred to the John Innes Institute. Dr Brownwas described in his obituary as one of the outstanding plantphysiologists of the 20th century and had lectured at Seale Hayne beforegoing on to higher level studies at Imperial College.2001 The tenancy of the 425 ha mixed farm was taken over by FAI (the FoodAnimal Initiative), a sustainable farming research and developmentorganisation. It is now one of the Environmental Change Networkstations.1799 Agricultural Magazine, a somewhat more ordered publication than ArthurYoung’s Annals of Agriculture (see 1768). Publication ceased in 1811.1799 Smithfield Cattle and Sheep SocietyThis Society was established by John Wilkes of Derbyshire and launched at theWoburn Sheep Shearing of 1799 under the presidency of Francis Russell, 5thDuke of Bedford (1765-1802). A key element of the Society’s remit was toeducate on breeding, livestock husbandry and the impact of a variety of feedingregimes. It led to the Royal Smithfield Club.The annual shows were held in London until 2004. Since then they have movedaround the country.1799 The first show was held at Wootton's Livery Stables, Smithfield.6218

1862 The Royal Agricultural Hall was erected in Islington to house theSmithfield shows which remained there until 1938. The buildingsuffered a sad decline, part of it ending up as a bingo hall in the mid-1960s but was saved from demolition and is now Grade II listed andhouses the Business Design Centre.1960 Re-named the Royal Smithfield Club.1800 Farmer’s Magazine was published in Edinburgh. It had a Scottish bias but didembrace English reports. It folded in 1825.1806 House of Sutton, Reading, BerkshireThe now major seed company was established by John Sutton (1777-1863) anddeveloped into Sutton & Sons by his sons, Martin Hope and Alfred.1840 Seed testing laboratory and trials beds were established.1890sThe company provided financial support to the Agricultural Departmentof University College, Reading.1994 The agricultural business was acquired by Limagrain, founded in Francein 1946, the largest seed company in Europe and now part of theinternational Vilmorin group.1807 Evans and Ruffy’s Farmers’ JournalThis was the first newspaper to be exclusively devoted to agriculture and declinedonly after 1825 when Benjamin Holditch ceased his editorial role. It folded as anindependent title in 1832 when it was incorporated into the general publicationBell’s Weekly Messenger which ran from 1796-1896.1809 The Utility of Agricultural Knowledge to the Sons of the Landed Proprietors ofEngland, and to Young Men Intended for Estate Agents With an Account of anInstitution formed for Agricultural Pupils in Oxfordshire. By a Scotch Farmerand Land-Agent, resident in that County by John Claudius Loudon (1783-1843). Loudon, better known for his work in horticulture and landscape design,set up what is sometimes referred to as an early ‘agricultural college’ on the GreatTew estate in Oxfordshire. This was, however, little more than taking a smallnumber of working pupils into his home, an account of which is to be found inthe above pamphlet. The venture ran from 1808 to 1811.1813 Sir Humphrey Davy (1778-1917), who needs no introduction as a pioneeringchemist and inventor of the Davy lamp for coal miners, was commissioned by theBoard of Agriculture (see 1793) to give a series of talks which were laterpublished as Elements Of Agricultural Chemistry In A Course Of Lectures.1826 British Farmer’s MagazineThis periodical was edited for the first ten years by the shorthorn authority, Rev.Henry Berry.19

1846 Taken over by the Farmer’s Magazine (see 1834) whence publicationchanged from monthly to quarterly.1881 Publication ceased.1826 Society for the Diffusion of Useful KnowledgeThis society was established by Henry Brougham (1778-1868) and CharlesKnight (1791-1873) for the dissemination of practical and accessible scientificknowledge in affordable form. It was not specific to agriculture but produced aFarmer’s Series by the leading veterinarian, William Youatt (1776-1847), theabbreviated titles of which were The Horse (1831), Cattle (1834), Sheep,including The Mountain Shepherd’s Manual (1837), Husbandry (1939), The Dog(1845) and The Pig (1847). There was also a Manual of Husbandry produced in1834 and a Dictionary of the Farm in 1844. There is evidence that the series didnot find its way into the homes of many working farmers.1848 The society was wound up.1827 Templemoyle Agricultural Seminary, near LondonderryThis agricultural school operated until around 1866, founded with the support ofthe North West of Ireland Farming Society. Its founders were heavily influencedby the ideas of Philipp Emanuel von Fellenberg (1771-1844), who set up anagricultural school for boys at Hofwyl, near Bern in Switzerland, his wife runninga companion school for girls. Templemoyle looked to educate those beyond theupper classes at a time when the covert motive of Irish education was ‘keepingthe children of the poor in the exact station in life into which they had been born.’It must nevertheless be said that the education of wealthy and poor boys atTemplemoyle was, however honourable the idea, not of equal standing.1828 Quarterly Journal of Agriculture published in Edinburgh and incorporating thePrize Essays and Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society.1835 Became the Journal of Agriculture. In the 1830s and 1840 the journalcarried some notable, original material, particularly on agriculturalchemistry.1868 Became the Country Gentleman’s Magazine with a decreasingagricultural content.1832 Mark Lane Express and Agricultural JournalFounded by William Shaw (1797-1853), Cuthbert William Johnson (1799-1878), the Lincolnshire farming brothers, John and Joseph Rogerson, and Dr JBlackstone. It became the most influential of the early farming newspapers andunlike much of the agricultural press at the time, was Whiggish in politics andfirmly directed toward the tenant farmer.The same publishers also produced the Farmer’s Magazine (not to be confusedwith the Scottish publication which had folded in 1825 - see 1800). TheFarmer’s Magazine ran from 1834-1881.20

1846 It took over the British Farmer’s Magazine (founded in 1826) which ranalongside the Farmer’s Magazine until both folded in 1881.1852 Henry Corbet (1820-1878) took over as editor when Shaw left forAustralia to avoid bankruptcy, retaining the position until 1875. Corbetwas of the view that agricultural progress was hindered by politicalfactors, notably a lack of a formal tenant right system (in contrast toJohn Chalmers Morton’s emphasis on scientific developments andeducation).1880 Absorbed the Gardeners’ and Farmers’ Journal.1834 Agricultural School for Orphans, Fearnhead, CheshireThis school operated from the home farm and estate of James Cropper (1773-1841), a noted abolitionist. It opened on 1st August 1834 to coincide with thecoming into force of the Slave Emancipation Act. Although with a differentremit, this (along with the Vaughan Charter School and Templemoyle in Ireland- see 1780 and 1827) brings the heresy that the Royal Agricultural College wasnot the earliest agricultural educational establishment in the UK.It is unclear what happened to the school after Cropper’s death in 1841.1834 Farmer’s MagazineThis paper was under the same ownership and editorship as the Mark LaneExpress and was a monthly publication.1846 Took over the British Farmer’s Magazine.1881 Publication ceased.1835 Central Agricultural Society for the Protection and Encouragement ofAgricultureThe society was formed at a meeting in Aylesbury during the Smithfield showweek with a membership of high Tory aristocracy, political economists, countrybankers and ‘assorted’ tenant farmers. It was, despite its title of agricultural‘encouragement’, essentially a political body of a Tory, protectionist colour.Described by William Shaw (see 1832) as ‘a political abortion, the offspring of aconfederacy of bankrupt landowners … and merciless currency mongers.’ A keyfigure in the society was that enemy of liberalism, the Marquis of Chandos (1797-1861). The society wound up with the establishment of the Royal AgriculturalSociety of England in 1838.1836 Friends Agricultural School, near Brookfield, Moira, Co. DownThis Quaker school was founded to combine basic agricultural training for boys,with girls learning domestic arts along with dairy and poultry skills. A traditionalschool curriculum was also covered. It ceased Quaker links in 1922 and closed in1930.21

1836 A Select Committee was called under the Marquis of Chandos ‘for theconsideration of the grievances and depressed state of the agriculturists.’ Themain output of the committee was Charles Shaw-Lefevre’s (later Lord Eversley,1794-1888) Remarks on the Present State of Agriculture.1836 Summary of Practical Farming was published by Clark Hillyard (1767-1842), aNorthamptonshire tenant farmer who produced the work in 1814 as notes for hisson on finding the ‘agricultural communications from theoretical farmers …proving that they know better how to wield the pen than to guide the plough andto cultivate the land.’1838 Glasnevin Model Farm, near Dublin (then part of the UK)John Pitt Kennedy (1796-1879), the first inspector-general of the Irish NationalSchool system, acquired land for the purpose of establishing a model farm. Itwas set up to train National School teachers who were taught to instruct practicaland innovative methods of agriculture as well as reading, writing and arithmetic.It also took agriculture students, in addition to the student teachers1853 The school became the Albert National Agricultural Training Institution.1858 By this date the Board of National Education in Ireland had set up 27Model Agricultural Schools, 48 Ordinary Agricultural Schools and wasdelivering agricultural instruction in 59 workhouse schools.1926 Its successor, the Albert Agricultural College was taken over by theFaculty of Agriculture, University College, Dublin by which time, ofcourse, it was no longer in the UK.1838 On the Nature and Property of Soils, their connection with the GeologicalFormation on which they rest, their best means of permanently increasing theirproductiveness and on the rent and profits of agriculture by John Morton (1781-1864).Morton developed the Whitfield Example Farm on the Tortworth estate ofThomas Reynolds-Morton, Lord Ducie (1766-1840) in Gloucestershire, where hewas agent. He also established the the Uley Agricultural Machine Factory,developing the Uley cultivator. John Morton was the father of John ChalmersMorton, see 1844.1838 Royal Agricultural Society of EnglandWith the motto ‘practice with science’, a group of landowners, farmers and otherinterested parties met with a view of developing a more scientific approach tofarming, under the name the English Agricultural Society, the first presidentbeing John Charles Spencer, Viscount Althorp (1782-1845). It, in part, revivedthe work undertaken by the Board of Agriculture which had folded in 1822 (see1793).Of the 250 subscribers listed in 1838 (published in The Farmer’s Magazine),three were women.22

One of the Society’s objects in 1840 was the promotion of ‘agricultural andenvironmental education, research and development and experimental work bymaintaining and conducting a learned society and by publications, grants andother means’, which it continues today. Its objective number 7 was ‘to takemeasures as may be deemed advisable to improve the Education of those whomay intend to make the cultivation of the soil their means of livelihood'.As with the Farmers’ Club (see 1843), the controversy over the Corn Laws at thetime of establishment prompted the Society to prohibit political debate, a factorwhich many, notably Henry Corbet (see 1832), found to be both ‘a joke’ and aconsiderable hindrance to agricultural progress for a number of decades.The major event of the Royal Show ran annually from 1839 until 2009.1840 Formalised by royal charter and re-named the Royal AgriculturalSociety of England, with the motto ‘practice with science’.1843 Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England started under theeditorship of Philip Pusey (1799-1855).1864 The Education Committee was established, providing prizes totally £300per year for performance in public exams in the subjects of import toprospective farmers, being mathematics, mechanics, chemistry, zoology,botany and geology.1869 RASE examinations were introduced for 18-25 year olds in the Scienceand Practice of Agriculture, Agricultural Chemistry, Botany, Geology,Veterinary Science, Field Engineering and Surveying. There werewritten papers and a viva voce. It is for these exams that students at theRoyal Agricultural College were prepared.1874 A scheme was introduced for study at a lower level with scholarships tosend boys from a small number of regional schools to Cirencester (see1845) or Glasnevin (see 1838).1882 Eleanor Ormerod (1828-1901) became the first woman scientist to beappointed to the Society, in the role of consulting entomologist.1840 Johnson & Shaw’s Farmer’s AlmanacThis annual publication gave a comprehensive review of events, issues anddevelopments of the previous year. Publication ceased in 1872.1840 Organic Chemistry in its Application to Agriculture and Physiology by theGerman Justus von Liebig (1803-1873)This work had a wide influence on the increasing application of science toagriculture. Liebig pioneered modern laboratory-oriented teaching methods and isregarded as one of the greatest chemistry teachers. Not always the case withscientists, Liebig developed successful commercial sidelines to his work foundingLiebig’s Extract of Meat Company in London, with production facilities inUruguay, the company later being renamed Oxo. Although earlier references can23

e found for the production of meat extract, Liebig was certainly the first tostabilise the product allowing consistent, commercial production.1841 Letters on Agriculture by Charles Daubeny (1795-1867).Daubeny was described by Sir John Russell (1872-1965) as ‘one of the mostscholarly and versatile men of his time … one of the most highly cultured of themen who have adorned the ranks of British agriculturalists.’1841 Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland1847 On the impetus of George Villiers, 4th Earl of Clarendon (1800-1870)the Society appointed itinerant lecturers to advise farmers. ‘LordClarendon’s practical instructors in husbandry’ seem to be the earliestevidence of an agricultural extension service in the UK.1842 Agricultural Chemistry Association of ScotlandThis body was established largely due to the work of Paisley born JamesJohnston (1796-1855) whose professional life was primarily at the University ofDurham and whose agricultural work culminated in the Catechism of AgriculturalChemistry and Geology (pub. 1845).1842 The Book of the Farm : Detailing the Labours of Farmer, Farm-Steward,Ploughman, Shepherd, Hedger, Cattle-Man, Field-Worker, and Dairy-Maid byHenry Stephens (1795-1874).This book runs to many chapters, the first of which is entitled ‘The difficultieswhich the young farmer has to encounter at the outset of learning practicalhusbandry.’ Chapter two is then, helpfully, ‘The means of overcoming thedifficulties.’ and chapter ten : ‘The kind of education best suited to youngfarmers’.It was reprinted three times in the UK and twice in America and described by DrE J T Collins, then associate director of the Institute of Agricultural History atReading University, in his forward to C A Jewell’s Victorian Farming (1980) as‘the leading practical text of its day.’1842 Farmers’ Encyclopaedia and Dictionary of Rural Affairs : embracing all themost recent discoveries in agricultural chemistry adapted to the comprehensionof unscientific readers by Cuthbert Johnson (1799-1878).The last seven words of the subtitle indicate the importance of this book inattempting to disseminate information beyond the educated elite to the workingfarmer.1842 The Farmers’ Club, LondonThe Farmers’ Club was set up on the initiative of William Shaw (1797-1853),editor of the Mark Lane Express (see 1832), as a platform for debating andexploring agricultural issues, initially drawing in members of the Smithfield Club24

and the Royal Agricultural Society. The inaugural meeting was held at theHereford Arms, Covent Garden.Such were the political controversies which surrounded agriculture at this time,not least the Corn Laws, that political debate was forbidden from meetings toallow concentration on issues of agriculture and science. Of the several papersformally delivered each year many papers, if not all, are relevant to educationand/or research but those with specific reference to these matters are listed below.1844 Journal of the Farmers’ Club1852 Paper by S Sidney of Clapham ‘On the necessity for, and means of,extending agricultural education.’1859 Paper by R Bond ‘The education, discipline and introduction of theyoung farmer to life.’1865 Paper by E Edmunds of Rugby, Warwickshire ‘Middle-class education.’1871 Paper by C S Read, MP ‘The agricultural labourer : his employment,wages and education.’1873 Paper by Rev. J L Brereton of Cambridge ‘County education.’1879 Paper by P Phipps, MP ‘The working of the Education Acts in the ruraldistricts.’1887 Paper by T Rigby of Preston Brook, Cheshire ‘Dairy education.’Paperby S B L Druce ‘The education of those intended to be farmers.’1891 Paper by S Rowlandson, JP of Newton Morrell, Co. Durham ‘How cancounty councils best promote the interests of technical education asconnected with agriculture?’1892 Paper by J H Dugdale of Ware, Hertfordshire ‘County council plans forproviding technical instruction in agriculture.’1895 Paper by Prof. F L Lloyd of London ‘Dairy schools and their influencein improving the dairy industry.’1898 Paper by S B L Druce ‘County councils and agricultural education : tenyears work (1888-98).’1899 Paper by Rouse Orlebar, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire ‘Foreignagricultural education.’1904 The club moved to the current premises in Whitehall Court.1907 Paper by A D Hall (see 1903) ‘Agricultural education and the farmer’sson.’1908 Paper by Prof. W Somerville (see 1871) of Oxford ‘The Report of theDepartmental Committee on Agricultural Education.’25

1912 Paper by J C Newsham, Basing, Hampshire ‘Farm institutes in relationto agricultural education.’1937 Paper by W R Seward ‘Technical instruction and the agriculturalworker.’1938 Paper by G W Olive ‘Education in rural schools.’1939 Paper by Sir William Dampier ‘Agricultural research and the work ofthe Agricultural Research Council.’1952 Paper by Prof. H C Pawson ‘Agricultural education.’1955 Paper by The Rt Hon. Lord Rothschild ‘Research in agriculture.’1959 Paper by Sir James Scott ‘Agricultural research - filling the gaps.’1981 The Farmers’ Club Charitable Trust was founded to offer financialassistance for research to advance education and training in agriculture.This post-graduate award is specifically designed to help thoseemployed in agricultural education, between the ages of 22 and 50 years,to widen and develop their own technical expertise outside the UnitedKingdom.1843 Ayrshire Agriculturalist1849 The journal moved to Edinburgh with a change of name to the NorthBritish Agriculturalist.1970 Publication ceased, by now under the name of Farming News.1843 Commercial and Agricultural School, ChesterA Model School attached to the Chester Diocesan Training College (what was tobecome the University of Chester). It closed in c1869.1843 Rothamsted Experimental Station, Harpenden, HertfordshireThe station was set up by Sir John Bennet Lawes (1814-1900) for research intocrops and fertilizers, at his home of Rothamsted Manor, the estate running tosomething over 1,000 acres. He ran the establishment until his death with hischief scientist, the chemist Joseph Gilbert (1817-1901), himself a pupil of Justusvon Liebig (see 1840), through the Lawes Agricultural Trust. The Trust fundedthe station from 1889 to 1990 and still operates to fund research.Although Lawes inherited the estate and the associated manorial lordship, hiseducation and pioneering studies put him in a very different category to the keenamateur status sometimes associated with Victorians of his class.Seven of the field experiments started in the early days are still running :Broadbalk (1843), Barnfield (1843), Hoos Barley (1852), Alternate Wheat andFallow (1856), Exhaustion Land (1856) and Park Grass (1856).26

Rothamsted is one of the eight bodies funded by the Biotechnology andBiological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC - see 1994) and is one of theEnvironmental Change Network stations.1847 Rothamsted Memoirs on Agricultural Science - this ran to many volumesand was originally produced by Sir John Bennet Lawes.1906 Winifred Brenchley (1883-1953) became the first woman to work atRothamsted when she went on a Gilchrist studentship (gained foroutstanding performance in her BSc from University College, London).On completing her studentship she became head of the Botanical Section(later the Botany Department) until her retirement in 1948, havinggained her doctorate in 1911.1931 Rothamsted was brought under the ARC umbrella.1936 The management of Woburn was taken on.1941 The ARC Unit of Soil Enzyme Chemistry was founded (later re-namedthe Unit of Soil Metabolism),1945 The Unit of Soil Metabolism moved to University College, Cardiff.1946 Dartington Hall operations were absorbed.1947 The Soil Survey of England and Wales was taken over from Bangor.1959 The Broom’s Barn Experimental Station, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolkwhich specialised in sugar beet was acquired.1964 The management of the Saxmundham Field was taken over.1978 Rothamsted absorbed staff from the Unit of Soil Physics, Cambridgewhen it disbanded.1987 The Soil Survey moved to Cranfield Institute of Technology.1990 The Agricultural Food and Research Council took over.2002 Rothamsted Research Ltd formed.2008 Rothamsted took over the North Wyke Station, Devon.1844 Agricultural GazetteThe Agricultural Gazette was an additional arm to the existing Gardeners’Chronicle, which had been founded in 1841 by Sir Charles Wentworth Dilke(1810-1869). The agricultural section was founded by John Chalmers Morton(1821-1888), who edited from 1844 to 1888. Morton was described as the doyenof the Victorian agricultural journalists and was heavily involved in the earlydays of the Royal Agricultural Society of England. This paper was particularlystrong on technical content. In December 1845 he listed 150 ‘topics suitable forlocal farmers’ club discussions’ in which he included ‘The professional educationof the agricultural labourer.’27

1874 The Agricultural Gazette started being produced separately from theGardeners’ Chronicle.1925 The paper merged with the Farmer and Stockbreeder.1844 Scottish Farmer and Agricultural Advertiser started in Aberdeen in connectionwith the Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine Agricultural Society.1850 Publication ceased.1845 Agricultural Magazine and Journal of Scientific FarmingThis publication included reports of lectures and debates, articles and summariesfrom papers in other journals, and more practical information on letting, cornprices and shows.1847 Re-named as the Agricultural Magazine and Plough.1851 Became the Agricultural Magazine, Plough and Farmer’s Journal.1845 Queen’s University BelfastA Diploma in Agriculture was established at the Queen’s University in Ireland,and also offered in the other Queen’s Colleges in Cork and Galway.1863 The diploma course ceased when numbers proved disappointing.1913 Scholarships for agricultural studies were made available through theGibson Trust, a legacy of William Gibson (1838-1913), a farmer’s sonfrom Co. Down who made his fortune in the jewellery trade.1999 The Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Rural Environment wasestablished.2005 The Institute of Agri-food and Land Use was established.1845 Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, GloucestershireWith the motto arvorum cultus pecorumque (caring for the fields and the beasts)the College was set up under the presidency of Henry George, 4th Earl Bathurst(1790-1866) following impetus from the Fairford and Cirencester Farmers’ Clubwhich gathered focus after an address given in November 1842 by RobertJeffreys-Brown, a local wine merchant, on the ‘Advantages of a SpecificEducation for Agricultural Pursuits’. That the address was considered importantis shown by its full covered in February 1843 in The Farmers’ Magazine. It wasfunded by public subscription. There were earlier lower level agricultural schoolsin England but this was the first establishment offering agricultural education at‘college’ level in the English speaking world, although Brown noted thatTemplemoyle in Northern Ireland (see 1827) was ‘almost a precise model of whatis wanted in England.’ In addition to Templemoyle, the establishing board of theRoyal Agricultural College also looked to Europe, particularly Fellenberg’s workat Hofwyl, Switzerland and to Grignon, established in France in 1826.28

Although strongly supported by Viscount Spencer, his anti-Corn Law stanceprecluded his formal involvement, such association being likely to harm theproject.1914 The college closed at the start of WWI, to be re-opened in 1922.The College currently farms at Coates Manor and Harnhill Manor (491 ha in all)with further access to dairy facilities at Kemble and Leaze Farms and equineoperations at Fossehill Farm.1847 Gardeners’ and Farmers’ JournalThe journal was established under the first editorship of M M Milburn, a landagent and secretary to the Yorkshire Society.1854 The journal ceased to carry such serious articles after Milburn’s death.1880 The title was absorbed in the Mark Lane Express (see 1832).1848 Digest of evidence taken before a committee of the House of Commons appointedto inquire into the agricultural customs of England and Wales in respect totenant-right compiled by Henry Corbet (see 1832) and William Shaw (1797-1853).1849 Philanthropic Society Farm School, Redhill, SurreyThe school was established on 133 acres, which grew over the years to 350 acres,with an original aim of keeping boys out of trouble and giving them training forgainful employment, in the form of agriculture. After the Reformatory SchoolAct 1854 most intake came directly from the courts such that they were boys whohad already been in trouble. There were around 250 such boys by the mid-1850s.In later years agriculture took a lesser role and ceased as a core trade by the1940s, its place being taken by carpentry, tailoring and shoe-mending. The farmdid, however, continue to be run to supply produce and an educational resourceuntil the school’s final closure in 1988.1851 The Agriculturalist’s Calculator - A Series of Tables for the Use of All Engagedin Agriculture or the Management of Landed Property published by Blackie &Co.1852 Talpa, or the Chronicles of a Clay Farm, An Agricultural Fragment was thepublication in book form of the writings of Chandos Wren Hoskyns (1812-1876) first published in the Agricultural Gazette (see 1844) from 1848. WrenHoskyns was born plain Hoskyns, adding the Wren when he married the heiressto the Wroxhall estate in Warwickshire, Theodosia Wren, a descendant of Sir29

Christopher. He was a barrister, MP and regular commentator on agriculturalpractice (see quotation on frontispiece).1855 Morton’s New Farmer’s AlmanacAn annual summarising the debates and developments of the previous year, thispublication was established by J C Morton (see 1844).1870 Name changed to Morton’s Almanac for Farmers and Landowners andlater published as Vinton’s Agricultural Almanac and Diary.1857 How to Farm Profitable, particularly on Heavy Clays, or the sayings and doingsof Mr Alderman Mechi was the best-selling work of John Joseph Mechi (1802 -1880).Mechi did not allow his sense that farmers had an inherent ‘resistance toinnovation and disbelief of progress’ to dissuade him from his educative efforts.From chapter 1 : ‘Although I shall prove in these pages by unquestionable factsthat numerous profitable things may be done in agriculture, I have no expectationthat the generality of either landlords or tenants will practice them. The historyof prejudice has always been the same, viz., resistance to innovation and disbeliefof progress : but that is no justification of despair … we must fight manfullyagainst the old enemy that we shall overcome him by degrees … if my exertionsin the cause of agricultural progression make some impression on agriculturallethargy and disbelief, my object will have been accomplished.’Mechi was a Londoner who, in 1841, acquired the 300 acre Tiptree Hall Farm inEssex, turned it into an experimental model farm, making particular use ofmechnanisation, and wrote the first of a number of influential works, Letters onAgriculture, in 1844. In 1845 he became a council member of the RoyalAgricultural College and in 1860 founded the Royal Agricultural BenevolentInstitution. Poignantly, he was himself in receipt of benevolent donations as hefell from a position of considerable prosperity and public success towards the endof his life, due to the failure of various companies and the farming depression.1857 New Edinburgh Veterinary SchoolThis School was opened in overt competition with William Dick’s College byJohn Gamgee (1830-1894), a former Dick lecturer.1865 The School closed in Edinburgh and moved to London as the RoyalAlbert Veterinary College.30

1858 A Treatise on the Law of the Farm : with a digest of cases, and including theagricultural customs of England and Wales published in 1858 by Henry HallDixon (1822-1870). Dixon, who qualified as a barrister, brought his legaltraining to this book but was more widely known as a sporting writer and he alsoproduced pot-boilers with such titles as The Post and the Paddock (pub. 1856).1861 Kendal Farmers’ ClubTypical of many local clubs, this organisation was a group of local farmers whomet to discuss scientific developments, develop test plot, and the like. Theyestablished a library of information for use by members.1861 The Scottish Farmer and Horticulturist1865 The Farmer.1881 Absorbed the Chamber of Agriculture Journal and Farmers’ Chronicle.1889 Farmer and Stockbreeder.1925 The paper merged with the Agricultural Gazette (see 1844).1862 Glasgow Veterinary CollegeA college established under James McCall (1834-1915), Professor of Anatomyand Physiology from the Dick Veterinary College, Edinburgh and VeterinaryInspector and Adviser to the Board of Agriculture.1949 It became part of the University of Glasgow.1954 The College acquired Cochno Farm which now extends to 344 ha.1865 Royal Albert Veterinary College, LondonThe Royal Albert was opened by John Gamgee after his failure in Edinburgh (see1857) and closed in 1868.1866 Central Chamber of AgricultureThe Chamber was founded with a remit which embraced experimental work,discussion groups, shows and education. There were, at one time, 70 oddregional groups but much of the work was absorbed by the National Farmers’Union (see 1908).The only regional group currently remaining is the very active ShropshireChamber.1869 The Chamber of Agriculture Journal and Farmers’ Chronicle wasestablished under the editorship of J A Clarke.1881 The Journal of the Chamber was amalgamated with the Farmer (see1844) when Clarke moved to Bell’s Weekly Messenger (see 1807).31

1868 Agricultural and Horticultural Association1869 NatureThis body, popularly known as the ‘One and All’, was founded by Lancashireborn Edward Owen Greening (1836-1923) with a view of supplying theagricultural requirements of seeds, fertilizer, tools and the like, on a co-operativebasis. The indefatigable Greening was a pioneering activist in the wider cooperativemovement and other campaigns such as the Anti-Slavery Society.1870 The Agricultural Economist and Horticultural Review was established,also by Owen, as a campaigning organ, seeking agricultural co-operationand general improvements such as contaminant free fertilizers andfeedstuffs. It was published alongside an annual One and All GardeningAnnual.This is a wide ranging scientific journal, not one with an agricultural focus, but itwas the place of publication of many important papers on agricultural science. Itwas founded by Sir Norman Lockyer (1836-1920), who was also editor for 1869until shortly before his death.1871 University of DurhamThe College of Physical Sciences, later Armstrong College, was established inNewcastle-upon-Tyne as part of Durham, a university which embraced subjectsof regional and practical importance such as agriculture, engineering, mineralsand maritime matters, as well as the classics which dominated the traditionaluniversities at that time.1891 The Chair of Agriculture was established, first taken by ProfessorWilliam Somerville (1860-1932). Somerville had briefly lectured inforestry at the University of Edinburgh, and moved on to Cambridge in1899, thence to Oxford in 1906 where he remained until his retirement.He gained particular credence among working farmers having, on hisfather’s death, run his 400 acre home farm at Cormiston, Lanarkshirethrough the agricultural depression years.1896 Cockle Park Experimental Farm, University of Durham was leased byNewcastle County Council from the Duke of Portland for use by thenewly formed Department of Agriculture. The farm includes the PalaceLeas Plots - the world's longest running grazing and hay cuttingexperiment. The influential director of Cockle Park since 1902 wasProfessor Douglas Alston Gilchrist (1859-1927). The son of a wealthLanarkshire farmer, he was also, for many years, secretary of theAgricultural Education Association and editor of its journal AgriculturalProgress (see 1894), forming particular strong links between theuniversities, farm institutes, working farmers and the feed and fertilizerbusinesses.1944 The tenancy of the 742 acre farm on the Allendale estate at Naffertonwas acquired.32

1963 Armstrong was one of the two Durham colleges which broke away tobecome the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. See 1963.2010 The Durham Centre for Crop Improvement Technology (DCCIT) wasfounded in order to direct research in plant science towards majorchallenges, especially food security and industrial plant-biotechnology.DCCIT integrates plant-genetics, cell biology and biochemistry withexpertise in chemistry, physics, mathematics and engineering to developtechnologies for crop improvement.1872 National Agricultural Labourers’ UnionThe first successful national body for farm workers grew out of the WarwickshireAgricultural Labourers’ Union under the impetus and presidency of theindefatigable and charismatic Joseph Arch (1826-1919), who preceded hispolitical role with many years of as a farm worker and Methodist lay preacher.Although education was not an overt, primary remit, the trades union movementdid, of course, give many individuals the strength and circumstances to accesseducation, as noted so empathetically in Sharpen the Sickle! The History of theFarm Workers Union by Reginald Groves (first published 1949).1906 Re-incarnated as the Eastern Counties Agricultural Labourers andSmallholders Union under George Edwards (1850-1933), who was latera county councillor, alderman, magistrate and Labour MP and wasknighted in 1930.1912 Name changed to the National Agricultural Labourers' and RuralWorkers' Union.1920 Name changed to the National Union of Agricultural Workers.1968 Name changed to the National Union of Agricultural and AlliedWorkers.1982 Became the Agricultural Section of the Transport and General WorkersUnion.2007 Became part of Unite on the merger of the TGWU with Amicus.1872 University College of Wales, AberystwythNow Aberystwyth University.1872 The College was established and a series of lectures on First Principlesof Agriculture was delivered and published by Professor Henry Tannerof the Royal Agricultural College and Harry Parnall, Vice President ofthe University College.1891 The Department of Agriculture was established and sent out peripateticinstructors in dairying.1904 A 180 acre farm was acquired at Tanygraig.33

1919 The Welsh Plant Breeding Station was established through the patronageof Sir Lawrence Phillips, Lord Milford (1874-1962) under the firstdirectorship of George Stapledon (1882-1960). Sir John Russell’sassessment was that ‘Few men in his generation left a greater mark onthe countryside of Britain than he [Stapledon] did.’1931 The Welsh Plant Breeding Station was brought under the ARC umbrella.1933 The Cahn Hill experimental grasslands of over 2,000 acres inCardiganshire were acquired for the Plant Breeding Station through thegift of Sir Julian Cahn (1882-1944).1939 The 205 acre farm at Penglais Hill was acquired with £35,000 donatedby David Alban Davies (1873-1951) a retired dairy businessman.1955 The Welsh Plant Breeding Station moved to Plas Gogerddan.1964 The Pant y Dwr Research Centre, near Rhayader, Radnorshire wasestablished. This site is now closed and the operations have beenmerged into Bronydd Mawr.1983 The site at Bronydd Mawr, Brecknockshire was acquired to researchsustainable upland beef and sheep farming.1987 The Welsh Plant Breeding Station was granted AFRC (AgriculturalFood Research Council) Station status as the Institute of Grassland andAnimal Production (IGAP).1989 The HQ of the WPBS moved to Gogerddan.1990 The WPBS changed its name to the Institute of Grassland andEnvironmental Research (IGER).1992 The IGER station at Hurley, Berkshire was closed.1995 The Department of Agricultural Sciences merged with the WelshAgricultural College to form the Welsh Institute of Rural Sciences.2008 The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)was established from a merger of the Institutes of Rural Sciences andBiological Sciences and the Institute of Grassland and EnvironmentalResearch (IGER). Experimental farms of 1,000 ha are held : Trawsgoed(dairy), Plas Gogerddon (sheep and arable) and Morfa Mawr (cattlefinishing and arable).2010 Penglais Hill Farm closed.1873 Veterinary College, EdinburghThe College was opened by former Dick School Principal, William Williams(1832-1900).1904 The College moved to Liverpool (see 1904).34

1874 Aspatria Agricultural College, CumberlandAspatria was a private institution set up by local landowners ‘to advance thescience and teaching of agriculture’, the second such college, after the RoyalAgricultural College (see 1845).The college was largely developed by the ‘dauntless three’ local agriculturalistsWilliam Norman MRAC, a chemist, John Twentyman and the vet HenryThompson. The three had been instrumental in the setting up of the AspatriaAgricultural Co-operative Society in 1870. One of the earliest agricultural coops,it is still operating in the 21 st century as Aspatria Farmers.A key driver was the sense that the Royal Agricultural College was beyond thereach of the sons of local farmers, both geographically, in price and in ethos.Progressively, they wanted to see both landowners and tenants gaining aneducation. Fees in the mid-1880s were £45, as compared with £150 atCirencester.1886 The arrival of Professor Henry Webb (1846-1893) as Principalheralded a golden period. Something of a polymath, Professor Webbgained his PhD in plant science from the University of Jena in Germany,qualified as a medical doctor through University College, London andwas appointed as a professor of Animal Morphology and Physiology atthe Birkbeck Institute. He was called on to report to the PagetCommission (see 1887) on agricultural education. Webb particularlystressed the relationship between the theoretical and the practical as seenin the college motto Scientia et labore - knowledge and work.Webb introduced an Experimental Station where local farmers could usecollege equipment and staff to test their manures, feeds, seeds andconduct agricultural experiments. He also introduced free eveninglectures for local farm workers.1888 Some government grants were received from the late 1880s, followingthe Technical Education Act (see 1889) but available funds were limitedas the college was privately owned.1891 Sir Jacob Wilson (see 1889) attempted to get the Council to purchaseAspatria to combine it with plans for a publicly funded county college.These plans failed and the Cumberland and Westmorland Farm School,later Newton Rigg, developed separately (see 1896).1893 On Professor Webb’s premature death, the new principal was JohnSmith-Hill with a degree in Botany and a member of the Institution ofSurveyors. He married Professor Webb’s widow and brought landsurveying, valuation and land agency to the fore, along with agriculture,gaining Institution of Surveyors exemption for Aspatria students.1914 The college closed and Hill-Smith took a position as resident agent atGreystoke Castle, near Penrith.35

1875 Aberdeenshire Agricultural AssociationFounded by Thomas Jamieson (1829-1914), agricultural chemist, City Analystof Aberdeen, and Fordyce* lecturer in Agriculture at Aberdeen University,although with considerable impetus from James W Barclay, MP for Forfarshire.Various experimental plots were used including, for a short period, a farm leasedat Glasterberry. Jamieson entered heated debate in the farming press with thelikes of Lawes and Voelker, and was criticised for using overly small plots. In areview of his work published in Nature in 1905, the establishment opinion isapparent : ‘… we can only admire the innocence in which Mr Jamieson hasmanaged to preserve his mind. Not for him the knowledge of good or evil thatcomes of reading other men’s work …’!1913 The Association folded. Having failed in a 1910 bid to gain supportfrom the Development Commission, whose funds were directed towardsJohn Boyd Orr and the Rowett Institute, they received small sums fromAberdeen County Council and the Aberdeen and North of ScotlandCollege of Agriculture, but insufficient for viability.* A post named for John Fordyce (1736-1802) a compilation of whose lecturesappeared as Elements of Agriculture and Vegetation in 1781.1875 Agricultural Engineers’ AssociationThis body was founded to represent the commercial, technical and trade interestsof British manufacturers and suppliers of agricultural machinery. It supported theImplement Manufacturers Review and Agricultural Record.1878 The journal name was changed to the Implement and Machinery Review.1875 British Dairy Farmers’ AssociationThis body is now called the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers. Forover 100 years their annual show was held at Olympia where it ran the Five DayEconomic Milking Trials. Since the 1970s the event was held at Stoneleigh formany years and is now at the NEC, billed as The Livestock Event.1877 Journal of the British Dairy Farmers’ Association.1875 Department of Science and ArtsThe Department (established as a department of the Board of Trade in 1853) setup a section for Agriculture. Fees were introduced, payable to elementary schoolteachers whose pupils passed examinations in the principles of agriculture. Thesewere aimed at students of the ‘industrial classes’, in contrast with the higher levelNormal School lectures. Classes were often in the evenings and were heldaround the country. Spread was, however, patchy. At the time of the PagetReport in 1887 whilst Yorkshire had 17 classes and Middlesex had 15, sixcounties had none.1875 The Metropolitan School of Science Applied to Mining and the Arts wasa development of the Science and Art Department (formed from a36

merger of the Royal College of Chemistry and the Royal School ofMines) and offered lectures in, among many other things, agriculture.1881 The Normal School of Science, as it was re-named was established inJermyn Street, away from the rest of the Department based around theSouth Kensington museums.1890 The Normal School of Science became the Royal College of Science (apart of Imperial College until wholly absorbed in 2002).1907 The Royal College of Science merged with City and Guilds CentralTechnical College to form Imperial College of Science and Technology.1911 The Research Institute in Plant Physiology was established at ImperialCollege.1929 Imperial College joined the University of London (see 1898).1875 Agricultural Holdings ActThe introduction of a statutory right for outgoing tenants to be compensated forunexhausted improvements prompted a renewed support for agricultural research,given the importance of accurately assessing fertilizer residues. The terms of thisAct could, however, be contracted out of by landlords who could, instead,substitute private agreements.1876 Woburn Experimental Station, BedfordshireThis world famous experimental station was set up on a 131 acre site by the 9 thDuke of Bedford (the landowner) and the Royal Agricultural Society of England.The work was run by Sir John Bennet Lawes (1814-1900) and the pioneeringagricultural chemist Dr Augustus Voelcker (1822-1884), along with their stationat Rothamsted (see 1843), primarily for research into the effects of animal feedon soil production, not least prompted by the provisions of the AgriculturalHoldings Act 1875. Dr Voelcker’s son continued his father’s work as anagricultural research chemist. Woburn was run by the Royal Agricultural Societyof England.1936 The management of Woburn was taken on by Rothamsted (see 1843).1877 Pumpherston Experimental Station, near EdinburghA 10 acre field forming an experimental station for the Highland and AgriculturalSociety.37

1878 The Chemistry of the Farm by Robert Warington (1838-1907) was the mostsuccessful of the series Morton’s Handbooks of the Farm. Other subjects were :Livestock, Crops, Soil, Plant Life, The Dairy, Animal Life, Labour andEquipment. The original author of The Chemistry was to have been John BenetLawes (see 1843) but the work was handed over to his assistant, Warington, whowent on to become Sibthorpian Professor of Rural Economy at Oxford in 1895.1880 Downton Agricultural College, near Salisbury, WiltshireBriefly called the Wiltshire and Hampshire Agricultural College, this was privatecollege opened by former Royal Agricultural College lecturer, Professor JohnWrightson (1840-1916) at Charford Manor, where he also lived and brought uphis 11 children. He took a small group of key Cirencester lecturers with him,including William Fream (see 1892).The College enjoyed something of the standing of the Royal Agricultural College(as compared to the county colleges) and, along with Cirencester and Aspatria(see 1874), held exemption from the Institution of Surveyors’ land agencyexaminations. The college held a noteworthy flock of Hampshire Down sheep.Wrightson had been ‘best student’ at Cirencester in 1863 and was, for 12 years, aprofessor of agriculture at the college. He further developed his ideas after a tourof Europe undertaken when he was the RASE’s representative at the ViennaInternational Exposition 1873, and was probably the first to introduce silage toBritain (or sour hay, as he termed it).Wrightson held strongly that agricultural education required the practicalalongside the scientific, making full use of the 535 acres at Charford, observing,with a slight to certain establishments, that : ‘a sufficient farm is essential to aninstitution which pretends to teach farming.’1906 Downton closed as Professor Wrightson drew to retirement age andprivate colleges were less attractive with the development publiclyfunded agricultural education.Wrightson continued to take three or four farm pupils each year, and wroteprolifically, including the much used Agriculture, theoretical and practical : ATextbook of Mixed Farming for Large and Small Farmers and for AgriculturalStudents, co-authored with John Newsham (1873-?) in 1915. On his death, thethen principal of the Royal Agricultural College, J R Ainsworth-Davis, noted thathe ‘… would always occupy an honoured place in the history of Britishagriculture, especially as regards the educational developments.’c1881Sussex Association for the Improvement of AgricultureThis body was largely an experimental station run by Professor Thomas Jamieson(see 1875) on the land lent for the purpose by Major Warden Sergison (1835-1888) of Cuckfield Park, Sussex.c1891Operations ceased on this site.38

1882 British Dairy Institute, near Aylesbury, BuckinghamshireThe Institute was established by the British Dairy Farmers’ Association to traininstructors for the increasing number of travelling and fixed dairy.1896 It moved to University College, Reading (see 1893).1884 Report on agricultural education in North Germany, France, Denmark,Belgium, Holland, and the United Kingdom by Henry Jenkins (1840-1886). 2ndReport of the Royal Commission on Technical Instruction.1884 University College of North Wales, BangorDegrees in agriculture were introduced, initially awarded by the University ofLondon.c1890A Department of Agriculture was established.1893 Bangor became a founding member of the federal University of Wales(along with what are now the universities of Aberystwyth and Cardiff).1939 The Soil Survey of England and Wales was formally established.1947 The Soil Survey transferred to Rothamsted.1953 The ARC Unit of Embryology was established to support the work ofProfessor F W Rogers Brambell (1901-1970). The unit was disbandedon his retirement in 1968.1960 Treborth Botanic Garden was acquired.2009 Re-named Bangor University, independent of the confederate Universityof Wales structure.1886 Tamworth Agricultural College and Training Farm, StaffordshireTamworth was a private college established by the Sillito brothers at AlvecotePriory. It ceased operations in 1914.1887 Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical CollegeThe Agricultural Department was established, which ultimately led to theScottish Agricultural College.1899 Merged with the Scottish Dairy Institute to form the West of ScotlandAgricultural College with premises in Glasgow.1904 The Dairy School for Scotland, Kilmarnock opened as a successor to theScottish Dairy Institute.1928 The use of the Auchincruive estate in Ayr was presented to the Secretaryof State for Scotland by John Hannah of Girvan Mains (see also theHannah Dairy Research Institute, 1928).39

1949 The College acquired the Lephinmore Hill Farm Research Station inArgyll, which transferred to the Hill Farming Research Organisation in1954.1974 The Glasgow site closed.1975 The Dairy Cattle Research Centre was established at Dumfries with theleasing of 252 ha Crichton Royal Farm. This farm had come into publicownership in 1884 to provide food for the Crichton Royal Asylum (forpsychiatric patients).1990 The College merged with North of Scotland College of Agriculture,Aberdeen and East of Scotland College of Agriculture, Edinburgh toform the Scottish Agricultural College (now the Scottish RuralUniversity College). Ownership of the Auchincruive estate wasacquired at this point.1887 National Association for the Promotion of Technical and SecondaryEducationThis body, particularly through the endeavours of the secretary A H Acland(1847-1926), was instrumental in having the ‘whisky money’ (see 1890) appliedto technical, including agricultural, education.1887 Report of the Paget Commission on Agricultural and Dairy SchoolsThis government commission was charged with reviewing agricultural education,under Sir Richard Paget (1832-1908). It concluded that there was insufficientprovision and that state aid was needed. It recommended a Central NormalSchool of Agriculture (planned to be located near Rugby, Warwickshire),regional dairy schools and local agricultural schools, ideally with experimentalfarms, in every county. Plans for a central school were dropped in favour ofregional institutions which would be able to cater for diverse local conditions.1887 Hollesley Bay Colonial College, near Woodbridge in SuffolkThe College, founded by Robert Johnson (c1836-1901) on the 1,800 acre Boytonestate, aimed 'to provide for those intending to emigrate, a thoroughly sound andpractical training before their departure.'1903 The College closed1905 The site was acquired by the Central Committee of the LondonUnemployed Fund (later the London Central (Unemployed) Body) andrenamed the Hollesley Bay Farm Colony. The Colony took unemployedmen from London and trained them in farm work and other ruralindustries. Men who proved successful were re-settled with theirfamilies with permanent employment either on the Colony's own estateor elsewhere. The scheme gained some success with the Colonybecoming an agricultural showpiece, especially known for its orchardsand soft fruit trees.40

1938 Hollesley Bay was taken over by the Prison Commission as a traininginstitution for young offenders. It used the farm as a key training facilityand had working Suffolk Punch heavy horses and a stud. It was recalledin Brendan Behan’s (1923-1964) autobiographical Borstal Boy (pub.1958).2006 The prison sold the farm and the largest herd of Suffolk Punch horses inthe world to the Suffolk Punch Trust. Prisoners continued to work onthe farm and with the horses until 2011.1888 Firth College, SheffieldAlfred Denny became the first Professor of Biology with the first Professor ofBotany, B H Bentley, following in 1908.1905 The college became the University of Sheffield.1952 The ARC Unit of Microbiology was established under the firstdirectorship of Sidney Reuben Elsden (1915-2006). The Unit wasdisbanded in 1967 when Professor Elsden became the Director of thenew Food Research Institute.1961 The Unit of Grassland Ecology was established, later the NERC Unit ofComparative Plant Ecology.1969 One of the world’s most comprehensive long-term monitoring studies ofsemi-natural grassland was established at Bibury, Gloucestershire.1988 The Department of Animal and Plant Science established.2010 A research grant was secured to support the project on the Origins ofAgriculture : an ecological perspective on crop domestication.1889 Abbotsholme School, Uttoxeter, StaffordshireAbbotsholme is an independent secondary school where the 74 acre mixed farmis integral to the curriculum and ethos of the school. The philosophy of thefounder Dr Cecil Reddie (1858-1932), was, however, more about using the farmfor personal development rather than agricultural education for practical orfurther academic purposes.1888 Norfolk Chamber of AgricultureExperiments were started by the Chamber of Agriculture, who sought the ‘aid ofmen of science’ such as Rothamsted’s Dr Voelcker.1905 Management of the experiments moved to the University of Cambridge,Department of Agriculture.1908 The Norfolk Agricultural Station was established at Jex Farm, LittleSnoring, near Fakenham (see 1908)41

1889 Horticultural College, SwanleyThe brainchild of Arthur Harper Bond (1853-1940, set up on the 43 acre Kentestate of Sir Edward Reed (1830-1906) which Bond purchased in 1889.1891 Although originally for men only, women were admitted from this date.1902 It became a women only college under the headship of Miss Fanny‘Rollo’ Wilkinson (1855-1951), previously landscape gardener to theMetropolitan Public Gardens Association.1945 Swanley was absorbed into Wye College after suffering severe bombdamage during the war.1949 The land was purchased by Kent County Council for a new HorticultureInstitute (see 1919).1889 Technical Instruction ActThis legislation gave local authorities the responsibility and powers to supporttechnical education, notably by permitting a penny rate to be raised for theexpress purpose of technical education. Specific reference was made in section 8to technical instruction in agriculture and practical instruction in the processes ofagriculture.1889 Board of AgricultureThe Board was established under the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and had£5,000 to apply to agricultural education, under the Technical Instruction Act1889, and a specific remit for the support, inspection and reporting on institutionsproviding agricultural education. The first body to benefit from the fund was theUniversity College of North Wales at Bangor.1903 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries1912 The Board assumed the full responsibility for the agricultural educationfor all students over 16 years old, no longer splitting the role with theBoard of Education.1919 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries1955 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food2001 MAFF merged with the Department of Environment, Transport and theRegions to form DEFRA - the Department of Environment, Food andRural Affairs.42

1889 In a speech at Aspatria Agricultural College, Sir Jacob Wilson (1806-1905)noted that government expenditure on agricultural education in Britain was£5,000. France (with a similar population) was spending £170,000, Belgium(population around the size of London) was spending £14,000, Denmark £11,000,Germany £172,000 and the USA £615,000.The differences are partly, of course, a function of the differing levels ofpopulation employed in agriculture : Britain 10%, France 44%, Belgium 35%,Germany 39%, but it still shows a considerable under provision.Sir Jacob was an important figure in the Victorian agricultural world. Heattended the Royal Agricultural College, gained a Highland and AgriculturalSociety prize for a paper on mechanical harvesting, was instrumental inintroducing legislation to stem the importation of animal diseases (ContagiousDiseases (Animals) Act 1878 and the Animals Act 1884), was land agent to theEarl of Tankeville’s Chillingham estate, doing particular work with the famouswhite Chillingham cattle, was a director of the Land Department, agriculturaladviser to the Board of Agriculture, and a member of the Royal Commissions onAgriculture (Depressed Condition) in 1879 and on Horse-breeding in 1887. Hehad a long association with the Royal Agricultural Society of England and withthe Northumberland Agricultural Society.1890 Textbook of Agricultural Zoology by Frederic Vincent Theobold (1868-1930).1890 Colonial Training Home, Leaton, ShropshireOne of many such bodies which proliferated at this time of colonial expansion,the remit was to train young women in both household management and thelighter branches of agriculture : dairying, poultry, beekeeping and horticulture.They were then set up for service overseas in posts arranged by the BritishWomen’s Emigration Association. This particular school liaised primarily withestablishments in British Columbia.1907 The school moved to Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove, Worcestershire,changing name to the Colonial Training College.1914 The war brought a halt to the high level of emigration, resulting inschool closure.1890 Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act 1890This Act designated taxes from alcohol duties to be applied to technical andagricultural education and around £80,000 of the £1 million raised each year wasapplied specifically to agricultural education. This so called ‘whisky money’ leddirectly to lectures, extension classes, dairy schools and grants to agriculturalcolleges.43

1890 Agricultural Instruction Committee, CheshireThe Instruction Committee was soon re-named the Worleston Dairy Institute.This was the start of what is now Reaseheath College, Nantwich.1914 Henhull Hall Farm was acquired.1919 Activities transferred to Reaseheath Hall and merged with the HolmesChapel operations (see 1895).1921 Re-named Cheshire School of Agriculture.1926 Worleston Dairy Institute was taken into the Cheshire School ofAgriculture.1967 The institution became Reaseheath College, currently farming 200 hafarm with dairy, pigs, sheep and arable, along with an equine unit.1890 Yorkshire College of ScienceAs well as operating at university level, until 1946 the college’s Department ofAgriculture also looked after education in Yorkshire at farm institute level inliaison with the County Council.1894 Manor Farm, Garforth was acquired and operations were known for atime as Manor Farm Agricultural College.1904 The farming activities became part of the University of Leeds - theuniversity farm, Headley Hall, later being taken over by Askham BryanCollege.1921 Fruit trial plots were acquired at Osgodby, near Selby.1948 Operations moved from Manor Farm to Askham Bryan.1891 Sexey’s School, SomersetA co-educational secondary school was set up in Bruton, driven by HenryHobhouse (1854-1937),* with agriculture as a key feature of the curriculum forboys (and domestic science for girls). A farm was acquired on Wells Way, nearto the main school, to support such studies and some scholarship places weresupported by the East Somerset Agricultural Society. The school is now a stateboarding school but no longer features agriculture.* Henry Hobhouse, MP (see also 1903 and 1910) is described in the OxfordDictionary of National Biography as ‘the archetypal public-spirited countrygentleman. No aspect of local welfare escaped him, but his favourite subjectswere education and agriculture.’ Given his favourite subjects, and his variousachievements therein, he deserves inclusion in this listing. Out of interest, hisfirst wife, Margaret, was a sister of Beatrice Webb.1892 Elements of Agriculture : A Text Book by William Fream (1854-1906) had beenproposed by the RASE. It was divided into three sections - The Soil, The Plant44

and The Animal. The first printing ran out on the day of publication and the bookwas released in 17th edition a century later in 1992.Fream offered Britain’s first course in agricultural entomology at DowntonAgricultural College (see 1880), later moving on to the University of Edinburghwhere he worked from 1890 until his death.1892 Gloucester County Dairy SchoolThis travelling school was run from The Barracks, Gloucester.1892 University of NottinghamThe Department of Agriculture, University College, Nottingham was established.1895 Work moved to the Midland Dairy Institute, Kingston-on-Soar set upwith funding from Nottingham, Derbyshire and Leicestershire CountyCouncils and staffed by the Department of Agriculture, UniversityCollege, Nottingham.1905 The name was changed to Midland Agricultural and Dairy College.1919 Agricultural operations of University College Nottingham moved toSutton Bonington. Dairy and poultry operations remained under theMidland Agricultural and Dairy College at Kingston.1946 Advisory staff moved to Shardlow Hall, Derbyshire.1948 The College was absorbed into the newly chartered University ofNottingham.2007 The School of Veterinary Medicine and Science opened, being the firstnew veterinary school to be opened in the UK for over 50 years.1892 Lancashire College of AgricultureAgricultural courses were established by the county council at the PrestonInstitute / Harris Institute in Avenham. This was the start of what becameMyerscough College.The College currently farms : Myerscough Lodge Farm (leased from the Duchyof Lancaster since 1969), Lee Farm (leased from the Duchy of Lancaster since2004), Gables Farm (the only part of the original holding bought by CountyCouncil in 1894), Light Ash Farm and Primrose Hill (leased from the Duchy ofLancaster since 2002).1894 Lancashire County Council Dairy School / Institute of Agriculture wasestablished at Hutton south of Preston.1948 Winmarleigh Hall was added to school.1967 Re-named Lancashire College of Agriculture.1969 College reopened at a new site at Myerscough.45

1979 Re-named Lancashire College of Agriculture and Horticulture.1993 Incorporated independently of the county council as MyerscoughCollege.1997 The Winmarleigh site was abandoned.1999 Hutton site sold.1893 East Anglian Institute of Agriculture, Chelmsford, EssexEstablished as Essex Technical Laboratories, this became the Essex Institute ofAgriculture, Writtle Agricultural College and now Writtle College.The college operates Sturgeons Farm, near Chelmsford with beef, sheep, pigs,turkeys and arable units.1911 A Dairy School, a Winter School of Agriculture and a School ofHorticulture were introduced.1913 The 150 acre Brittons Hall Farm was acquired1893 University College, ReadingThe Department of Agriculture grew out of the University Extension College andwas partly funded by the Suttons seed company. It was first led by DouglasAlston Gilchrist (1860-1927).1896 The British Dairy Institute (see 1882) moved from Aylesbury.1912 The Research Institute in Dairying was established - initially funded, inpart, by the Palmer family (of the Huntley and Palmer biscuit company).Later it become the National Institute for Research in Dairying (NIRD)and is now the Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR).1920 NIRD acquired the Shinfield Manor Estate, Berkshire, which became thesite of The Cattle Breeding Centre.1921 A considerable boost in funding for the NIRD came from the CornProduction Acts repeal monies (see 1921).1926 The college gained university status.1931 The National Institute for Research in Dairying was brought under theARC umbrella.1951 The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) was established as aninvaluable resource of objects, books and archives relating to the historyof food, farming and the countryside.1965 The Institute of Agricultural History grew from MERL.1986 Some operations of NIRD were transferred to the Institute for FoodResearch, Colney, Norwich.46

1991 The Cattle Breeding Centre, Shinfield, closed.1993 Rural History Centre.1997 Soft Fruit Technology Group.2004 The Animal Science Research Group (ASRG) was formed from amerger of the Centre for Dairy Research (CEDAR) and Biomathematics.1894 Agricultural Education AssociationThis body was largely the result of the driving force of A E Brooke-Hunt, fromthe Board of Agriculture. Its objectives were to encourage all branches ofagricultural education and research. It produced the estimable journalAgricultural Progress, a rich resource for studies of agriculture education and,indeed, agriculture in general, in the period covered.1969 Wound up.1894 Edinburgh School of Rural EconomyExtension courses were established.1901 The school was absorbed into the Edinburgh and East of ScotlandAgricultural College.1894 Uckfield Agricultural and Horticultural College, East SussexUckfield was established by Sussex County Council and currently runs Wales,Saddlescombe, Ivyland, Homestead and Perch Farms.1915 The original College closed.1919 The county council replaced Uckfield with the East Sussex AgriculturalInstitute with students initially housed in the college farm and locallodgings.1926 Student accommodation was built.1934 Re-named East Sussex School of Agriculture.WWII The college was a centre for Women’s Land Army training for theCounty War Agricultural Committee.1967 Re-named Plumpton Agricultural College, now part of PlumptonCollege.1895 Cardigan County Council Dairy School, CardiganEstablished particularly for the making of Caerphilly cheese.47

1895 Dauntsey’s Agricultural School, near Devizes, WiltshireAn agricultural school was established at West Lavington through theencouragement of Joseph Chamberlain (1836-1914) after the previous, nonagricultural,incarnation of this school, established in 1542, was failing. Itoffered, for a fee or through many scholarship places, rudimentary agriculturaltraining alongside a more traditional school curriculum.1930 The word ‘Agricultural’ was dropped although agriculture co-existedwith a traditional academic curriculum for some time.The school still exists although no long delivers an agricultural programme.1895 Holmes Chapel College of Agriculture, CheshireEstablished in association with the University of Manchester and funded byCheshire County Council.1919 Operations moved to Reaseheath, near Nantwich (see 1890).1895 University of AberdeenThe Department of Agriculture was established.1954 The ARC Unit of Statistics was established under Dr David J Finney(1917- ), a similar service being provided for England and Wales by theStatistics Department of Rothamsted. Dr Finney was a pioneer in drugsafety research and helped set up the Drug Safety Research Unit. TheUnit of Statistics transferred with Dr Finney to the University ofEdinburgh in 1966.2011 The final students graduated from the Department of Agriculture andremaining activities transferred to the School of Biological Science.1896 South Eastern Agricultural College, Wye, KentSaid by the contemporary assessment of Daniel Hall (see 1903) to be ‘the onlyinstitution in this country comparable … with the national agricultural schools ofFrance, the Lehr-Anstalten of Germany, or the State colleges of America.’1898 The college became the Department of Agriculture, University ofLondon.1896 Diploma in the Science and Practice of Dairying, Royal Agricultural Society1897 A National Diploma in Dairying was established, jointly awarded by theRoyal Agricultural Society of England and the Royal Highland andAgricultural Society of Scotland.1900 National Diploma in Agriculture.48

1896 Bedfordshire Agricultural Institute / Farm School, RidgmontThe farm school was established at the Duke of Bedford’s Warren Farm, the thenDuke and his father having long been interested in agricultural progress. The 9thDuke had established an experimental farm at Husborne Crawley in 1876 (see1876 - Woburn) and the 11th Duke established an experimental fruit farm in thesame parish in 1895.1912 The farm institute closed after its funds were embezzled by the localeducation authority Director of Education, Frank Spooner, whoabsconded and, despite a newspaper campaign and wanted posters, wasnever seen again. The Duke agreed to clear the institute’s losses on thesurrender of the lease of Warren Farm.1896 Cumberland and Westmorland Farm School, Newton Rigg, CumbriaThe college farms 171 ha at the upland Lower Backside Farm, acquired in 1960and the 203 ha Sewborwens Farm, acquired in 1948.1896 Newton Rigg Farm, then 114 acres, was rented by Westmorland CountyCouncil.1899 The farm was purchased by the County Council who went on to offer 18scholarship places and an annual £35 scholarship for a student toprogress to Durham University / Armstrong College, Newcastle.1998 Operations integrated into the University of Central Lancashire(UCLan).2007 Operations taken to the University of Cumbria.2011 Activities at Newton Rigg campus were transferred from the Universityof Cumbria to Askham Bryan College.1896 Lady Manners School, Bakewell, DerbyshireThis school opened after a 22 year closure, having first been established in 1636.It is mentioned in a number of government reports as having had an agriculturalbias (see also Knaresborough and Welshpool, 1908). The school today is a coeducationalstate comprehensive and still offers Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeshipqualifications in Agriculture, along with the standard secondary curriculum.1896 University of CambridgeThe Gilbey lectureship in the History and Economics of Agriculture wasestablished with the endowment of Sir Walter Gilbey (1831-1911), a winemerchant, shire horse breeder and agriculturalist.1899 The Department of Agriculture was established with the Drapers’ Chairof Agriculture funded by the Drapers’ Company (one of the Londonlivery companies), first taken by William Somerville (1860-1932).Somerville had moved from Durham (see 1871) and moved to Oxford in49

1906. There had been an impetus from the Board of Agriculture tointroduce the subject dating back to 1890.1900 A non-honours degree in Agricultural Science was approved and theCambridge University Farm (CUF) was established on the BurgoyneFarm at Impington, provided for the university’s use by Mr W AMacfarlane-Grieve of Impington Hall.1905 Journal of Agricultural Science.1908 The Chair of Agricultural Botany was established with Drapers’Company funds, the first incumbent being Sir Rowland Biffen (1874-1949).1909 The Department of Pathology was established to study the diseases oflarge animals.1910 The Cambridge University Farm moved to Gravel Hill.1912 The Plant Breeding Institute was established under the first directorshipof Sir Roland Biffen, at the instigation of the Board of Agriculture.Biffen remained in office until 1936.1911 The Cambridge Institute for Animal Nutrition was founded within theSchool of Agriculture under the first directorship of Sir John Hammond(1889-1964).1919 A pass degree in Agriculture, Estate Management and Forestry wasoffered. The first Reader in Estate Management was appointed in theform of Col. Frank Braybrooke Smith (1864-1950), a former Vice-Principal of Wye College and Secretary of Agriculture for South Africa.Original proposals for ‘a great school of Rural Economy’ dated back to areport by William Dampier (1867-1952) in 1917. To say that the ideamet with a lack of enthusiasm from the university hierarchy is anunderstatement. A Dr Mayo is reported as observing that ‘Collegeestates were managed by the most competent men in the world, theCollege Bursars, who certainly did not require the assistance of a Readerin Estate Management … the whole proposal bordered on theridiculous.’1919 The Small Animal Breeding Institute was established.1921 The Molteno Institute for Research in Parasitology was established withfunding from Percy Molteno (1861-1937), a South African farmer,lawyer, shipping magnate and Liberal MP who took a great interest inGeorge Nuttall’s (1863-1937) work at Cambridge on parasitic diseases,particularly piroplasmosis.1922 The Low Temperature Research Station was established. It closed in the1960s with the work taken on by the Meat Research Institute in 1967.1923 The Horticultural Research Station was founded.50

1923 A Chair of Animal Pathology was founded with funding from theMinistry of Agriculture.1924 The Sir William Dunn Institute of Biochemistry was formed.1927 The Potato Virus Research Station was established, later the Plant VirusResearch Station, later the ARC Unit of Virus Research.1928 John D Rockerfeller (1839-1937), via his International Education Fund,directed £700,000 (a considerable number of millions in today’scurrency) for the development of Agriculture, Biological and PhysicalSciences which had a dramatic impact on expansion in these areas.1931 The Molteno Institute, the Plant Breeding Institute, the Institute forAnimal Nutrition, the Low Temperature Research Station, theHorticultural Research Station, the Potato Virus Research Station andthe Small Animal Breeding Institute were brought under the ARCumbrella.1932 The Animal Research Station was established, becoming the ARC Unitof Animal Reproduction in 1949.1941 The ARC Unit of Animal Physiology was established under Sir JosephBarcroft (1872-1947).1946 The Department of Estate Management was established, rather thanEstate Management being within the Department of Agriculture. Thesubject was, however, still a non-honours programme.The Department was given considerable impetus from a generousendowment by chartered surveyor and property development, Sir HaroldSamuel (1912-1987), later Baron Samuel of Wych Cross.1947 The ARC Unit of Plant Biochemistry was established under the firstdirectorship of Dr Charles Hanes. The Unit was disbanded in 1951when Dr Hanes went to the University of Toronto.1947 The Unit of Virus Research came under the ARC umbrella and wasabsorbed into the John Innes Institute in 1967.1948 The ARC Unit of Animal Physiology became the Institute of AnimalPhysiology, located on the Babraham estate.1949 The ARC Unit of Animal Reproduction was established under Dr JohnHammond (1889-1964). It had developed out of the Institute of AnimalNutrition. The Unit developed into the Unit of Reproductive Physiologyand Biochemistry on Dr Hammond’s retirement in 1954.1949 The Veterinary School was established.1951 The ARC Unit of Soil Physics, Department of Agriculture wasestablished under the first directorship of Dr E C Childs. The unit wasdisbanded in 1978 with remaining staff transferring to Rothamsted.51

1952 The Plant Breeding Institute, established in 1912, left Cambridge tooperate independently under the ARC (see 1952).1955 The ARC Unit of Reproductive Physiology and Biochemistry wasestablished as a development from the Unit of Animal Reproduction.The first director was Dr Thaddeus R R Mann (1908-1993). It wasdisbanded as a unit on his retirement in 1976 although the workcontinued with staff transferring to the Institute of Animal Physiology atBabraham.1962 The Department of Land Economy was established under the firstheadship of Donald Denman (1911-1999) with the introduction of theLand Economy Tripos, thus granting the subject full academic statuswithin the university, the Estate Management Board having reported in1961 that ‘the use, tenure and development of land is an integratedsubject of universal concern to human society and capable of beingstudied an\ad taught in depth.’1968 Donald Denman became the first Professor of Land Economy.1969 The ARC Unit of Developmental Botany was established under DaphneOsbourne (1930-2006). It absorbed the transfer of the remainingactivities of the Unit of Experimental Agronomy, Oxford on its closurein 1970. It closed in 19781972 The Department of Agriculture closed. Farm Economics was transferredto the Department of Land Economy as the Agricultural EconomicsUnit. The Cambridge University Farm was retained and moved to theDepartment of Applied Biology.1978 The Unit of Soil Physics disbanded with the staff transferring toRothamsted.1985 The Institute of Animal Physiology joined with the Animal BreedingResearch Organisation (ABRO) and The Poultry Research Centre, basedat Roslin, near Edinburgh, to form The Institute of Animal Physiologyand Genetics Research (IAPGR).1990 The Department of Applied Botany moved to Norwich as part of theCambridge Laboratory. It is now part of John Innes Centre, Colney,Norwich.2012 The Cambridge University Farm currently comprises 1,085 ha. It hoststhe Agronomy Group which runs potato research with the CambridgeUniversity Potato Growers Research Association, and also provides avital resource for the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine.52

1897 Countess of Warwick’s Secondary and Agricultural School, Bigods Hall,Dunmow, EssexA school was set up by Frances Evelyn ‘Daisy’ Greville, Countess of Warwick(1861-1938). Interesting to see one of the early students at Harper AdamsAgricultural College, enrolling in 1906, listing Bigods as their previous school.1907 The school closed after Essex County Council withdrew support. In1920s the chairman of Essex County Council wrote to the Countess : ‘Ifonly we had your school now. You were twenty years too soon.’1898 Garton’s Limited, LancashireThis commercial firm was highly influential in the agricultural plant and seedindustry.The founder, John Garton (1863-1922), started research on his home farm inLancashire and the business developed under the first managing director, GeorgePeddie Miln (1861-1928). The Seeds Advisory Council, the Seeds Act 1928 andthe National Institute of Agricultural Botany were all influenced by Miln and hisson and grandson went on to become managing directors of Garton’s after him.Trading ceased in 1983.1898 Studley Castle Horticultural and Agricultural College for WomenAnother of the Countess of Warwick’s projects (see 1897), Coleyhurst hostel(Lady Warwick Hostel) offered training to women in association with ReadingUniversity College in horticulture, dairy-work, poultry keeping, bee keeping, etc.The institution was described in The Times as : ‘… an interesting experiment andone that is likely, if it meets with success, to have an appreciable effect uponagriculture in England.’1899 The Agricultural Association for Women was formed, largely to findpositions for the students and to publish the Women’s AgriculturalTimes.1902 The association with Reading College was broken.1903 Lady Warwick’s College opened at Studley Castle.1908 The name was changed to Studley College.1926 The college gained official recognition from the Ministry of Agricultureand Fisheries with concomitant grant support.1969 The College closed after Ministry funding was withdrawn, despite thebest efforts of the last principal, Elizabeth Hess and many supportersincluding the Women’s Institute. The Studley College Trust wasestablished and continues to encourage, assist and develop education,instruction and research in agriculture, horticulture, forestry and alliedsubjects with scholarships, and bursaries for such matters.53

1898 University of London1898 The South Eastern Agricultural College, Wye (see 1896) became theDepartment of Agriculture, University of London.1902 BSc honours degrees were awarded in Agriculture. This requiredintermediate studies in chemistry, botany, zoology and geology, studiedin any department of the university, followed by two years wherestudents studies agricultural botany, agricultural chemistry and twooptions from agricultural engineering, entomology, law, bacteriology,forestry, surveying, veterinary anatomy and medicine.1906 Hop research commenced (see East Malling, 1913).1929 Imperial College joined the University of London and the BotanyDepartment, Department of Zoology and Entomology and Departmentof Agricultural Chemistry acquired the Hurworth Estate, Slough for fieldtrials.1931 The Institute of Plant Physiology, Imperial College, came under theARC umbrella.1945 Wye absorbed Swanley Horticultural College, Kent (see 1889).1947 Imperial College acquired Silwood Park, now home to a number ofresearch units including : the Division of Ecology and Evolution, theCentre for Environmental Policy and the International PesticideApplication Research Centre (IPARC)1949 The University absorbed the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.1953 The ARC Unit of Plant Growth Substances and Systemic Fungicideswas established at Wye under the directorship of Professor R LouisWain (1911-2000).1959 The Research Institute of Plant Physiology at Imperial College wasdissolved and an ARC Unit of Plant Physiology formed under thedirection of Professor Helen K Porter (1899-1987) (disbanded in 1971)and an ARC Unit of Plant Morphogenesis and Nutrition was formedunder the direction of Dr F J Richards (19011-1965) (disbanded on hisdeath in 1965) with the work being absorbed by Wye College.1978 The Unit closed on Wain’s retirement when staff largely went to LongAshton.2000 Wye was removed from independence within University of Londonsystem and became Imperial College at Wye.2009 Wye was closed by Imperial College.1899 Women's Agricultural and Horticultural International UnionThis organisation was established by women concerned about the lack ofeducation and employment opportunities for women working on the land.54

1910 The name was changed to the Women's Farm and Garden Union.1915 The organisation worked with the Ministry of Agriculture in launchingthe Women's National Land Service Corps, soon re-named the Women’sLand Army, to train women for farm work in wartime.1921 The name, again, changed to the Women’s Farm and GardenAssociation under which it still operates.1899 Saxmundham Experimental Field, SuffolkNow one of the longest running field trials on fertilisation and crop rotation.1964 The management was taken over by Rothamsted.1899 Hampshire Farm Institute, Basing, HampshireThe Hampshire Farm School was established in Basing, by Hampshire CountyCouncil. Now known as Sparsholt College, currently farming 176 ha with dairy,beef, pigs, sheep, poultry, deer and fisheries.1914 Operations transferred to Westley Farm, Sparsholt.1899 Department of Agricultural and Technical Instruction, DublinThe Department was formed in response to the report of Horace Plunkett (1854-1932) to improve Irish agriculture through education and the encouragement oflocal co‐operation and initiative. The Department's work, which includedtraining national school teachers in rural science and domestic economy, andimproving plant and livestock breeds, was hampered by the suspicions ofnationalists who saw it as an attempt to undermine aspirations to self‐governmentby improving living standards.1922 Absorbed by the Department of Lands and Agriculture on Irishindependence.1900 Agricultural Botany - theoretical and practical by John Percival (1863-1949),a professor at the University of Reading for much of his career.1900 Royal Veterinary College of Ireland, DublinThe RVC was established in Ballsbridge, Dublin under the umbrella of the RoyalCollege of Veterinary Surgeons, London.1914 Management was taken over by the Department of Agriculture andTechnical Instruction.1901 Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agricultural CollegeThis College absorbed the Edinburgh School of Rural Economy, which hadbegun offering extension courses in 1894. It led to the Scottish AgriculturalCollege.55

1946 The Sourhope Experimental Hill Farm, near Kelso was acquired.1954 Sourhope Experimental Hill Farm was transferred to the Hill FarmingResearch Organisation, now one of the Environmental Change Networkstations.1987 The Hill Farming Research Organisation was transferred to theMacaulay Institute, now the James Hutton Institute.1990 The College merged with the West of Scotland Agricultural College andNorth of Scotland Agricultural College to form the Scottish AgriculturalCollege, which retained the original campuses - now the Scottish RuralUniversity College.1901 Harper Adams Agricultural College, Newport, ShropshireThe College was established with the £45,496 legacy of Thomas Harper Adams(1817-1892) 'for the purpose of teaching practical and theoretical agriculture inEngland either by means of lectures or establishing a School of Agriculture'.Although the college was initially a private establishment, the precise nature ofthe institution was heavily coloured by the trustees’ referral to developments inthe state sector.The first principal was Percy Hedworth Foulkes (1871-1965), the son of a Welshland agent, who had graduated in agricultural science from Edinburgh andpreviously lectured in farm and estate management at University College,Reading.Harper Adams currently farms around 550 ha with dairy, beef, pig and poultryunits, along with arable, conservation and woodland.1926 The National Institute of Poultry Husbandry established.1991 The Crop and Environment Research Centre (CERC) established.1998 Re-named Harper Adams University College.2012 Became Harper Adams University.1902 Marine Biological Sub-station, Lowestoft, SuffolkThe Lowestoft station was originally established for research in the plaiceindustry and to the support the work of the International Council for theExploration of the Sea, set up in the same year, of which the UK was an inauguralmember, along with Denmark, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Norway,Sweden and Russia.1997 Previously known as the Directorate of Fisheries Research, the name andstatus changed to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and AquacultureScience (Cefas), now an executive agency of Department ofEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), along with operations inWeymouth.56

1902 Education ActCounty councils were charged with considering all the educational needs of theirrespective areas, including agricultural education.1903 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries1903 National Institute of Fruit and Cider, Long Ashton, near BristolSix ha of land was provided by Lady Emily Smyth (1835-1914) of Ashton Court,there having been private cider research conducted on the Long Ashton estatesince 1893. Unlike most research enterprises of the era this was neither aprivately funded enterprise nor a state institution, but was a non-profit makinglimited liability company. The first chairman was Henry Hobhouse (see Sexey’sSchool, 1891).1912 The Institute became the Department of Agricultural and HorticulturalResearch, University of Bristol, re-named Long Ashton ResearchStation, with further land provided by Lady Emily.1903 Association to Promote the Higher Education of Working MenThis organisation, which became the Workers’ Educational Association, wasestablished by Albert Mansbridge (1876-1952) whose founding ideas bearrepeating : he wanted an alliance between labour and learning, in whichuniversity authorities could be brought in touch with workers. He believed thatsuch an association would help to show that working people had thedetermination and ability to undertake serious, systematic study of a universitystandard. The ‘partnership between labour and learning’ was to be a truepartnership in which workers would be helped in an objective search, in allbranches of learning, to acquire knowledge which would enable them to decidefor themselves what to think about the society in which they lived and worked.Close links were formed with both the trades union and co-operative movementsand classes run to this day in, among many other things, various aspects ofagriculture and horticulture.Many notables have had their educational start with the WEA, not least the farmworker Fred Kitchen (1890-?) who first attended a class in 1933 and went on towrite such classics of English farm working life as Brother to the Ox (pub. 1940).1905 Re-named the Workers’ Educational Association, the name under whichit still flourishes.1943 Plan for Education : a WEA report on educational reconstruction withan appendix on agricultural and rural education. Report by the WEA toButler’s White Paper, Educational Reconstruction. (see 1943).1903 The Soil by A Daniel Hall (1864-1942). Sir Alfred Daniel Hall, fromLancashire, was significant figure in British agriculture in the early decades ofthe 20th century. Having gained a first class degree in Chemistry from Oxford,57

he became the first principal of Wye College in 1898 and moved to Rothamstedin 1902. He became a fellow of the Royal Society in 1909 and a director of theJohn Innes Horticultural Institute in 1926, gaining his knighthood in 1918.He gained particular influence through his work on Lloyd George’s DevelopmentCommission established in 1910 to stimulate the economy of rural areas.Towards the end of his life, in 1939, he became headmaster of Lord WandsworthCollege in Hampshire (see 1928).Although of less contemporary influence than The Soil, his most enduring bookwas A Pilgrimage of British Farming (1913) a collection of articles originallywritten for The Times, recording journeys made in the summers of 1910 to 1912.1904 Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College (Mountbellew), Co. GalwayThe first college of agriculture in Ireland (which is still owned and managed bythe Franciscan Brothers) was developed from primary, secondary and teachertraining establishments already run at Mountbellew by the Brothers, with thesupport of the Ministry of Agriculture. It has had close links with the GalwayMayo Institute of Technology since 1986 and with the Agricultural and FoodDevelopment Authority (Teagasc).1904 University of LiverpoolThe Veterinary School opened, being the first in the UK to be formally attachedto a university. It was essentially a transplanting of William Williams’s newVeterinary College from Edinburgh. The developments at Liverpool wereparticularly prompted by the numbers of valuable cattle in the Cheshire dairyindustry and the large numbers of heavy horses in the Liverpool docks.The school runs two farms on the Leahurst site in Cheshire : Wood Park Farmand the smaller Ness Farm.1904 Association of Economic BiologistsThe association was established to promote the study and advancement of allbranches of biology and to foster the practice, growth and development of appliedbiology with particular reference to the production and preservation of food, fibreand other materials. Their HQ is at Wellsbourne, Warwickshire.1934 Re-named the Association of Applied Biologists.1904 North of Scotland Agricultural College, AberdeenNow part of the Scottish Agricultural College, the Scottish Farm BuildingsInvestigation Unit was part of this institution.1943 The College acquired the Glensaugh Experimental Hill Farm inKincardineshire, which was the first experimental hill farm.58

1954 Glensaugh operations were transferred to the Hill Farming ResearchOrganisation in 1954 which is now one of the Environmental ChangeNetwork stations.1987 The Hill Farming Research Organisation transferred to the MacaulayInstitute, now part of the James Hutton Institute.1990 North of Scotland merged with West of Scotland Agricultural Collegeand East of Scotland Agricultural College to form the ScottishAgricultural College, which retains the original campuses.1905 The Journal of Agricultural Science was established under the first editor inchief, T B Wood with a Board which included A Daniel Hall (see 1903) andRowland H Biffen (see 1896)1906 Regulations for Technical SchoolsThe Board of Education introduced aid for agricultural education to around£30,000 per annum.1907 Central Land AssociationLater re-named as the Country Landowners’ Association, now the Country Landand Business Association (CLA), the Association started under the chairmanshipof William Onslow, 4th Earl of Onslow (1853-1911) and the presidency ofWalter Long, 1st Viscount Long (1854-1924) in response to a leaflet entitled TheLand and the Social Problem by Algernon Tumor (1845-1922) in which hecriticised British agriculture for failing to adapt to changing conditions andblamed politicians for their lack of foresight in their treatment of the industry. Headvocated the co-operation of owners, tenants and workers in the commoninterest.1908 International Institute of AgricultureSet up in Rome with funding from King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, throughthe efforts of the American agriculturalist, David Lubin (1849-1919), to providean international repository for agricultural statistics. It is mentioned as havingbuilt up an important library.1945 The Institute wound up as an independent body. The library wastransferred to the David Lubin Memorial Library held by the Food andAgriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and is consideredto be one of the world's finest agricultural collections covering :Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, Rural Development, Plant Productionand Protection, Animal Production and Health, Agricultural Machinery,Agro-industries, Agro-forestry, Forestry, Fisheries, SustainableDevelopment, Statistics, Agricultural Economics and other relatedsubjects.59

1908 Knaresborough Rural Secondary School, West YorkshireOn petition from local farmers, a school for 12-15 year olds (later extended toyounger years) was established on the site of the old King James GrammarSchool, with a view to an agricultural bias. Although following a standardcurriculum in part, with representations from the Board of Education that tooyoung a bias was inadvisable, the tenor of the school can be seen in farm visits,older boys going to ploughing matches and gardening work being built aroundthe Norfolk 4-course rotation. Along with the school at Welshpool (see 1908below), this venture was the subject of significant study and commentary by theBoard of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture.1908 National Farmers’ UnionAlthough the NFU has a key political lobbying remit it started as, and remains, amajor source of technical and legal information for farmers and growers.It gained in credibility, influence and membership under the first presidency ofColin Campbell, who came to national office via Lincolnshire.1908 Norfolk Agricultural Station, Wymondham, NorfolkJex Farm, Little Snoring (1908-1920)Middle Farm, Newton St Faith (1921-1924)Morley Manor Farm, Morley St Botolph (1965 - date)This station developed into the Morley Research Centre, supporting research andeducation to the benefit of farming in the East of England. Farming operationsmoved from Sprowston in the 1970s.2003 The station became The Morley Agricultural Foundation (TMAF).1908 Reay Committee Report on Agricultural Education in England and Wales.This report particularly prompted the development of an extension service ofregional peripatetic advisers attached to agricultural colleges. The committeewas chaired by Donald Mackay, 11th Lord Reay (1839-1921). It led to advisersin agriculture, mycology, botany, entomology, chemistry, veterinary sciences,agricultural economics (including farm management and accounting) and dairybacteriology in most regions.1908 Ulster Dairy School, Loughry, Cookstown, Co. TyroneLand was purchased by the Ministry of Agriculture and Technical Instructionfrom the Lindesay family in 1906 to provide a school for girls covering dairying,poultry and ‘housewifery’. The site now forms the Loughry campus of theCollege of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) - see 2004.1908 Welshpool County School for Boys, MonmouthshireAn ‘experiment in rural education’ was established which became heavilyreported both nationally and overseas. The idea was to furnish rural boys with a60

foundation more closely aligned than the general curriculum to the farmingstudies and practice they would encounter at a later stage.1909 The first government grants for ‘agricultural experiments and research’ wereawarded to the sum of £425.1909 Development and Road Improvement Funds ActAlthough not altogether clear from the title, this legislation, part of LloydGeorge’s ‘People’s Budget’, included the provision of funding for ‘scientificresearch, instruction and experiment in the science, method and practice ofagriculture (including the provision of farm institutes) and led to theestablishment of the Development Commission which managed the DevelopmentFund for agricultural development and research. This fund was initially almost£3 million to be directed in three key strands.Firstly, some of the fund was set aside for the establishment of farm institutes, perthe recommendations of the Reay report (see 1908), which included thedevelopment of a system of county advisers, who were the link between theteaching institutions and working farmers.Secondly, there was the creation of a network of agricultural research stations,embedding a fundamentally scientific approach to agricultural problems.Thirdly, there were monies available for scholarship for graduate researchstudents.1910 Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV)This body was formed by representatives of local valuers’ associations (theearliest of which had been formed in Suffolk in 1847) to provide a nationalorganisation with professional authority to represent valuers and ensureprofessional standards. The examinations remain a benchmark of achievementfor professional advisers in the rural sector.1910 Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust, Lackford, SuffolkFelix Cobbold (1841-1909) was educated at Eton and Oxford and became abrewer, farmer and Liberal MP (for Stowmarket and, later, Ipswich). On hisdeath a Trust was established to establish and maintain a farm or farms as centresfor demonstrating and apprenticing and by other means to advance and improveagriculture and, in particular, to educate farmers and young persons inagricultural methods, development and techniques.The Trust has leased farms to Otley College since the 1960s.1910 John Innes Horticultural Institution (JIHI), Merton, LondonThis Institution was financed by the will of John Innes (1829-1904), a Londonproperty developer who built Merton garden suburb. The first director wasWilliam Bateson (1861- 1926), a geneticist who brought the ideas of Gregor61

Mendel (1822-1884 - the Silesian abbot who carried out pioneering work onplant hybridisation, working on pea plants in trials beds at his monastery, StThomas at Brno in what is now the Czech Republic) to England.Now one of the eight bodies funded by the Biotechnology and BiologicalSciences Research Council (BBSRC).1931 The institution was brought under the ARC umbrella.1953 Operations moved to Bayfordbury, near Hartford.1958 Staff were absorbed on the closure of the Oxford ARC Unit of Plant CellPhysiology.1967 Activities moved to Colney, Norwich. The ARC Unit of VirusResearch, having grown out of the Potato Virus Research Station atCambridge in 1947, was transferred into the John Innes Institute.1989 The Sainsbury Laboratory was established on the same site, independentof, but with close research and administrative links to, John Innes.1990 The Institute of Plant Science Research joined the organisation.1992 The Nitrogen Fixing Laboratory joined.2012 A large injection of funding was gained from the Bill and Melinda GatesFoundation.1910 Rural Education ConferenceThis body, in liaison with the Agricultural Education Association and the RoyalAgricultural Society of England, considered agricultural education in rural areasthrough the work of the Board of Agricultural and the Board of Education.Henry Hobhouse reported on the matter in 1911.1911 Home Office Experimental Station, CumberlandThe government station for research into health and safety was originallyestablished for the coal industry, mining then killing some 1,000 men per annum.Sadly, the most dangerous industry today is agriculture and its related sectors.1944 The station moved to the current Buxton, Derbyshire site.1974 It became Health and Safety Executive Research and LaboratoryServices.1995 Became the Health and Safety Laboratory.1911 Llysfasi Farm Institute, Ruthin, DenbighshireOriginally called Llysfasi Manor Farm School, the institute was established byCharles Sanders on land purchased from the Myddleton family on the break up ofthe Ruthin Castle estate. Financial difficulties soon forced sale to Mr R Brown, aBirkenhead cotton broker.62

1919 The establishment was sold to Denbighshire County Council.1967 Re-named Llysfasi College of Agriculture.2010 The college merged with Deeside College.1912 British Association for the Advancement of ScienceThis body was founded in 1831 on the German model (Gesellschaft DeutscherNaturforscher und Ärzte - the Society of German Researchers and Physicians,founded in 1822), by Rev. William Vernon Harcourt* (1789-1871) largely due todisillusionment with the elitism and innate conservatism of The Royal Society. Itis now known as the British Science Association. Agriculture was not recognisedas a distinct section until 1912, under Sir Thomas Middleton (1863-1943), butthere had been earlier links with agricultural research through the establishedsections on geology, zoology and botany with von Liebig’s Organic Chemistry inits Application to Agriculture and Physiology (see 1840) being dedicated to theAssociation.* Not to be confused with his prominent liberal politician son of the same name(1827-1904).1912 County Antrim Agricultural School, Greenmount, Northern IrelandThe Manor and college site was purchased from the Thompson family in 1910 bythe Co. Antrim Committee of Agriculture. It included an important walledgarden still used by horticultural students today. The School was formed underthe management of the Department of Agricultural and Technical Instruction andlater became Greenmount Agricultural College.2004 Greenmount merged with Loughry and Enniskillen AgriculturalColleges to form the College of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Enterprise(CAFRE).1912 University of BristolThe National Institute of Fruit and Cider became the Department of Agriculturaland Horticultural Research, University of Bristol, re-named the Long AshtonResearch Station, with further land provided by Lady Emily Smyth, the originalbenefactor of the Institute (see 1903).1917 The Ministry of Munitions afforded grants for year-long fruit growingcourses for disabled servicemen.1918 The Chipping Campden Station for Fruit and Vegetable Preservation,Gloucestershire was established.1931 The institute was brought under the ARC umbrella.1948 The School of Veterinary Science opened, with first students accepted in1949.1952 Long Ashton was absorbed into the ARC Unit of Plant Nutrition.63

The veterinary field station laboratories at Langford House wereacquired.1978 Campden BRI, an independent research organisation for the food anddrink industry was formed from the merger of the Campden andChorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) and the BrewingIndustry Research Foundation, absorbing the Chipping CampdenStation.Staff were absorbed on the cessation of the ARC Unit of Plant GrowthSubstances and Systemic Fungicides, Wye College.1986 Long Ashton became part of the Institute of Arable Crops Research,along with Rothamsted, with some operations merging into the Instituteof Food Research, Colney, Norwich.2003 The Long Ashton site was closed by the BBSRC.2005 LESARS, the Lady Emily Smyth Agricultural Research Station, wasestablished with funds from the sale of Lady Emily’s originalendowment land.1913 The Board of Agriculture and the Development Commission assigned funds toinstitutions in accordance with specific research areas :Imperial College, LondonKewJohn Innes InstituteWyeLong Ashton InstituteRothamstedRoyal Veterinary CollegeReading UniversityManchester UniversityBirmingham UniversityCambridge UniversityLeeds UniversityOxford Universityplant physiologyplant pathologyplant breedingfruit productionfruit productionplant nutrition and soilsanimal pathologydairyingagricultural zoologyagricultural zoologyanimal nutritionanimal nutritionagricultural economics1913 East Malling Fruit Research Station, KentThis research station was originally run by Wye College and absorbed, amongother things, Wye’s hop research programme.1921 Kent Incorporated Society for Promoting Experiments in Horticulturetook over the management.1931 East Malling was brought under the ARC umbrella.1938 The 360 acre Bradbourne House estate was added to the research station.1969 The Ditton Laboratory was taken under the management of EastMalling.64

1982 The National Hop Association took on the co-ordination of hop research.1986 Some operations moved to the Institute of Food Research, Colney,Norwich.1990 The organisation was merged into Horticultural Research International.1992 Ditton Lab. operations ceased with the development of the HorticulturalResearch International (HRI) facilities.2010 East Malling activities were taken over by the East Malling Trust. Hopresearch is now managed through the National Hop Association underprivate sponsorship of the growers and brewers.1913 Monmouthshire Institute of Agriculture (and Horticulture), UskAlso known as Usk College of Agriculture, this is now part of Coleg Gwent.1913 Madryn Castle Farm School, Pwllheli, Caernarvonshire1952 The School closed and moved to Plas Glynllifon, becoming GlynllifonAgricultural Institute.1954 Re-named Glynllifon Agricultural College later Coleg Glynllifon.1993 The institution merged with Coleg Meironnydd to form Coleg Meiron-Dwyfor, retaining the Glynllifon campus.2010 Coleg Meiron-Dwyfor merged with Coleg Llandrillo Cymru.1913 Institute for Animal Nutrition, AberdeenThe Institute was established under John Boyd Orr (1880-1971) in MarischalCollege, Aberdeen and governed jointly by the University of Aberdeen and theNorth of Scotland Agricultural College. Boyd Orr (later Baron Boyd Orr ofBrechin Mearn) went on to become a founder member of the UN Food andAgriculture Organisation in 1942 and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1949.1920 Became the Rowett Institute of Animal Nutrition.1925 The Duthie Experimental Farm was acquired and named after cattlebreeder John Duthie Webster.1931 The Rowett Institute was brought under the ARC umbrella.2008 The institute merged into the University of Aberdeen and is currently theRowett Institute for Animal Nutrition and Health, part of the AberdeenResearch Consortium which also includes the University of Aberdeen,the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the Marine Laboratory andthe Scottish Agricultural College.65

1914 Department for Scientific and Industrial ResearchThis Department was established in the war in preparation for progress whenpeace was restored.1914 Cheshunt Experimental Horticultural Station, Turners Hill, HertfordshireThis station was established for horticultural research as the Nursery and MarketGarden Industries Development Society. It is also referred to as the Lea ValleyStation.1931 It was brought under the ARC umbrella.1954 Some facilities moved to Littlehampton.1989 The station closed.1914 Food Science LaboratoryThe laboratory was originally based in Great Westminster House, London,largely to check the specifications (e.g. protein content) and quality (againstdeterioration) of food stockpiled against the risks inherent in war time.1960sPart of the operations moved to Norwich, although the London HQ wasmaintained.1977 The London offices moved to premises in Romsey Road which wereshared, incidentally, with Horseferry Road magistrates.1990 The lab. moved to the Colney Lane site in Norwich and expanded linkswith neighbouring institutes (the Institute of Food Research, the BritishSugar Technical Centre, the John Innes Research Centre and theUniversity of East Anglia) as part of the formation of the NorwichResearch Park.1999 Became part of the Central Science Laboratory, moving to Sand Hutton.1914 Institute for Plant Pathology, Kew1918 The Plant Pathology Laboratory was formed, taking over the Institute’swork.1920 Moved to Harpenden.1971 Brought within the Agricultural Science Services under ADAS.1979 Re-named Harpenden Laboratory.1988 Merged with the Pest Infestation Control Laboratory and launched as theCentral Science Laboratory.1996 Harpenden function moved to Sand Hutton, York.66

1915 Agricultural Education for WomenA Conference was held by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, with publishedproceedings.1915 Women’s InstituteThe WI was set up under the Board of Agriculture (following the Canadianmodel established in 1896). Original objectives, promoted by the formidable firstnational president, Lady Gertrude ‘Trudie’ Denman (1884-1954), includededucation in matters relating to rural life, crafts, homemaking and agriculture, andthese aims are still in the constitution today. The 1st and 2nd World Warsparticularly prompted the remit in food production and preservation.The jam element of the ‘jam and Jerusalem’ tag was not the result of a cosydomestic scene but of a highly organised operation of some 2,600 fruit preservingcentres set up in many villages from 1939 to ensure optimum use of locallygrown produce and fair utilisation and distribution of rationed sugar and theresulting jam in WWII. The ‘jam factories’ were set up by the Produce Guild andsupported with demonstrators, some of whom received their training in soft fruitpreservation at Long Ashton (see 1903).1917 Cold Storage Research BoardThis Board was established for research into the preserving of food by coldstorage and other means.1918 Re-named the Food Investigation Board.1922 Merged into the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge, set upby the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. This stationdealt largely with meat, eggs and poultry with further work on meatcarried out at the Smithfield Laboratory.1917 Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge, SurreyA predecessor to the CVL can be traced to a facility in 1864 set up to investigatean outbreak of cattle plague (rinderpest) but it was formally established in 1917.1922 Veterinary Centres were established, attached to agricultural colleges.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1990 The CVL was launched as an executive agency of MAFF.1995 The CVL and the Veterinary Centres merged to form the VeterinaryLaboratories Agency.2011 The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency was formedafter the merger of Animal Health and the Veterinary LaboratoriesAgency.67

1917 Official Seed Testing Station (OSTS)The war prompted the need for increased production, leading to a requirement fortesting seed for purity and germination1921 The OSTS moved to the National Institute for Agricultural Botany(NIAB), Cambridge becoming one of the branches of the Institute.1918 Fisheries Experimental Station, Conway, North WalesThe Conway station was originally established for research into the cultivation ofmussels and other bivalves.2001 The unit closed and the work was transferred to Weymouth and theCentre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).1918 Chipping Campden Station for Fruit and Vegetable Preservation,Gloucestershire1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1978 Campden BRI, an independent research organisation for the food anddrink industry was formed from the merger of the Campden andChorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) and the BrewingIndustry Research Foundation.1919 Kent Farm Institute, KentSometimes called the Borden Farm Institute or Sittingbourne Farm Institute, itwas established with the purchase of Grove End Farm, Tunstall.1929 Nearby Borden Grammar School was occupied by the Farm Institute.1958 The farm merged with Swanley Horticultural Institute to form the KentFarm and Horticulture Institute.1960 Property was purchased at Hadlow to bring the two institutes closertogether.1966 The agricultural arm moved to Hadlow.1967 The horticultural arm moved to Hadlow, and the combined institute wasre-named the Hadlow College of Agriculture and Horticulture, nowHadlow College.1919 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries1919 National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB), CambridgeNIAB was founded through the initiative of Sir Lawrence Weaver (1876-1930),the Commercial Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, with theobjective of promoting the improvement of existing varieties of seeds, plants andcrops and aiding the introduction or distribution of new varieties.68

1920 The Potato Testing Station was established at Ormskirk. This closed in1939 with the potato testing function moving to Harpenden.1921 The Official Seed Testing Station moved to NIAB.A significant boost in funding came from the Corn Production Actsrepeal monies (see 1921).1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1942 The Seed Production Council was established.2009 The Arable Group (TAG) integrated with NIAB to form the NIABGroup.1919 Olympia Agricultural Research Co., Offchurch, WarwickshireThis was an independent company established to provide agricultural advice and‘conduct scientific agricultural research for the benefit not only of the Companybut of British agriculture in general.’ Sadly, the very promising operationsceased when the founder, Lord Manton (1873-1922), was killed in the huntingfield. The MD, Charles Crowther (1876-1964), subsequently took theprincipalship of Harper Adams.1919 Seale-Hayne Agricultural and Technical College, Newton Abbot, DevonThe College was established following a £100,000 bequest from the Rt HonCharles Seale-Hayne (1833-1903), a local land owner, barrister and Liberal MP,to be invested in establishing a ‘college for agricultural and technical education inthe immediate neighbourhood of Newton Abbott.’1978 The name was changed to Seale-Hayne College.1989 It joined with Plymouth Polytechnic, and incorporated into PolytechnicSouth-West.1992 Seale-Hayne became the Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Land-Use atthe new University of Plymouth.2005 The University of Plymouth closed the college.69

1920s Higher Education - the definition and split between higher and furthereducation has been somewhat fluid, particularly in the early twentieth century,but in the mid 1920s the Ministry of Agriculture listed the following bodies asproviding higher education in agriculture and veterinary science in England andWales :University College Wales - Aberystwyth and BangorUniversity of Cambridge, Department of AgricultureUniversity of Leeds, Department of AgricultureUniversity of Reading, Department of AgricultureRoyal Agricultural CollegeHarper Adams Agricultural College - National Poultry InstituteSeale-Hayne Agricultural CollegeSwanley and Studley Horticultural CollegesSouth-east Agricultural College, WyeUniversity of Liverpool, Veterinary DepartmentRoyal Veterinary College, London1920s1920sFarm Institutes - this Ministry of Agriculture list from the late 1920s showsthose institutions offering national diplomas in agriculture, dairying orhorticulture at that time :Reaseheath, Cheshire (see 1890)Newton Rigg, Cumberland and Westmorland (see 1896)Chadacre, Essex (see 1920)Sparsholt, Hampshire (see 1899)Oaklands, Hertfordshire (see 1921)Moulton, Northamptonshire (see 1921)Borden, Kent (see 1919)Hutton, Lancashire (see 1892)Kirton, Lincolnshire (see c1925)Cannington, Somerset (see 1921)Pibwlrwyd, Carmarthen (see 1926)Madryn Castle, Caernarvon (see 1913)Llysfasi, Denbighshire (see 1919)Usk, Monmouthshire (see 1913)Northern Poultry Breeding Station, CheshireThis research station was set up at Reaseheath, near Nantwich.1931 The station was brought under the ARC umbrella.1920sNorthop CollegeThe Padeswood Hall Horticultural Centre was opened by the University ofNorth Wales on a 50 acre site in the 1920s.1945 The venture moved to a 146 acre site at Celyn Farm, becoming theFlintshire Horticultural Institute.1972 Re-named the Welsh College of Horticulture.70

2009 Merged with Deeside College, along with Llysfasi (see 1911).1920 Animal Diseases Research Association, EdinburghThis Association, now known as the Moredun Research Institute, based atPenicuik, Midlothian, sponsored research at the veterinary schools in Edinburghand Glasgow.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1920 Imperial Bureau of Mycology, Kew1930 Became part of the Imperial Agricultural Bureaux.1920 Chadacre Agricultural Institute, Hartest, Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkChadacre was founded by Edward Guinness, First Earl of Iveagh and ViscountElvedon (1847-1927) with the objective of providing ‘free agricultural educationfor the sons of farm labourers, small-holders and small farmers together with thesons of those engaged in trades ancillary to agriculture in Suffolk andneighbouring counties’.1989 The Institute closed, with the educational objectives continued by theChadacre Agricultural Trust awarding grants to students of agricultureand allied subjects.1921 Corn Production Acts (Repeal) ActThe Corn Production Acts of 1917 and 1918 had guaranteed minimum prices forgrain under wartime conditions. This became untenable and was repealed. Inaddition to compensation paid to farmers per acre of wheat and oats, £1 millionwas assigned to agricultural education and research, key recipients being theNational Institute for Agricultural Botany at Cambridge (see 1919) and theNational Institute for Research in Dairying at Reading (see 1893).1921 Hertfordshire Agricultural Institute, Oaklands, St Albans, HertfordshireRe-named Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture, also known asOaklands Farm Institute.1991 Hertfordshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture merged with DeHavilland College and St Albans City College to form OaklandsCollege.1921 Northamptonshire Institute of Agriculture, Moulton, NorthamptonshireThis institute was later called Northamptonshire Agricultural College and is nowMoulton College.WWII The college was a training centre for the Women’s Land Army.71

1921 Scottish Plant Breeding Station, Corstorphine, Edinburgh1926 Sugar beet research established at Cupar, Fife.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1953 The oat research stations at Inverness and Argyll were acquired.1954 Operations moved to Pentlandfield, near Edinburgh.1981 The Scottish Crop Research Centre was formed with the amalgamationof the Scottish Plant Breeding Station and the Scottish HorticulturalResearch Institute in Invergowrie, Dundee.1921 Somerset Farm Institute, Cannington Court, SomersetLater called Cannington College.1951 Merged into Brymore School, an independent boarding school for boysfrom 13 - 17 years old specialising in agriculture and horticulture.Other parts became the Cannington Centre for Land-Based Studies at BridgwaterCollege.1921 Staffordshire Farm Institute, RodbastonCurrently part of Staffordshire College.1967 Re-named Staffordshire College of Agriculture.1994 Re-named Rodbaston College.1921 Young Farmers’ ClubsThe first club was set up in Hemyock, Devon with United Dairies organisingcompetitions and instruction for the children of their milk suppliers. There was,however, considerable reference to the American 4-H clubs farm children drawnon by Lord Northcliffe (1865-1922). His involvement can be seen in many earlyreferences to ‘Daily Mail Young Farmers Clubs’.A key remit of the clubs was, and remains, the provision of education.1922 Management was assumed by the Ministry of Agriculture on the deathof Lord Northcliffe.1932 The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs was formed.1943 The Board of Education became involved with county organisersappointed and proficiency tests introduced.1922 Duchy College, CornwallDuchy College is set on the Stoke Climsland and Rosewarne campuses (the latterwas formerly an experimental farm site).72

Currently part of Cornwall College.1923 Botley Fruit and Horticultural Research Station, Botley, HampshireThis Station closed in 1952.1923 Institute of Parasitology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineThe Institute was established in the School which had been set up in 1899 underSir Patrick Manson (1844-1922). It is now part of the University of London.1931 Came under the ARC umbrella.1924 Kirton Experimental Horticulture Station, near Boston, LincolnshireKirton operated as one with Terrington, Norfolk, comprising 42 ha of Grade 1land.1990 This was one of several sites and institutions which merged to formHorticulture Research International (HRI).2009 The horticultural research site closed and the function was moved toWarwick.1924 National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, University of OxfordThe Farm Engineering Research and Testing Unit set up to carry out testing forthe Ministry of Agriculture.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1932 Re-named the Institute for Research in Agricultural Engineering.1942 Moved to temporary quarters at Askham Bryan, Yorkshire. Re-namedthe National Institute of Agricultural Engineering (NIAE).1947 Moved to Wrest Park, Bedfordshire.1949 The Institute was transferred to the Agricultural Research Council.1957 The ARC Farm Buildings Unit was established under the direction of WH Cashmore. The Unit ceased in 1966 and was absorbed as adepartment of the National Institute.1986 The Institute became the Agriculture and Food Research CouncilInstitute of Engineering Research (AFRC IER).1991 Re-named Silsoe Research Institute.1994 Became one of institutes funded by the Biotechnology and BiologicalSciences Research Council (BBSRC).2006 Funding and operations ceased.73

1924 National Poultry InstituteThe Institute was established to fund and organise poultry research with a start of£50,000 from the government with a further £6,000 or so from the NationalPoultry Council. Research was carried out at Harper Adams Agricultural College(poultry husbandry), at the Institute for Animal Nutrition, Cambridge (nutrition),at Reaseheath College, Cheshire (breeding and egg production), at Wye (tableproduction), University of Cambridge (genetics) with further research at thegovernment’s Central Veterinary Laboratory at Weybridge.1924 Pirbright Experimental Station, SurreyThe Experimental Station developed from a cow tuberculosis testing centre whichhad been established in 1913.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1939 Became a research institute.1963 Became Animal Virus Research Institute1987 Joined with Compton and Houghton to become the Institute for AnimalHealth.1924 Research Association of British Flour Millers, Cereals Research Station, StAlbans, HertfordshireThis was sometimes referred to as the Cereals Research Institute. After variousmergers, the research function of what is now the National Association of Britishand Irish Millers (NABIM) is within Campden CRI.c1925Kirton Farm Institute, Lincolnshire1980 Merged into the Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture(see 1949).1925 Ronald Fisher (1890-1962) published the first of his several seminal works,Statistical Methods for Research Workers, whilst at Rothamsted, where he wasbased from 1919-1933, before moving to University College, London and later,Cambridge.1926 National Institute of Poultry Husbandry (NIPH)Founded at Harper Adams Agricultural College, Shropshire.1926 University of London Animal Welfare Society (ULAWS)The aims of this body continue to be to lessen the suffering and fear of animalsby education, research and the promotion of appropriate legislation.1938 Re-named the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)1987 Close links made with the Humane Slaughter Association.74

1926 Pibwrlwyd Farm Institute, Pibwrlwyd, Carmarthenshire.Now part of Coleg Sir Gar and home to a 101 ha college farm.1927 Dartington Hall Laboratory, Totnes, DevonFounded in liaison with University College, Exeter, the Laboratory carried outsoil survey work and animal feed research.1946 Closed, with the soil function transferring to Rothamsted.1927 Agricultural Research Institute of Northern IrelandThe Institute acquired the experimental farm of Large Park, Hillsborough whichis now one of the Environmental Change Network stations, comprising around360 ha half forest, half grassland.2006 Merged with the Science Service of the Department of Agricultural andRural Development (DARD) into the Agri-Food and BiosciencesInstitute.1928 Report of the Denman Committee on the Practical Education of Women forRural Life.A report of a joint committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and theBoard of Education, chaired by Lady Denman (1884-1954) in her capacity asPresident of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes, then answering to theMinister of Agriculture (see 1915).1928 ICI Agricultural Research Station, Jealott’s Hill, Bracknell, BerkshireNow run by Syngenta (1999).1936 Opened the Hawthorndale Laboratories.1928 Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton, HampshireThis independent boarding school started with a bequest from Sydney JamesStern, 1st Baron Wandsworth (1845-1912) as a school for farm boys who had lostone or both parents, with a few academic lessons. It was listed as a Farm Instituteon the formation of the ARC in 1931. In 1939 no less a person than Sir DanielHall (see 1903) became headmaster, although he was nearing the end of hiscareer and life, dying in office in 1942.The balance of farming against school work slowly shifted until by the 1950s itwas a fairly typical independent school, with an unusually high proportion offree/assisted places, albeit one surrounded by farmland which still provides asmall profit to the school's accounts and a rural edge to extra-curricular activities,such as bee-keeping. When the author’s husband attended in the 1970s there wasstill an active Young Farmers’ Club for the pupils with the farm providingproduce for the school kitchens, and a high proportion of pupils fromfarming/equestrian backgrounds.75

1928 Hannah Dairy Research Institute, Kirkhill, AyrKirkhill Farm was donated by John Hannah (the bulk of his Auchincruive estategoing to the West of Scotland Agricultural College).1931 The institute was brought under the ARC umbrella.1951 New laboratories were added.2006 The Institute closed, monies from the dispersal of assets being directedto the Hannah Research Trust (in progress, Summer 2012).1928 Ditton LaboratoryThis was set up near to the East Malling Research Station by the EmpireMarketing Board as a part of Cambridge University's Low Temperature ResearchStation. It dealt with fruit and vegetables, particularly the international shippingthereof, with further fruit and vegetable work carried out at the Covent GardenLaboratory.1969 The Ditton Lab. was incorporated into East Malling (see 1913) as thefruit storage section.1929 Torry Research Station, AberdeenTorry worked with the Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge and dealtwith the preservation of fish.1952 The Humber Laboratory was established in Hull.1965 Responsibility moved from the Department of Scientific and IndustrialResearch to the Ministry of Technology.1990 Responsibility moved to MAFF and the Norwich Food ScienceLaboratory.2009 Now the Marine Laboratory of Marine Scotland which was formed froma merger the Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish FisheriesProtection Agency. The Marine Laboratory is part of the AberdeenResearch Consortium which also includes the University of Aberdeen,The Rowett Research Institute, the Macaulay Land Use ResearchInstitute and the Scottish Rural University College.1930 Soils Correlation CommitteeA joint committee of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Board ofAgriculture for Scotland formed to ensure consistency in methods and naming ofsoil series and of classification.1930 Imperial Agricultural BureauxThis commonwealth body was an international service for agriculturalinformation, pest identification and biological control. Its origin can be traced by76

to the Entomological Research Committee, later the Imperial Bureau ofEntomology.1930 The Imperial Bureau of Mycology transferred to the ImperialAgricultural Bureaux and was re-named the Imperial MycologicalInstitute (IMI).1938 The Bureaux of Dairy Science and Forestry merged with the ImperialAgricultural Bureaux.1947 The Imperial Agricultural Bureaux was re-named as the CommonwealthAgricultural Bureaux.1948 The Imperial Mycological Institute became the CommonwealthMycological Institute.1966 Bureau of Agricultural Economics became part of the CommonwealthAgricultural Bureaux.1978 Training courses on Information in Agriculture started for scientists andlibrarians.1986 The Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux became the CAB (Centre forAgricultural Bioscience) International.1986 The Commonwealth Mycological Institute was re-named as theInternational Mycological Institute.1998 The Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux was assimilated by the Centrefor Agricultural Bioscience International (CAB International).1930 Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, AberdeenThis organisation was founded with funds from Canadian actuary Thomas BassettMacaulay (1860-1942), which also provided the Macaulay Experimental PeatFarm on the Isle of Lewis, his ancestral home.1931 Brought under the ARC umbrella.1987 The Institute merged with the Hill Farming Research Organisation andbecame the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute.2006 Operations at Sourhope, near Kelso ceased.2011 Merged with the Scottish Crop Research Centre to form the JamesHutton Institute. Now part of the Aberdeen Research Consortium whichincludes the University of Aberdeen, The Rowett Research Institute, theMarine Laboratory and the Scottish Rural University College.1930 Strawberry Disease Investigation Unit, Auchincruive, Ayrshire1951 Absorbed into the newly formed Scottish Horticultural ResearchInstitute.77

c1930Agricultural Entomology Institute, University of Manchester1934 Operations transferred to Rothamsted.1931 Agricultural Research Council (ARC)The ARC was formed to co-ordinate, supervise and manage the funding foragricultural research under the first chairmanship of Lord Richard Cavendish(1871-1946) of Holker Hall, Cumbria. The first secretary was Sir WilliamDampier (see 1896, University of Cambridge under 1919).Six standing committees were established : Animal Diseases, Animal Nutritionand Breeding, Dairying and Animal Products, Plants, Soils, and AgriculturalEconomics.1941 The idea of ARC Units (as opposed to the larger Institutes) wasestablished.1949 The scope was widened and the name changed to the Council forAgricultural Research and Nature Conservation.1959 Responsibility for the Pest Infestation Laboratory, the Low TemperatureResearch Station and the Ditton Laboratory was taken over from theDepartment of Scientific and Industrial Research.1981 Name changed to Agricultural Food and Research Council (AFRC).1994 The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)was formed from the ARC and the Science and Engineering ResearchCouncil (SERC).1932 Waterperry Horticultural SchoolA residential horticultural school for women, under Beatrix Havergal (1901-1980), was opened at Waterperry House, which had been acquired from privateownership by Magdalen College, Oxford in 1925.1971 The school closed on Miss Havergal’s retirement. The premises remainas a visitor garden and nursery.1932 British Boys for British FarmsThe YMCA started a programme of agricultural training for boys and young men,primarily with a view to them emigrating.1934 Farmers’ Weekly established.1936 Oxford Farming ConferenceThis annual event continues as an important debating forum for all strata of thefarming world, from ministers and senior officials to working farmers andstudents. It has the remit to educate and encourage debate and sponsors anannual research project. In addition to the main conference it holds debates at the78

Cereals event (see 1979) and runs the Practice with Science Awards with theRoyal Agricultural Society of England.1937 Compton Laboratory, BerkshireSet up by the Agricultural Research Council.1942 Gained research institute status.1963 Became the Institute for Research on Animal Diseases.1987 Merged with Pirbright and Houghton to become the Institute for AnimalHealth.2013 The Compton site was scheduled for closure.1937 Plant Protection Limited, Fernhurst, SussexThe company was owned 50:50 between ICI and Cooper McDougall &Robertson Limited.1945 ICI Plant Protection Ltd bought the Fernhurst estate and Plant ProtectionLimited as a technical research centre and for demonstrating commercialhorticulture. The Fernhurst Station became a national centre of fruitgrowing expertise.1959 The estate included the Grade II listed Verdley Place which was the ICIAgrochemicals HQ from 1959 to 1975.1994 ICI de-merged its three core divisions : agrochemicals, pharmaceuticalsand specialities. ICI Agrochemicals became Zeneca Agrochemicals.1999 Zeneca Agrochemicals merged with the Swedish Astra AB agrochemicalcompany to form AstraZeneca.2000 Novartis (the product of the 1996 merger between Sandoz, founded1886, and CIBA, founded 1856 and merging in 1970 with Geigy,founded in 1758 - all in Switzerland) merged with AstraZeneca to formSyngenta.2001 The Fernhurst site and Verdley Place were vacated.1938 Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture, HoughallThis institution has various been known as Houghall College and the DurhamSchool of Agriculture, Houghall and is now part of East Durham College.1999 Incorporated into East Durham and Houghall Community College.1938 Institution of British Agricultural EngineeringEstablished under the first presidency of Lt Col. Philip Johnson, this is theprofessional body for engineers in agricultural and allied industries such asforestry.79

1949 Name changed to the current Institution of Agricultural Engineering.1939 Lasswade Poultry Laboratory, MidlothianSet up under MAFF.1990 Came under the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (see 1917).1939 War Agricultural Executive CommitteeThis Committee took over the educational role of the County Councils.1940sCattle Breeding and Production Division, Milk Marketing BoardOriginally based at Giggs Hill Green, Thames Ditton, Surrey.1942 The first AI stations were brought in operation.1943 National Milk Records was established, which took over the work of theregional Milk Recording Societies which had been set up in the early20th century.1990 Moved to Crewe, Cheshire1994 Taken over by Genus plc on the cessation of the MMB, now operating asGenus ABS.c1940Brinsbury Agricultural College, West SussexThe college was initially a training centre for the Women’s Land Army in thewar.1952 The premises were acquired by West Sussex County Council and a farminstitute was established.1966 It was re-named as the West Sussex School of Agriculture.1998 The name was changed to Brinsbury College.2002 Absorbed into Chichester College of FE.1940 Pest Infestation Laboratory, SloughSet up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.1959 Responsibility passed to the ARC.1970 Responsibility passed to MAFF.1971 Amalgamated with the Infestation Control Laboratory (Tolworth andWorplesdon) and re-named the Pest Infestation Control Laboratory.Responsibility passed to ADAS.80

1988 Merged with the Harpenden Laboratory to become part of the CentralScience Laboratory. Currently under the Food and EnvironmentResearch Agency.1940 Infestation Control Laboratory, Tolworth, LondonSet up by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research.1958 Worplesdon, Surrey field station added.1971 Amalgamated with the Pest Infestation Control Laboratory, Slough andre-named the Pest Infestation Control Laboratory.1940sBee Research Unit, Rothamsted and Trawsgoed1950sOperated under the National Agricultural Advisory Service.1979 Both sites amalgamated into ADAS National Bee Unit at the LuddingtonExperimental Horticulture Station, just outside Stratford-upon-Avon.1989 The Luddington site closed.1991 Management transferred to the Central Science Laboratory, SandHutton, York.2009 Now under the Food and Environment Research Agency.1941 Agricultural Improvement CouncilCreated by MAF to link agricultural research and practice. Its major role was tooversee the National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS, est. 1946) and itsnetwork of Experimental Husbandry Farms and Experimental HorticultureStations. It also provided some advisory oversight for agricultural research(which was mainly managed by the Agricultural Research Council).1962 Wound up and replaced by the Agricultural Advisory Council and theHorticultural Advisory Council.1942 ARC Unit of Insect Physiology, London School of Hygiene and TropicalMedicineThe Unit was established in support of the work of Dr Vincent Wigglesworth(1899-1994), a Reader in Entomology1944 The Unit moved to Cambridge, with Dr Wigglesworth taking a chair inthe Department of Zoology.1967 The Unit was disbanded.1943 Frank Parkinson Agricultural TrustThe trust was established by Frank Parkinson (1887-1946), an electrical engineerfrom Leeds. He also provided extensively for Leeds University and for the81

elderly of Guiseley. The remit of the Agricultural Trust is wide ranging, withinthe general premise of the improvement of British agriculture, and recipientsmight be individuals wanting study or support bursaries, applicants for researchmonies, through to institutions wanting to develop facilities.1943 Educational ReconstructionThe White Paper, under Rab Butler (1902-1982) which led to the considerablereforms of the Education Act 1944. There was express consideration ofagriculture as a discipline within further education.1943 Report on Post-War Agricultural EducationChaired by Sir Arthur Luxmoore (1876-1944), this cemented the three tier systemof agricultural education : universities, colleges (such as the Royal AgriculturalCollege and Harper Adams), and farm institutes.1943 Agricultural Research in Great BritainReport of the Committee of the Privy Council for the Organisation andDevelopment of Agricultural Research.1943 Raspberry Disease Investigation Unit, Dundee1951 Absorbed into the newly formed Scottish Horticultural ResearchInstitute.1943 Yorkshire Agricultural AdventurersThis society (original the West Riding of Yorkshire Agricultural Adventurers)supports knowledge transfer and networking and sponsors a bursary of £1,000 peryear for a student from Askham Bryan, Bishop Burton or a member of YoungFarmers.1944 Education ActThe ‘Butler Act’ separated the functions of agricultural advice and educationleading to the expansion of ‘county colleges’ and the development of the NationalAgricultural Advisory Service (NAAS).1944 Processors and Growers Research Organisation, Thornhaugh,CambridgeshireEstablished to promote applied research into legumes and other field vegetables.1945 Surrey Farm Institute, Merrist Wood, Worplesdon1967 Re-named Merrist Wood Agricultural College.2003 Became part of Guildford College.82

1945 University College, CardiffThe ARC Unit of Soil Metabolism moved from Rothamsted. It was dis-bandedin 1947.1946 National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS)The farm advisory service was established under government Ministry, takingdirect advice away from academic institutions.1971 The organisation was re-badged as the Agricultural Development andAdvisory Service (ADAS).1997 ADAS was privatised and continues as an advisory service togovernment and the industry.2012 Farm Advisory Service launched.1946 Butterwick Research Laboratories, Welwyn, HertfordshireICI took tenancy of The Frythe estate.1963 The site was sold to Unilever.1977 The site was sold to Smith, Kline and French, now Glaxo Smith Kline.1946 Loveday Committee report on Higher Agricultural Education in England andWalesDr Thomas Loveday’s report clearly set the colleges of Harper Adams, the RoyalAgricultural College and Seale Hayne as the providers of two year diplomacourses with no overlap with the one year courses offered by the farm institutesor the degrees offered by the universities.1946 ADAS Laboratory, Shardlow Hall, Derbyshire1986 Closed.1946 Shuttleworth Agricultural CollegeThe college was founded as part of the Richard Ormonde ShuttleworthRemembrance Trust founded by Richard Shuttleworth’s mother after his death inthe RAF in 1940. It was based at Old Warden Park, near Biggleswade,Bedfordshire.1988 Engineering activities were absorbed into Cranfield Rural Institute ofCranfield Institute of Technology.1996 Shuttleworth activities transferred to Silsoe College.1997 The agricultural college was re-established in partnership with WrittleCollege.83

2009 The college ceased its partnership with Writtle to become part ofBedford College.1946 Worshipful Company of FarmersFirst formed as the Worshipful Company of Agriculturalists, one of the aimsbeing to ‘stimulate the development of agricultural education’.1952 Granted Livery approval.1955 Gained Royal Charter as the Worshipful Company of Farmers.1946 Trawsgoed Experimental Husbandry Farm, Aberystwyth1995 The farm closed as a MAFF station.Currently one of the Aberystwyth University IBERS Experimental ResearchFarms, of around 385 ha.1946 Brooksby Hall Farm Institute, LeicestershireThe property was purchased from Earl Beatty, initially as a training centre for exservicemenunder the Leicestershire Agricultural Executive Committee. Theestate included an important garden dating to the Victorian era which is stillutilised in today’s horticultural activities.1950 The farm institute was established.1967 It was re-named Brooksby Hall Agricultural College.Now part of Brooksby Melton College.1946 Scottish Agricultural Machinery Testing Station, Howden, West LothianThe Scottish testing station of the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering,closed in 1961.1947 ARC Poultry Research Centre, EdinburghThe Centre transferred from Edinburgh to Roslin in 1975.1985 The Poultry Research Centre and Animal Breeding ResearchOrganisation combined with the Institute of Animal Physiology atBabraham to form the Institute of Animal Physiology and GeneticsResearch (IAPGR).1947 Balmacara House Agricultural School, Lochalsh, Ross-shireAn agricultural school for boys offering City and Guilds qualifications.1973 The school closed.84

1947 Bicton Farm Institute, East Budleigh, DevonshireAlso known as the Devon School of Agriculture, the college occupied the BictonEstate leased from Sir Charles and Lady Clinton.1967 Re-named Bicton Agricultural College.2002 Became part of Bicton College.1947 Brewing Industry Research Foundation, Chipping Campden,Gloucestershire2008 Merged with the Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association(CCFRA) to form Campden BRI.1947 British Soil Science SocietyFormed to advance the study of soil, to be open to membership from all thosewith an interest in the study and uses of soil and to issue an annual publication. Itnow issues two publications : the European Journal of Soil Science and Soil Useand Management.2010 Merged with the Institute of Professional Soil Scientists.1947 Nuffield Farming Scholarships TrustIn 1943 the motor manufacturer William Morris, Viscount Nuffield (1877-1963)established the Nuffield Foundation to support research and development whichextended to agriculture in 1947.1968 Became the UK Farming Scholarships Trust.1978 Became the Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust.2003 Incorporated as a body independent of the Nuffield Foundation.1947 Poultry Research Station, Houghton, CambridgeshireFounded by the Animal Health Trust, a charitable institution but soon part fundedby the ARC, who took complete control in 1970.1987 Joined with Compton and Pirbright to become the Institute for AnimalHealth.1992 Houghton closed.1948 Boxworth Experimental Husbandry Farm, Cambridgeshire.One of the MAFF experimental farms. Leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on itsprivatisation in 1997. 347 ha, comprising 12 ha permanent pasture, 9 hawoodland with the rest Grade 2 arable.85

1948 Bridget’s Experimental Husbandry Farm, Martyr Worthy, WinchesterOne of the MAF farms - 422 ha. Leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on itsprivatisation in 1997. Largely arable with a small area of woodland.2009 Closed.1948 Derbyshire Farm Institute / Broomfield Agricultural CollegeBroomfield Hall and grounds were acquired for the establishment of a farminstitute from Charles Schwind. The name was later changed to BroomfieldAgricultural College.2002 It merged with Mackworth Tertiary College and Wilmorton TertiaryCollege to form Derby College with the Broomfield campus retained.1948 Gloucestershire Farm Institute, Hartpury, GloucestershireHartpury House and Home Farm with around 130ha was acquired byGloucestershire County Council on the death of the estate’s heiress, FrancesGordon-Canning in 1947. It is now known as Hartpury College.1965 The 42ha Langton’s Farm was acquired.1948 High Mowthorpe Experimental Husbandry Farm, YorkshireOne of the MAFF experimental farms. Leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on itsprivatisation in 1997. 437 ha, largely Grade 3 arable and grazing land.1948 Kesteven Farm Institute, Caythorpe Court, LincolnshireCaythorpe Court and estate was purchased by Lincolnshire County Council fromthe Yerburgh family.1980 Amalgamated with Lindsey College of Agriculture (Riseholme), theKirton (Holland) site and Holbeach Agricultural Centre to form theLincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture.1994 Absorbed into De Montfort University as its School of Agriculture.2001 Lincolnshire School of Agriculture moved from De Montfort to theUniversity of Lincoln.2002 Caythorpe campus closed with activities relocated to the RiseholmeCollege campus.1948 Lawmuir Agricultural School, East KilbrideA boys’ secondary school. In c1970 it closed as an agricultural institution andbecame an approved school.86

1948 Warwickshire Institute of Agriculture, Moreton MorrellThe college occupies the estate including the Grade II listed Moreton Hall. It iscurrently the Moreton Morrell Centre of Warwickshire College.c1965The farm institute was re-named Kesteven Agricultural College.1948 Yorkshire Institute of Agriculture, YorkNow known as Askham Bryan College, holding 414 ha of farmland : Westfield(dairy and beef - where the National Beef Training Centre is based), EastBarlow (equine) and Headley Hall (arable). Headley Hall was formerly theUniversity of Leeds’ farm, and is still owned by the University.1967 Re-named Askham Bryan College of Agriculture and Horticulture.2011 Newton Rigg, Cumbria (see 1896) brought under mutual management.1949 National Vegetable Research Station, Wellesbourne, WarwickshireThe Station was established, was a sub-station at Paglesham under the firstdirectorship of Dr James Philp. It grew out of the Cambridge HorticulturalResearch Station which had been formed in 1923 (see 1896).1985 The National Vegetable Research Station merged with the GlasshouseCrops Research Institute, Littlehampton, the East Malling ResearchStation in Kent and the Hop Department of Wye College to create theInstitute of Horticultural Research (IHR).1990 IHR merged with three former experimental horticulture stations, Efford,Kirton and Stockbridge House, to form Horticulture ResearchInternational (HRI).1949 Brackenhurst College, NottinghamshireThe Hall and estate was acquired by Nottinghamshire County Council for theestablishment of Nottinghamshire Farm Institute on the death of William NortonHicking, a lace industry businessman who had built up a national reputation indairy cattle.1999 Brackenhurst became the land-based department of Nottingham TrentUniversity.1949 Dorset Farm Institute, Kingston Maurward, DorsetThe college was established on property sold to Dorset County Council in 1947by Lady Hanbury, who then retired to the Italian riviera. Kingston MaurwardHouse is a Grade I listed building. The name was later the named changed to theDorset College of Agriculture and is now Kingston Maurward College.87

1949 Gleadthorpe Poultry Experimental Farm, Mede Vale, NottinghamshireOne of the MAFF experimental husbandry farms, leased to ADAS ConsultingLtd on its privatisation in 1997. 200 ha, most of which is Grade 3 arable with asmall area of woodland.Now managed by ADAS as the Gleadthrope Poultry Research Centre, and is theHQ of ADAS Environment.1949 Great House Experimental Husbandry Farm, Helmshore, Rossendale,LancashireA 175 ha MAFF experimental husbandry farm, it closed in 1981.1949 Grasslands Research Institute, HurleyBriefly based at Drayton, Warwickshire, the Institute soon moved to the Hurleysite which was acquired by MAF; the Berkshire Farm Institute (now theBerkshire College of Agriculture) was on the same estate.1981 A further site was acquired in North Wyke, Devon.1992 Hurley staff relocated to North Wyke on the closure of Hurley.1949 Shropshire Farm Institute, WalfordEstablished through Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire LEAs.1979 Re-named Walford College of Agriculture.2001 Merged with North Shropshire College to form Walford and NorthShropshire College.1949 Norfolk School of Agriculture / College of Agriculture and Horticulture,EastonAlso known as Norfolk Farm Institute, later Norfolk College of Agriculture andHorticulture. The Easton College farm comprises 245 ha including cattle, sheep,pigs, poultry and arable. They also run a small Highland cattle herd.1974 Easton College was formed by the merger of the Norfolk College ofAgriculture and Norfolk College of Horticulture.2012 Merged with Otley College, Suffolk to form Easton and Otley College.1949 Rosemaund Experimental Husbandry Farm, HerefordshireOne of the MAF farms, latterly comprising 176 ha including 14 ha hops, 4 hacider orchard, 4.5 ha woodland and 11 ha permanent pasture with the rest beingGrade 2 and 3 arable and pasture. It employed the traditional migrant workers inthe hop operations, which was one of the primary areas of work in the early days.Records indicate that in 1960 over 1,000 men women and children came in fromBirmingham and South Wales for the hop season.88

1997 Leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on privatisation.2007 The land and buildings were largely sold off but some field trials plotswere retained by ADAS.1949 Riseholme Farm Institute, Riseholme, near LincolnThe Hall was purchased by Lincolnshire Education Committee from the WilsonFamily, who had acquired the property in 1870.1966 Re-named Lindsey College of Agriculture.1980 Merged with Kesteven Agricultural College and Holbeach AgriculturalCentre to form the Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture.1994 Became part of De Montfort University, Leicester.2001 Transferred to the University of Lincoln with the development of theRural Science Centre at the Riseholme site.2002 The Equine Unit opened with a successful Cleveland Bay breedingprogramme.2003 Caythorpe Campus closed.2012 Now part of Bishop Burton College (see 1954).1949 Berkshire Institute of Agriculture, near Maidenhead, BerkshireHall Place, Hall Place Farm and 484 acres was acquired by Berkshire CountyCouncil from the estate of the Clayton East family. A mixed farm and woodlandis operated. The Grasslands Research Institute shared the premises, operationsceasing at the Berkshire site in 1992.1968 The college was re-named Berkshire College of Agriculture and is nowknown simply as BCA.1949 National Institute of Agricultural EngineeringThe Institute was transferred to the Agricultural Research Council from theUniversity of Oxford. A Scottish testing station was established in Howden,West Lothian.1961 The Scottish testing station closed.1986 The Institute became the Agriculture and Food Research CouncilInstitute of Engineering Research (AFRC IER).1991 Re-named Silsoe Research Institute.1994 Became one of institutes funded by the Biotechnology and BiologicalSciences Research Council (BBSRC).2006 Funding and operations ceased.89

1950 The ArchersThe radio programme, which has run for over 60 years, was started in order todisseminate information to farmers and smallholders to help increase productivityafter the War, and later to introduce the general public to an understanding offarming and the countryside.It was originally planned around three farmers : Dan Archer, farming efficientlywith little cash, Walter Gabriel, farming inefficiently with little cash, and GeorgeFairbrother, a businessman farming at a loss for tax purposes (no longerpermissible).1950 National Association of Principal Agricultural Education Officers(NAPAEO)This body represented the land-based colleges, often at policy level, its role beingreplaced in 2006 by Landex.1950 Wiltshire Farm Institute / Lackham School of Agriculture1945 Lackham House and 600 acres was purchased from Major Herbert PatonHolt for use as a farm institute, but loaned for the training of exservicemen.1950 Wiltshire Farm Institute was founded under the county council.c1966Name changed to Lackham College of Agriculture.1993 Named changed to Lackham College.2000 Lackham, Trowbridge, and Chippenham Colleges merged to formWiltshire College.1951 National Diploma in Agricultural Engineering established.1951 Scottish Horticultural Research Institute, Invergowrie, DundeeThe Institute was formed, in part, out of the Strawberry Disease InvestigationUnit (established at Auchincruive, Ayrshire in 1930) and the Raspberry DiseaseInvestigation Unit (established in Dundee in 1943) under the directorship of DrThomas Swarbrick (1900-1965).1981 The Scottish Crop Research Institute was created by the amalgamationof the Scottish Plant Breeding Station, Edinburgh and the ScottishHorticultural Research Institute, Invergowrie.2011 It merged with the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to form theJames Hutton Institute.c1951Barony College, DumfriesThe college started as a farm institute on the Barony Estate.90

1974 Became a college of further education.2012 Merged into the Scottish Rural University College.1951 Kirkley Hall Farm Institute, near Ponteland, NorthumberlandThe Hall, farm and 260 acres was acquired from Mrs Williamson-Noble in 1948.1958 Broadlaw Farm was purchased and the college activities extended tobee-keeping.1968 The institute became the Northumberland College of Agriculture.1978 The tenancy of a hill farm at Carlcroft was taken.1989 Became Kirkley Hall College.1999 The college became part of Northumberland College.2000 The Uplands Learning Resource Centre was opened.1951 Huntingdon Life Sciences, Alconbury, Huntingdon, CambridgeshireOne of the largest Contract Research Organisations (a research organisation withspecific regulatory status) now with two UK sites, Huntingdon and Eye, Suffolk(along with four sites in the USA).1952 Golden Grove (Gelli Aur) Farm Institute, Llandeilo, CarmarthenshireThe name was later changed to Carmarthenshire Agricultural College. It is nowpart of Coleg Sir Gar and home to a 123 ha college farm.1952 ARC Plant Breeding InstituteThe Plant Breeding Institute becomes independent of the University ofCambridge, managed by the ARC.1955 Moved from the Cambridge University Farm to Trumpington.1987 The commercial activities were sold to Unilever as Plant BreedingInternational Cambridge (PBIC). The non-commercial activities mergedinto the Institute of Plant Science Research.1990 Institute of Plant Science Research moved to the John Innes site as partof the Cambridge Laboratory.1998 Unilever operations sold to Monsanto.2000 All operations at Trumpington ceased.1952 National Fruit Collection, Brogdale, KentThis important collection had its roots in work dating back to 1921 at the RoyalHorticultural Society gardens at Wisley, Surrey. After various management91

structures, originally through MAFF with Wye as the scientific partner, thecollection is now run by the Defra Farm Advisory Service in partnership with theUniversity of Reading.1952 Rosewarne Experimental Horticulture Station, Cambourne, CornwallOne of the ADAS research stations, the site is now part of Duchy College.1989 Closed.1952 Fison’s Pest Control Research Station, Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden,EssexThese operations have passed from Fisons to Boots, AgrEvo and others and arenow part of a commercial Research Park.1952 Brymore School of Rural Technology, Bridgwater, SomersetEstablished as a secondary technical school for boys by the Somerset EducationCommittee, the school is currently fee paying, taking boys from 13-17 years old.The school runs a 110 acre mixed farm and extensive gardens allowingagriculture and horticulture at GCSE, NVQ and BTEC levels.1952 Northern Ireland Horticultural Plant Breeding Station, Loughall2008 Now part of the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland.1953 Burnham-on-Crouch Laboratory, EssexThe first purpose built fisheries laboratory, working particularly on pollution.2008 The Lab. closed and operations moved to Lowestoft as part of the Centrefor Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).1953 Glasshouse Crops Research Institute, Littlehampton, West SussexThe Institute was established in Rustington following the closure of the CheshuntExperimental Station. The first director was Dr William F Bewley, who had beendirector at Cheshunt since 1921. It also absorbed the work of the MushroomResearch Station at Yaxley, near Peterborough.1956 Full ARC funding was gained.1985 The GCRI was merged with the National Vegetable Research Station atWellesbourne in Warwickshire, the East Malling Research Station inKent and the Hop Department of Wye College to create the Institute ofHorticultural Research (IHR).1990 The IHR merged with three former experimental horticulture stations,Efford, Kirton and Stockbridge House, to form Horticulture ResearchInternational (HRI).92

1995 The Littlehampton site closed and operations were transferred toWellesbourne.1953 Report of the Working Party on Agricultural Education. Chairman : LordCarrington (1919-).1954 Hill Farming Research Organisation, EdinburghThe HFRO took over the management of the experimental hill farms atGlensaugh, Kincardinshire (Grampian Region), Sourhope in the Cheviots (BorderRegion) and Lephinmore, Argyll (Strathclyde Region). It later acquired Houseo’Muir (Lothian Region) and Hartwood (Strathclyde Region) farms. Its firstdirector was A R Wannop.1987 It merged with the Macaulay Institute of Soil Research, Aberdeen toform the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute.2011 Merged with the Scottish Crop Research Centre to form the JamesHutton Institute.1954 Ellbridge Experimental Horticulture Sub-station, Saltash, DevonSet up under MAFF, and managed by the Rosewarne Experimental HorticultureStation; there had been Cornwall County Council demonstration plots on the sitesince 1926.1954 Pershore College, Evesham, Worcestershire2007 Merged into Warwickshire College, now Pershore Centre.1954 Bishop Burton Farm Institute, Beverley, East YorkshireNow Bishop Burton College. Farming extends to 390 ha with dairy, beef, pig,sheep and arable operations.2012 Absorbed Riseholme College (see 1949).1955 Pwllpeiran Research and Development Centre, CeredigionA 1,130 ha holding, originally part of Thomas Johnes’s (1748-1818) Hafodestate. It was one of the MAFF experimental husbandry farms concentrating onWelsh upland farming, leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on its privatisation in1997 and thence to ADAS Wales.2012 The Centre management is transferred to the Institute for BiologicalEnvironmental and Rural Studies (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University.93

1955 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food1955 North Wyke, Okehampton, DevonNorth Wyke was acquired as fertilizer research station by Fisons Ltd and is nowone of the Environmental Change Network stations.1981 It was purchased by the Crown Estate Commissions and leased to theGrasslands Research Institute.1992 Re-location of Grasslands Research Institute staff from Hurley, renamedas the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (whichincluded the Aberystwyth base).2002 Purchased by the BBSRC.2008 Merged with Rothamsted with a number of key staff going to the newlyformed Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences atAberystwyth University.1956 Elmwood College, Cupar, FifeVarious training activities had taken placed at Elmwood house and in the gardensand greenhouses prior to their acquisition for a college.1971 Acquired Stratheden Hospital Farm.2012 Merged into the Scottish Rural University College.1956 Farm Buildings Association1991 Re-named the Rural Design and Building Association.2005 Re-named the Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association.1956 Fison’s Levington Research Station, Ipswich, SuffolkNow run by Levington Laboratories1957 ARC Radiobiological Laboratory, Wantage, OxfordshireThe Lab. Was set up under Dr Scott Russell. It moved to Letcombe Manor in1962.1985 The Lab was closed by the Agricultural and Food Research Council andoperations moved to Long Ashton.The site is currently operated by the American owned commercial DowAgroSciences involved in research on crop improvements, plant nutrition andpest management.94

1957 Ripley St Thomas School, LancasterA mixed state comprehensive school for 11 - 18 year olds, tracing its origins backto 1865. In 1957 they added agricultural science to the curriculum and the ‘RuralDimension’ remains a key feature of the school today with agriculture andhorticultural qualifications offered alongside the usual GCSEs and A levels.1958 Report of the Committee on Further Education for Agriculture provided byLocal Education Authorities, chairman : The Rt. Hon. Earl de La Warr.1959 Broom’s Barn Experimental Station, Bury St Edmunds, SuffolkPart of the Rothamsted research facility, embracing the British Beet ResearchOrganisation.1960sFarm Electric Centre, Stoneleigh, WarwickshireOriginally run by the nationalised electricity industry to provide information andresearch services to the farming and horticultural sector.2000 The centre became a private limited company, Farm Energy, andbroadened coverage to gas, oil and renewable energy.1960 Weed Research Organisation, OxfordThis operation was set up at Begbroke Hill Farm, near Kidlington and was staffedby a group transferred out of the Oxford Unit of Experimental Agronomy, headedby Dr E K Woodford (1911-1998).1986 Closed by the ARC.1960 National College of Agricultural Engineering1962 Opened at Boreham House, Chelmsford.1963 Moved to Silsoe.1975 Merged into Cranfield Institute of Technology, along with the 120 haexperimental farm.1960 Otley Agricultural and Horticultural College, SuffolkThe Agricultural Research Centre was established at Witnesham by the EastSuffolk County Council. They leased Stanaway Farm and Charity Farm from theFelix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust (see 1910).1970 The College moved to present location.1983 Name changed to Otley College of Agriculture and Horticulture.2012 Merged with Easton College, Norfolk to become Easton and OtleyCollege.95

1961 Wolverhampton Technical Teachers’ Training CollegeThe College was established for the training of teachers working in furthereducation. There were four such colleges throughout the country with agriculturebeing dealt with by Wolverhampton.1972 The Agricultural Education Training Unit was established under the UKOverseas Development Administration with particular reference totraining overseas students returning to deliver agricultural education intheir home countries. This developed in the mid 1990s into the Centrefor Rural Development and Training which is still functioning in what isnow the University of Wolverhampton.1962 Bredon School, Tewkesbury, GloucestershireA co-ed boarding school for ages 4 – 18 which maintains a small farm and allowsagriculture and horticulture to be studied for GCSE, GNVQ and BTECqualifications, as well as an extra-curricular activity.1962 Pig Improvement CompanyThe Company was formed to improve pig breeding and meat production.1970 Sold out to the Dalgety Group.1998 Name changed to PIC International Group plc.2001 Name changed to Sygen International plc2005 Acquired by Genus plc and now operating as the Pig ImprovementCompany Ltd (PIC)2011 Moved to Colworth Science Park, Bedfordshire1962 Stapledon Memorial TrustEstablished in the memory of the grassland scientist Sir George Stapledon (1882-1960) to provide largely post-doctoral travelling fellowships for research anddevelopment on all aspects of grassland and grass-related animal production.1963 Report of the Committee of Enquiry into the demand for AgricultureGraduates. Chairman : Bosanquet.1963 Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC) Unit of Nitrogen FixationOriginally based at the Royal Veterinary College, London and now part of theJohn Innes Centre.1965 Moved to the University of Sussex.1987 Incorporated into the AFRC Institute of Plant Science Research.1998 Moved to the John Innes Centre.96

1963 University of Newcastle-upon-TyneThe agricultural department was formed on a break away from the University ofDurham.The university holds Nafferton Farm, 294 ha (dairy, beef and sheep) and OustonFarm, 233 ha (arable and grassland).1963 Arthur Rickwood Experimental Husbandry Farm, Ely, CambridgeshireA 150 acre MAFF farm devoted to exploring the problems of farming on BlackFen soil, leased to ADAS Consulting Ltd on privatisation in 1997. ArthurRickwood was a carrot farmer and is featured in Ken Annakin’s delightful 1945production for the Ministry of Information, Farming in Fenland :www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/569.1963 Home Lacey College, HerefordshireNow part of Herefordshire College of Technology. The estate is on the banks ofthe River Wye, 4 miles south of Hereford, totalling some 224 hectares, including55 hectares of woodland (some of it ancient woodland) and 155 hectares oforganic farmland comprising approximately 43.5 hectares of permanent pastureor long term leys, including the partly wooded Deer Park, 5.5 hectares of ciderapple orchards and 106 hectares of arable land.c1965Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural ScienceA body established to represent the professional interests of agriculture and foodscience graduates working in Northern Ireland. There is a strong educationalfocus with CPD events, an annual conference and the award of student bursaries.1965 Higher Education in Agriculture.Report of the conference in Paris led by the Organsiation for Economic Cooperationand Development.1965 Report of the Technical Committee to Enquire into the Welfare of Animals keptunder Intensive Livestock Husbandry System. Chairman : Professor RogerBrambell.This report lead to the establishment of the Farm Animal Welfare AdvisoryCommittee.1979 The FAWAC became the Farm Animal Welfare Council.1965 Home-Grown Cereals AuthoritySupported by a producers’ levy to fund research and development, transfertechnology, collect and disseminate market information and to advertise andpromote the cereals and oilseeds sector.2008 Taken under the newly formed Agriculture and HorticultureDevelopment Board.97

1966 Farm Management Association1995 Became the Institute of Agricultural Management.1966 Report of the Advisory Committee on Agricultural Education in FarmInstitutes. Chairman : Sir Harry Pilkington (1905-1983).1967 Enniskillen Agricultural College, Co. Fermanagh2004 The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) formedfrom the merger of Greenmount, Loughry and Enniskillen AgriculturalColleges.1967 Meat and Livestock CommissionAn industry levy board set up under the Agriculture Act 1967 to improve andmarket the meat industry.2008 The levy boards were dissolved and taken under the umbrellaorganisation of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.Meat and livestock research operations are under BPEC (pigs) andEBLEC (beef and lamb) with the commercial operations run throughMeat and Livestock Commercial Services Ltd (MLCSL).1967 Meat Research Institute, Langford, near BristolEstablished following closure of Low Temperature Research Station (see 1896).1986 Merged into the Institute of Food Research, Colney, Norwich.1967 Food Research Institute, Colney, NorwichEstablished, under the first directorship of Professor Sidney Elsden (1915-2006)following closure of the Low Temperature Research Station.1986 Combined with the Meat Research Institute and some of the operationsfrom Long Ashton, the National Institute for Research in Dairying andthe Ditton Laboratory to form the Institute for Food Research (IFR).1967 Society of Feed TechnologistsThe society was established as forum open to anyone interested in farm livestock,to meet and discuss common agricultural livestock problems and solutions.Membership is multi-disciplinary and is open to animal nutritionists, feedtechnologists, recipe formulators, academics, pharmacologists, veterinarysurgeons, geneticists, feed mill managers, farm advisers etc.1968 Cambridgeshire Farm College, Milton, Cambridgeshire1987 Merged with the horticultural station at the Isle of Ely College, Wisbechto form the Cambridge College of Agriculture and Horticulture.1998 Combined with Norfolk College of Arts and Technology.98

2006 College of West Anglia.1969 Weymouth Laboratory (fisheries), Weymouth, DorsetEstablished for the study of diseases in salmon.1997 Previously known as the Directorate of Fisheries Research, the name andstatus changed to the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and AquacultureScience (Cefas), now an executive agency of Department ofEnvironment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), along with operations inLowestoft.1970 Perry FoundationThe Foundation provides awards and post-graduate scholarships in agricultureand related subjects that are of definable benefit to UK agriculture, establishedfrom the funds of Lord Percival Perry (1878-1956), the first chairman of the FordMotor Company (England) Limited.1970 Welsh Agricultural College, Aberystwyth1995 Merged with the Department of Agricultural Sciences to form the WelshInstitute of Rural Studies within the University of Aberystwyth.1971 Warriner School, Bloxham, OxfordshireA 120 acre mixed farm built to serve an 11-16 years mixed state comprehensiveschool allowing GCSE, NVQ and BTEC qualifications in agriculture andhorticulture.1972 Douglas Bomford TrustThe Trust was established on the death of Douglas Bomford by his widow, Betty,for the purpose of advancing education, training and research in the science andpractice of agricultural engineering and mechanisation.1973 Oatridge College, Ecclesmachan, West Lothian2012 Merged with the Scottish Agricultural College.1973 Rare Breeds Survival Trust, StoneleighEstablished to conserve and protect the UK’s rare native breeds of farm animalsfrom extinction, over 20 breeds having been lost since 1900. They play a keyrole in monitoring, breeding programmes, research and disease control.99

1973 Report on Agricultural Education in Farm Institutes. Chairman : Burnham.1973 Report of the Joint Advisory Committee on Agricultural Education. Chairman :Professor J P Hudson1975 Cranfield Institute of TechnologyCranfield was acquired the National College of Agricultural Engineering, alongwith the 120 ha experimental farm.1983 Name changed to Silsoe College.1987 Cranfield Rural Institute formed.The Soil Survey of England and Wales taken over from Rothamsted, runby the Soil Survey and Land Research Centre (SSLRC) and now itssuccessor, the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI).1988 Shuttleworth College joined Cranfield Rural Institute.1999 Silsoe College became Cranfield University at Silsoe.2001 The National Soil Resources Institute was established.2007 The Silsoe farm was retained whilst academic activities moved to themain campus of Cranfield University and the Silsoe site sold.1978 Campden BRIAn independent research organisation for the food and drink industry was formedfrom the merger of the Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association(CCFRA) and the Brewing Industry Research Foundation.1978 Brimstone Experimental Husbandry Farm, OxfordshireThe farm was leased to ADAS on its privatisation in 1997. Partly managed byRothamsted.1979 Cereals EventThis arable show is now the largest agricultural show in the country and iscurrently held annually in Boothby Graffoe, Lincolnshire.1980 NickersonThe Nickerson Zwaan sugar beet programme moved to England. Nickersonoperations now under the Limagrain umbrella.1981 C Alma Baker TrustA trust set up from the assets of Charles Alma Baker, who died in 1941, largelysustained by the running of a 3,217 ha estate in New Zealand. The Trust funds100

esearch and provides study and travel scholarships, supporting opportunities forBritish students and farmers to travel to New Zealand.1981 Scottish Crop Research InstituteThe Institute was created by the amalgamation of the Scottish Plant BreedingStation, Edinburgh and the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute, Invergowrie.It administers the Scottish Society for Crop Research (see 1981)1987 Took on management of the Scottish Agricultural Statistics Service, nowBiomathematics and Statistics Scotland.1989 Mylnefield Research Services Limited set up to deal with thecommercial activities of the organisation.2008 Acquired the 110 ha Balruddery Farm, near Dundee.2011 Merged with the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute to form theJames Hutton Institute.1981 Scottish Society for Crop ResearchThe Society was formed through a merger of the Scottish Society for Research inPlant Breeding and the Scottish Horticultural Research Association. Amongother things, it administers the bi-annual Peter Masalski prize for the best youngscientist working at the James Hutton Institute (see 2011).1982 LAMMA ShowThe Show, now the largest of its kind in the UK, was established under theoriginal name which indicates its origins and remit : the LincolnshireAgricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association. The show will have apermanent base at the East of England Showground, Peterborough from 2014.1983 Agricultural Food and Research Council (AFRC)Formed from the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), now within theBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).1984 Report of a Study of ADAS by Professor Ronald Bell for MAFF.1984 Potash Development Association, YorkThis is an independent body involved in both information exchange together withresearch and development on soil fertility, plant nutrition and fertiliser use with,clearly, emphasis on potash.1985 Institute of Horticultural Research (IHR)This body was formed through the merger of the Glasshouse Crops ResearchInstitute, Littlehampton, West Sussex, the National Vegetable Research Station at101

Wellesbourne in Warwickshire, East Malling Research Station in Kent and theHop Department of Wye College1990 IHR merged with three former experimental horticulture stations, Efford,Kirton and Stockbridge House, to form Horticulture ResearchInternational (HRI).1986 Horticultural Development BoardThe HDB was supported by a producers’ levy to fund research and development,transfer technology, collect and disseminate market information and to advertiseand promote the horticultural industry.2008 Taken under the newly formed Agriculture and HorticultureDevelopment Board and organised through eight sector panels includingField Vegetables, Mushrooms, Protected Edibles, Soft Fruit and TreeFruit.1986 Institute of Food Research, Colney, NorwichFormed with a merger of the Food Research Institute, the Meat Research Instituteand some of the operations from Long Ashton, the National Institute for Researchin Dairying and the Ditton Laboratory to form the Institute for Food Research.Funded by the BBSRC.1988 Review of Expenditure by the Agricultural Departments on Research andDevelopment was a report by Christopher J A Barnes for MAFF which resultedin considerable cuts.1988 Central Science Laboratory, YorkThe CSL was formed, under ADAS, partly through a merger of the HarpendenLaboratory and the Pest Infestation Control Laboratory.1991 Separated from ADAS. The National Bee Unit joins.1996 Moved largely to Sand Hutton, North Yorkshire.2009 Became part of the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA)under DEFRA.1989 Edgar Pye Research Scholarship TrustThis Trust funds awards to students from the UK or Eire to research any area offarm animal feeding including animal nutrition and management, feed productionand management, either at home or overseas.The Trust was set up by the Society of Feed Technologists (see 1967) after EdgarPye died prematurely whilst holding office as President.102

1989 Dick Harrison TrustThe Trust was established on the death of Dick Harrison (1922-1989), a livestockauctioneer and partner in his family firm of Harrison & Hetherington, to providegrants for books, equipment and travel to assist with the education of personswanting to study livestock auctioneering and / or rural estate management.Applicants must have been born or be resident in Scotland, Cumbria orNorthumberland.1990 Horticulture Research International (HRI)This body was formed through a merger between AFRC Institute of HorticulturalResearch - operating sites at Wellesbourne (the National Vegetable ResearchStation), East Malling (the East Malling Research Station), Littlehampton (theGlasshouse Crops Research Institute) and Wye College (the Hop Unit) and theADAS Experimental Stations of MAFF at Efford, Kirton and Stockbridge.2004 It became part of the Warwick Horticulture Research International(HRI), University of Warwick. See also the Warwick Crop Centre in theSchool of Life Sciences, Wellesbourne.1990 Scottish Agricultural CollegeFormed from the merger of Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agricultural College,the West of Scotland Agricultural College and the North of Scotland AgriculturalCollege.2012 Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges merged into the SAC and arenow the Scottish Rural University College.1992 EUROPEAEUROPEA-International is an organization within the European Union for thedevelopment of vocational education and training in the land-based sector,covering agriculture, horticulture and forestry.1992 The Role of College Farms and Estates in Agricultural Education : September1989 – November 1991. A Department of Education report.1994 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)The BBSRC was formed from the Agricultural and Food Research Council(AFRC) and the biological science activities of the former Science andEngineering Research Council (SERC) with eight supported institutes, five ofwhich directly relate to agricultural sciences :• Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, AberystwythUniversity• John Innes Centre, Norwich, Norfolk• Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh103

• Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire• Institute of Food Research, Colney, Norwich1994 Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL)PBL develops innovative technologies from public and private sourcesworldwide - turning ideas into patented, scientifically validated and licensabletechnologies. PBL is jointly and equally owned by the John Innes Centre, theSainsbury Laboratory, and the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council).1995 Veterinary Laboratories AgencyThis agency was formed on a merger of the Central Veterinary Laboratory andthe regional Veterinary Centres.1995 Milk Development CouncilThe Council was supported by a producers’ levy to fund research anddevelopment, transfer technology, collect and disseminate market informationand to advertise and promote milk to consumers, taking on some of the workformerly done by the Milk Marketing Board.2008 Taken under the newly formed Agriculture and HorticultureDevelopment Board, with milk interests run through DairyCo.1996 Advanta UK1997 ADASAdvanta UK was formed from the merger of the UK Zeneca Seeds, itself a breakoff from ICI, with the Dutch Royal van de Have.Now all under the Limagrain umbrella.The government Agricultural Development and Advisory Council was privatisedand is now operating with 12 specialist divisions : Water and Air, Soils andNutrients, Waste, Chemicals, Landscape and Vegetation, Policy Delivery andBehavioural Change, Economics and Evaluation, Land, Ecology and Wildlife,Sustainability Development and Climate Change, Sustainable Crop Management,Animal Health and Welfare.1997 British Potato CouncilSupported by a producers’ levy to fund research and development, transfertechnology, collect and disseminate market information and to advertise andpromote potatoes to consumers at home and in export markets. It ran the SuttonBridge Experimental Unit.2008 Taken under the newly formed Agriculture and HorticultureDevelopment Board.104

2001 Marshal Papworth TrustThis trust was founded through a bequest from Huntingdonshire farmer, MarshalPapworth (1939-2000) following his tragic death in a glider accident. It fundsscholarships in Agriculture, Horticulture, Water Management, SustainableDevelopment and the Environment. The Trust works closely with the East ofEngland Agricultural Society (see 1970) and with particular universities (such asReading and Writtle). It aims to educate those from developing nations who willreturn home and apply their knowledge for ‘the benefit of their fellowcountrymen’.2004 Warwick Horticulture Research International (HRI)Formed by the integration of HRI sites at Wellesbourne, Warwickshire andKirton, Lincolnshire with the University of Warwick.2009 Operations at the Kirton site ceased.2010 Warwick HRI closed and functions merged into a new School of LifeScience operating as the Warwick Crop Centre at Wellesbourne.2004 College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE), Northern,IrelandCAFRE was formed from the merger of Greenmount, Loughry and EnniskillenAgricultural Colleges.Farming operations currently consist of The Farm Development Centre (160 ha -dairy, sheep and arable), Abbey Farm (90 ha - cattle and sheep), Hill Farm(1,000 ha - cattle and sheep) and the Organic Unit (36 ha - cattle, sheep andcrops).2006 Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern IrelandAFBI was formed by a merger of the Science Services division of the Departmentof Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) and the Agricultural ResearchInstitute of Northern Ireland.The Institute incorporates, among other things :• Northern Ireland Plant Testing Station, Crossnavcreevy• Northern Ireland Official Seed Testing Station, Crossnacreevy2006 Landex• Northern Ireland Horticultural and Plant Breeding Station, LoughallThe tag line of ‘Land Based Colleges Aspiring to Excellence’ is self-explanatory.This organisation comprises 42 member colleges and universities in England,Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.105

Landex was a revised form of its predecessor organisation, Napaeo (see 1950),established to represented the interests of land based colleges and the industriesthey serve, often at policy level.2007 Government / other reportsA number of important reports have emerged over recent years which will impactagricultural education and research for some time, including :Review of provision for land-based subjects (Higher Education Funding Councilfor England (HEFCE), 2007).Food Matters : towards a strategy for the 21st century (Cabinet Office, 2008).A Skills Assessment for the Environmental and Land-based Sector (LANTRA,2009)Towards a New Professionalism for Food Security and a Sustained Environment; the skills strategy for agriculture and horticulture (AgriSkills Forum, 2009)UK Food Security Assessment : detailed analysis (DEFRA, 2009)Food 2030 (DEFRA, 2010)UK Cross Government Food Research and Innovation Strategy (GovernmentOffice for Science, 2010)Land Use Futures : making the most of land in the 21st century (GovernmentOffice for Science, 2010)The Future of Food and Farming : challenges and choices for globalsustainability (Government Office for Science, 2011)Innovation in EU Agriculture (House of Lords, 2011)2008 Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS),Aberystwyth UniversityIBERS was formed from the Institutes of Rural Sciences and Biological Sciencesat Aberystwyth University, and the Institute of Grassland and EnvironmentalResearch (IGER).It is one of the eight bodies funded by the Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council (BBSRC).2008 Agriculture and Horticulture Development BoardThe five levy bodies, groups supported by industry to facilitate research,development, knowledge transfer and exchange, were replaced by one umbrellaBoard (AHDB) with six divisions.The old levy bodies were : the British Potato Council (see 1997), the Meat andLivestock Commission (see 1967), the Milk Development Council (see 1995), the106

Horticulture Development Board (see 1986) and the Home-Grown CerealsAuthority (see 1965).The new divisions are : BPEX (pig meat), EBLEX (beef and lamb), theHorticultural Development Company - HDC, DairyCo, the Potato Council andthe Home-Grown Cereals Authority - HGCA (cereals and oilseeds).2008 Centre for Sustainable Cropping, DundeeA research platform under the Scottish Crop Research Centre based at BalrudderyFarm, part of the James Hutton Institute.2011 Re-named the James Hutton Institute on a merger with the MacaulayLand Use Research Institute and the Scottish Crop Research Centre.Facilities includes the Centre for Sustainable Cropping at Balruddery Farm,Angus, the Glensaugh Research Station, Aberdeenshire (grassland, sheep, cattleand deer) and the Hartwood Research Station, Shotts, Lanarkshire (cattle andsheep) plus extensive glasshouses in Dundee and an arboretum in Aberdeen.James Hutton (1726-1797) was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenmentand internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology. His work onnatural selection was drawn upon by Charles Darwin.2012 Easton and Otley CollegeFormed from the merger of Easton College, Norfolk and Otley College, Suffolk.2012 Scottish Rural University College (SRUC)The University College was formed from the merger of the Scottish AgriculturalCollege, Barony, Elmwood and Oatridge Colleges. It is now part of theAberdeen Research Consortium which includes the University of Aberdeen, theMacaulay Institute, the Rowett Research Institute and the Marine Laboratory.2012 The Henry Plumb FoundationFounded by Lord Plumb in 2012 to help the education and development of thosewho seek a career in agriculture through scholarships, bursaries, the improvementof networking opportunities and post-graduate scholarships for overseas studies.Henry Plumb was a former President of the NFU and, outside agriculture, aConservative MP and the only Briton to be President of the European Parliament.107

Some Agricultural SocietiesMost agricultural societies have some stated educational remit, whether simply providingthe forum of an annual show to encourage breed standards and improvements or with thedistribution of funds to support research. Most, however, do/did not have much impactbeyond their immediate region (vital though that regional presence is) and are outside theparameters of the above listing. A few of the older agricultural societies have, however,been included above where they played a particularly significant role in educating farmersand engaging in or disseminating the latest thinking and research.The following list is incomplete, not to say random, but gives a flavour of thedevelopment of the regional associations and will be added to in due course. It is hopedthat readers will add further organisations and provide dates of cessation or confirmationof continued activity, where this is missing.1767 Manchester Agricultural Society1847 The Manchester and Liverpool Agricultural Society was formed fromthe merger of two societies.1872 The Royal Manchester, Liverpool and North Lancashire AgriculturalSociety was formed after a further merger, first producing the Journal ofthe Royal Manchester, Liverpool and North Lancashire AgriculturalSociety in 1891.1893 The Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society was formed, which still runsan annual show, although 2012 was the first after it had been cancelledfor four consecutive years when the Society ran into financial difficultiesexacerbated by bad weather.1900 Journal of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society.1793 Cornwall Agricultural SocietyThe society took up the name Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association in 1858and the annual show is now held at Wadebridge.1796 Peterborough Agricultural Society1970 Merged into the East of England Agricultural Society.1797 Herefordshire Agricultural SocietyThe society was formed after the publication of John Clark’s General views onagriculture in the county of Hereford for the Board of Agriculture which pointedto the lack of a local society. It is now incorporated into the Three CountiesAgricultural Society with the major event being the annual Three Counties Showat Malvern, Worcestershire.1798 First county show was held in Hereford, with the show being held at theThree Counties Showground, Malvern since 1958.108

1799 Newark Agricultural Society1868 Became the Newark and District Show Society.1799 Westmorland County Agricultural SocietyThe society is dedicated to promoting education in agriculture, horticulture, ruralcrafts, forestry and conservation with the focus on a radius of 55 miles of theshowground at Lane Farm, near Milnthorpe, Cumbria.The society promotes a link programme with schools and colleges andadministers the Chris Lambert Bursary available to students living within theSociety's area who wish to travel and broaden their knowledge of agriculturalpractices and methods. Chris Lambert was a long standing Society secretary,until his death in 1998.1801 Bedfordshire Agricultural Society1971 Merged into the East of England Agricultural Society.1802 Barnard Castle Agricultural Society1803 Rusheyford Experimental SocietyThis group was set up in County Durham by ‘a few intelligent agriculturalists …for the purpose of trying various experiments on their respective farms.’1805 Tyneside Agricultural Society1981 Developed in its current incarnation as the Tynedale AgriculturalSociety running the annual Northumberland County Show.1806 Wolsingham Agricultural Society1811 Oxfordshire Agricultural Society1978 The society wound up and the Oxfordshire Agricultural Society Trust(OAST) was established from the remaining assets to support projectspromoting agricultural efficiency in Oxfordshire.1813 Border Union Agricultural SocietyThe society was formed at Kelso under the chairmanship of James Innes-Ker, 5thDuke of Roxburghe (1736-1823). Innes-Ker had not come to the inheritance ofRoxburghe and Floors Castle in a straight forward manner, and there were severalother purported claimants to the title. He ensured the succession of his own lineby fathering a child at the age of 80.The main event is the annual BUAS show at Kelso, Scottish Borders.109

1819 Scarsdale and High Peak Agricultural Society, DerbyshireThis society, after several name changes, became the Bakewell Agricultural andHorticultural Society which today runs the Bakewell Show.1825 Rutland Agricultural SocietyThe society continues to run an annual show near Oakham.1830 Liverpool Agricultural Society1848 Merged with the Manchester Agricultural Society (see 1767).1831 Suffolk Agricultural AssociationThe main annual event of the Suffolk Show moved around the county for the firstcentury and more, moving to its current permanent showground in Ipswich in1960.1833 Royal South Buckinghamshire Agricultural Association1833 Leicestershire Agricultural SocietyThe society still runs the annual Show at Melton Cattle Market.1837 Huntingdonshire Agricultural Society1970 Merged into the East of England Agricultural Society.1837 Long Sutton & District Agricultural SocietyAlong with a history of annual shows, the society awards travel scholarships toindividuals or groups of young people from the Long Sutton area to help financeagricultural study visits. In addition the Society awards grants to local schoolsand colleges to assist with visits to places of agricultural interest in the BritishIsles.1970 The society became affiliated to the East of England AgriculturalSociety, itself formed from the Merger of the Cambridge, Huntingdonand Peterborough societies, as the viability of smaller shows declined.1837 Yorkshire Agricultural SocietyFormed with education as a key element of its remit, the main event is the annualGreat Yorkshire Show near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.As part of its educational remit, along with the Show, schools activities and otherevents, the YAS offers grants for academic research in agricultural orhorticultural production, improvement or protection of the rural environment,farm animal welfare, forestry, novel crops or novel products from agricultural orhorticultural sources which will be beneficial, in particular, to Yorkshire and/orthe North East of England.110

1838 Transactions were published for a number of years but ceased to be aserious journalistic source from the 1860s.1838 Cheshire Agricultural SocietyThe society was founded under the first presidency of Stapleton Cotton, FirstViscount Combermere (1773-1865), a committed Tory and in opposition toCatholic emancipation, the Reform Bill and the repeal of the corn laws.Combermere persuaded fellow Cheshire landowners to establish a series ofcompetitions to encourage better farming methods and to encourage farmers to'improve the moral and industrious way of life'. The annual show now runs atTabley.The Society administers the John Platt Scholarship, offered since 2011. This is a£2,000 travel scholarship available to any young person (aged 18 - 35) residing orworking in Cheshire, who wishes to improve their education and/or experiencethrough an opportunity to travel. The scholarship was created in recognition ofJohn Platt (1930-2013) who supported the Cheshire agricultural communitythrough his many roles including chairing the Society for nearly 30 years, and asa long-standing chair of governors at Reaseheath College (see 1890).Applications are particularly favoured with regard to new technology, new oralternative farming methods, diversification, utilisation or sustainability of naturalresources and improved profitability within Cheshire agriculture.1839 Lunesdale Agricultural Society. Westmorland1862 Became the Kirkby Lonsdale Agricultural Society.1840 North Somerset Agricultural SocietyThe society was formed out of the North Somerset Ploughing Society by a smallgroup of farmers, its sole purpose being to further agricultural development bycommunicating agricultural issues and providing a showpiece to the local,general public. The annual show runs at Wraxhall, near Bristol.1841 Dorchester Agricultural Society, Dorset1841 Appleby and Kikrby Stephen Agricultural Society, Westmorland1890 Appleby Agricultural Society and Kirkby Stephen Agricultural Societyseparated.1843 Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine Agricultural Society1848 Became the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.1849 Penrith Agricultural Society1846 Became the Cumberland and Westmorland Agricultural Society.1879 Reverted to being known as the Penrith Agricultural Society.111

1848 Northamptonshire Agricultural Society1972 Merged into the East of England Agricultural Society.1852 Chiltern Hills Agricultural Association1854 North East Agricultural Association of IrelandSuch regional agricultural societies played a key role in agricultural educationand development as seen by the society’s aims : ‘To promote agriculture inNorthern Ireland by holding Agricultural Shows and by giving agriculturalinstruction by exhibitions, lectures and other such means as may from time totime be found expedient.’The need for improvements and learning in agriculture were, of course,particularly poignant in Ireland in the aftermath of the Great Famine (1845-1852).This organisation led to the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society.1896 The first of the annual shows, still being held at the same location wasrun in Balmoral, near Belfast.1903 Re-named the Ulster Agricultural Society1904 Re-named the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society.1858 Essex Agricultural SocietyThe society is now run from Writtle College.1860 Gillingham Agricultural Society, Kent1930 Amalgamated to run the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Agricultural Show1863 Cambridge and Isle of Ely Agricultural Society1970 Merged into the East of England Agricultural Society.1870 Vale of Tordmorden Agricultural Society, Yorkshire1872 Devon County Agricultural AssociationThis society manages the Devon County Show.The show was held at various sites around the county until 1956, when it movedto its first permanent site at Whipton, Exeter. It moved to its present site atWestpoint Arena and Showground in Clyst St Mary near Exeter in 1990.1904 Welsh National Agricultural SocietyFormed under the chairmanship of the George Charles Herbert, 4th Earl of Powis(1862-1952), it is now known as the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society.112

1963 Royal Welsh Show showground established at Llanelwedd near BuilthWells, Powys.1909 Newbury and District Agricultural SocietyThe Society was established primarily to run the annual show, currently run asthe Royal County of Berkshire Show at Chieveley. It has as one of its key aimsthe promotion and improvement of the education of the public in agriculture,horticulture, forestry and rural crafts.1967 South of England Agricultural SocietyThis society runs the annual show at Ardingly, near Hayward’s Heath.1970 East of England Agricultural SocietyFounded on the merger of the three agricultural societies : Cambridge and Isle ofEly (see 1863), Huntingdonshire (see 1837) and Peterborough (see 1796). It wasjoined in 1971 by Bedfordshire (see 1801) and in 1972 by Northamptonshire (see1848). The Long Sutton & District Agricultural Society (see 1837) remains anindependent affiliate.113

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Further information sought from readersIf you know the date of establishment, cessation (where applicable) or any otherinformation on any of the following institutions, or other institutions which aremissing from the above notes, please let me know.cdesilva@harper-adams.ac.ukBiodynamic Agricultural College, part of Emerson College, East SussexCleppa Park Horticultural Station, Newport, Wales (taken on by University College,Cardiff after MAFF closure around 1976)Clogher National Model Agricultural School, Co. TyroneCrop Technology Unit, University of WolverhamptonEfford Experimental Horticulture Station (150ha, largely Grade 2 pasture, with a 10haamenity woodland. 1990 merged into HRI, 2004 closed when the University of Warwickacquired HRI established. The site is now HQ of the New Forest National ParkAuthority).Holbeach Agricultural Centre, LincolnshireImperial Institute of Soil Science (later the Commonwealth Institute of Soil Science)Kersewell Agricultural College, South LanarkshireKirton Agricultural Institute, LincolnshireLiscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm, Devon (closed in 1989. 195 ha)*Lleweni Hall Dairy School, DenbighLongniddry Agricultural Experimental Station, East Lothian (c1878 - )Lough Ash National Model Agricultural School, Co. TyroneNewcastle Emlyn Dairy School, DyfedRedesdale Experimental Husbandry Farm, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Leased to ADASConsulting Ltd on its privatisation in 1997. 1,350 ha, largely moorland along with the 22ha Dargues Farm.*Scottish Institute of Agricultural Engineering (closed 1990s)Stockbridge House Experimental Horticulture Station (acquired by HRI in 1990,becoming independent in 2001 and run as the Stockbridge Technology Centre)Sutton Bridge Experimental Unit, Spalding, LincolnshireTerrington St Clement Experimental Husbandry Farm, King’s Lynn, Norfolk Leased toADAS Consulting Ltd on privatisation of ADAS in 1997. 117 ha of Grade 1 and 2 arableland. Operated with Kirton*University of Leeds (Faculty of Agriculture closed 1973, but related activities continued inDepartment of Bio-sciences)* One of the MAF(F) experimental husbandry farms.115

IndexNote : the date under which an entry is to be found may look odd - items will be foundunder the earliest relevant entry, hence you will see entries under dates which may precedethe existence of a particular institution.Entries with a question mark are those for which no dates have been established , and arelisted at the end. Entries with a bold S afterwards are in the list of agricultural societies atpage 89 rather than in the main lists.Note that the following entries are grouped under sub-heading :Associations, Clubs and SocietiesColleges and Farm InstitutesExperimental Farms and Research StationsJournals and NewspapersLegislationPeopleReports for GovernmentResearch Institutes and UnitsSchoolsUniversitiesAssociations, Clubs and Societies1875 Aberdeen Agricultural AssociationColleges and Farm InstitutesExperimental Farms and Research StationsJournals and NewspapersLegislationPeople1777 Acland, Thomas Dyke (1787-1871)Reports - Government, etc.Research Institutes and Units, etc.1829 Aberdeen Research Consortium116

Schools1889 Abbotsholme School, UttoxeterUniversities1872 Aberystwyth UniversityOther1996 Advanta UK117

1889 Abbotsholme School, Uttoxeter1929 Aberdeen Research Consortium1875 Aberdeenshire Agricultural Association1872 Aberystwyth University1777 Acland, Thomas Dyke (1787-1871)1996 Advanta UK1952 AFRC Institute of Plant Science Research1963 AFRC Unit of Nitrogen Fixation1941 Agricultural Advisory Council1898 Agricultural Association for Women1842 Agricultural Chemistry Association of Scotland1946 Agricultural Development and Advisory Services (ADAS)1972 Agricultural Education Training Unit1894 Agricultural Education Associationc1930 Agricultural Entomology Institute, University of Manchester1983 Agricultural Food and Research Council (AFRC)1844 Agricultural Gazette1875 Agricultural Holdings Act1941 Agricultural Improvement Council1890 Agricultural Instruction Committee, Cheshire1799 Agricultural Magazine1894 Agricultural Progress1879 Agricultural Research Association1931 Agricultural Research Council (ARC)1927 Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland1834 Agricultural School for Orphans, Fearnhead, Cheshire2008 Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board2006 Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Northern Ireland1896 Agronomy Group, University of Cambridge1838 Albert National Agricultural Training Institution, Dublin1941 Animal Breeding Research Organisation (ABRO_1920 Animal Diseases Research Association, Edinburgh1917 Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency1893 Animal Science Research Group, University of Reading1924 Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright1768 Annals of Agriculture1841 Appleby and Kirkby Stephen Agricultural Society S1919 Arable Group (TAG)1952 ARC Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge1947 ARC Poultry Research Centre, Edinburgh1957 ARC Radiobiological Laboratory, Wantage1896 ARC Unit of Animal Physiology, Cambridge1896 ARC Unit of Animal Reproduction, Cambridge1896 ARC Unit of Developmental Botany, Cambridge118

1884 ARC Unit of Embryology, Bangor1793 ARC Unit of Experimental Agronomy, Oxford1942 ARC Unit of Insect Physiology, London1888 ARC Unit of Microbiology, Sheffield1896 ARC Unit of Plant Biochemistry, Cambridge1898 ARC Unit of Plant Growth Substances, London1896 ARC Unit of Plant Virus Research, Cambridge1896 ARC Unit of Reproductive Physiology, Cambridge1845 ARC Unit of Soil Enzyme Chemistry, Rothamsted1945 ARC Unit of Soil Metabolism, Cardiff1896 ARC Unit of Soil Physics, Cambridge1895 ARC Unit of Statistics, Aberdeen1896 ARC Unit of Virus Research, Cambridge1872 Arch, Joseph (1826-1919)1950 Archers, The1871 Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne1963 Arthur Rickwood Experimental Husbandry Farm1948 Askham Bryan College, Yorkshire1874 Aspatria Agricultural College, Cumberland1904 Association of Applied Biologists1904 Association of Economic Biologists1903 Assoc. to Promote the Higher Education of Working Men1843 Ayrshire Agriculturalist1948 Babraham, Cambridge1819 Bakewell Agricultural and Horticultural Society1760 Bakewell, Robert (1723-1795)1947 Balmacara House Agricultural School1981 Balruddery Farm, Dundee1884 Bangor University1802 Barnard Castle Agricultural Society S1951 Barony College, Dumfries1910 Bateson, William1777 Bath and West and Southern Counties Society1777 Bath Society1946 Bedford College1896 Bedfordshire Agricultural Institute, Ridgmont1801 Bedfordshire Agricultural Society S1940s Bee Research Unit, Rothamsted and Trawsgoed1807 Bell’s Weekly Messenger1949 Berkshire Institute of Agriculture, Maidenhead1947 Bicton Farm Institute, East Budleigh1896 Biffen, Sir Rowland (1874-1945)1897 Bigod’s School, Essex? Biodynamic Agricultural College, Forest Row, East Sussex119

1981 Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland1994 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council1954 Bishop Burton Farm Institute / College, East Yorkshire1793 Board of Agriculture1889 Board of Agriculture1889 Board of Agriculture and Fisheries1813 Border Union Agricultural Society S1923 Botley Fruit and Horticultural Research Station1948 Boxworth Experimental Husbandry Farm1913 Boyd Orr, John (1880-1971)2008 BPEX1949 Brackenhurst College1965 Brambell Report into the Welfare of Animals1962 Bredon School, Tewkesbury1843 Brenchley, Winifred (1883-1953)1918 Brewing Industry Research Foundation1948 Bridget’s Experimental Husbandry Farm1978 Brimstone Experimental Husbandry Farm1940 Brinsbury Agricultural College,1912 British Association for the Advancement of Science1959 British Beet Research Organisation1932 British Boys for British Schools, YMCA1875 British Dairy Farmers' Association1882 British Dairy Institute, Aylesbury1997 British Potato Council1947 British Soil Science Society1914 British Sugar Technical Centre1952 Brogdale - National Fruit Collection1946 Brooksby Hall Farm Institute1948 Broomfield Agriculture College1843 Broom's Barn Experimental Station1952 Brymore School, Somerset1930 Bureau of Agricultural Economics1953 Burnham-on-Crouch Laboratory, Essex1946 Butterwick Research Laboratories (ICI)1981 C Alma Baker Trust1930 CAB (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience) International2004 CAFRE, Northern Ireland1872 Cahn Hill, Cardiganshire1897 Cambridge University Farm (CUF)1896 Cambridge University Potato Growers Research Assoc.1863 Cambridge and the Isle of Ely Agricultural Society S1968 Cambridgeshire Farm College, Milton1918 Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association120

1981 Campden BRI1921 Cannington College, Somerset1793 Canterbury Agricultural Society / Farmers' Club1895 Cardigan County Council Dairy School, Cardigan1952 Carmarthenshire Agricultural College1940s Cattle Breeding and Production Division1893 Cattle Breeding Centre, Shinfield1948 Caythorpe, Lincolnshire1835 Central Agricultural Society1910 Central Association of Agricultural Valuers1866 Central Chamber of Agriculture1907 Central Land Association1992 Central Science Laboratory, York1917 Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge1930 Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CAB)1893 Centre for Dairy Research, Reading1902 Centre for Env., Fisheries and Aquaculture Science1961 Centre for Rural Development and Training2008 Centre for Sustainable Cropping, Dundee1790 Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Edinburgh1979 Cereals Event1920 Chadacre Agricultural Institute1838 Cheshire Agricultural Society S1890 Cheshire School of Agriculture, Reaseheath1914 Cheshunt Experimental Horticultural Stationc1940 Chichester College, West Sussex1852 Chiltern Hills Agricultural Society S1919 Chipping Campden Station for Fruit and Veg. Pres.n1908 Church Farm, Sprowston, Norfolk? Clogher National Model Agricultural School, Co. Tyrone1790 Clyde Street Veterinary College, Edinburgh1871 Cockle Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne1776 Coke, Thomas of Holkham/Norfolk (1754-1842)1917 Cold Storage Research Board1913 Coleg Llandrillo Cymru1952 Coleg Sir Gar, Carmarthenshire2004 College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise1968 College of West Anglia1780s Charles Colling (1751-1836)1780s Robert Colling (1749-1820)1843 Commercial and Agricultural School, Chester1930 Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux1920 Commonwealth Mycological Institute1937 Compton Laboratory, Berkshire1918 Conwy, Fisheries Experimental Station1848 Corbet, Henry (1820-1878)121

1921 Corn Production Acts (Repeal) Act1793 Cornwall Agricultural Association S1922 Cornwall College1931 Council for Agricultural Research and Nature Conservation1897 Countess of Warwick's Secondary and Agricultural School1907 Country Land and Business Association1912 County Antrim Agricultural School, Greenmount1928 Covent Garden Laboratory1975 Cranfield Institute of Technology / Cranfield Rural Inst.1901 Crop and Environmental Research Centre (CERC)? Crop Technology Unit, University of Wolverhampton1836 Cumberland and Westmorland Agricultural Society S1896 Cumberland and Westmorland Farm School, Newton Rigg1970 Dairy Cattle Research Centre, Dumfries1887 Dairy School for Scotland, Kilmarnock2008 DairyCo1927 Dartington Hall Laboratory1841 Daubeny, Charles (1795-1867)1895 Dauntsey’s Agricultural School, Wiltshire1813 Davy, Humphrey (1778-1829)1949 De Montfort University, School of Agriculture1911 Deeside College1889 Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairsc1914 Department for Scientific and Industrial Research1885 Department of Science and Arts1848 Derby College1948 Derbyshire Farm Institute1909 Development Commission for Agricultural Education1872 Devon County Agricultural Association S1777 Devon County Agricultural Society1989 Dick Harrison Trust1790 Dick, William (1793-1866)1762 Dickson, Rev. Adam (1721-1776)1969 Directorate of Fisheries Research1928 Ditton Laboratory, East Malling1841 Dorchester Agricultural Society S1949 Dorset Farm Institute, Kingston Maurward1972 Douglas Bomford Trust1957 Dow AgroSciences, Hitchen, Hertfordshire1880 Downton Agricultural College, Wiltshire1940 Drayton Experimental Husbandry Farm1949 Drayton, Warwickshire1922 Duchy College1871 Durham Centre for Crop Improvement Technology122

1938 Durham College of Agriculture and Horticulture1913 Duthie Experimental Farm, Aberdeen1893 East Anglian Institute of Agriculture, Essex1938 East Durham College1970 East of England Agricultural Society S1913 East Malling Fruit Research Station, Kent1894 East Sussex School of Agriculture1872 Eastern Counties Ag. Labourers and Smallholders Union2012 Easton and Otley College1949 Easton College, Norfolk2008 EBLEX1989 Edgar Pye Research Scholarship Trust1901 Edinburgh and East of Scotland Agricultural College1894 Edinburgh School of Rural Economy1737 Edinburgh Society for the Encouragement of Arts …1944 Education Act1872 Edwards, George (1850-1933)? Efford Horticultural Experimental Station1954 Ellbridge Horticultural Experimental Sub-station1956 Elmwood College, Fife1838 English Agricultural Society1967 Enniskillen Agricultural College, Fermanagh1858 Essex Agricultural Society S1893 Essex Institute of Agriculture1992 EUROPEA1807 Evans and Ruffy's Farmers' Journal1946 Farm Advisory Service1965 Farm Animal Welfare Council1956 Farm Buildings Association1960s Farm Electric Centre, Stoneleigh1960s Farm Energy1966 Farm Management Association1861 Farmer, The1861 Farmer and Chamber of Agriculture Journal, The1861 Farmer and Stockbreeder1842 Farmers’ Club / Farmers’ Club Charitable Trust, London1800 Farmer’s Magazine1843 Farming News1910 Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust1895 Finney, David (1917- )1888 Firth College, Sheffield1925 Fisher, Ronald K (1890-1962)123

1918 Fisheries Experiment Station, Conwy1929 Fisheries Research Services1952 Fison's Chesterford Park, Saffron Walden1956 Fison's Levington Research Station, Ipswich2010 Food 20301796 Food Animal Institute1917 Food Investigation Board2008 Food Matters1967 Food Research Institute, Norwich1914 Food Science Laboratory, Norwich1904 Franciscan Brothers Agricultural College, Galway1943 Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust1892 Fream, William (1854-1906)1836 Friends Agricultural School, Brookfield, Co. Down1844 Gardeners’ Chronicle and Agricultural Gazette1898 Garton, John (1863-1922)1952 Gelli Aur Farm Institute, Carmarthenshire1940s Genus - ABS1962 Genus - PIC1845 Gibson Institute for Land, Food and Rural Environment1843 Gilbert, Joseph (1817-1901)1871 Gilchrist, Douglas Alson (1859-1932)1860 Gillingham Agricultural Society S1887 Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College1862 Glasgow Veterinary College1838 Glasnevin Model Farm, Dublin1953 Glasshouse Crops Research Institute1949 Gleadthorpe Poultry Experimental Farm1904 Glensaugh Experimental Hill Farm1948 Gloucestershire Farm Institute1892 Gloucester Dairy School1913 Glynllifon Agricultural Institute1952 Golden Grove Farm Institute1949 Grasslands Research Institute1949 Great House Experimental Husbandry Farm1912 Greenmount, Co. Antrim1919 Hadlow College1858 Hall Dixon, Henry (1822-1870)1903 Hall, A Daniel (1864-1942)1899 Hampshire Farm Institute1928 Hannah Dairy Research Institute / Trust1914 Harpenden Laboratory124

1901 Harper Adams Agricultural College1948 Hartpury College2011 Hartwood Research Station1928 Hawthorndale Laboratories, Jealott's Hill1911 Health and Safety Laboratory2012 Henry Plumb Foundation, The1797 Herefordshire Agricultural Society S1921 Hertfordshire Agricultural Institute1948 High Mowthorpe Experimental Husbandry Farm1784 Highland Society of Edinburgh1954 Hill Farming Research Organisation1926 Hillsborough Research Station, Northern Ireland1836 Hillyard, Clark (1767-1842)1788 Hippiatric Infirmary? Holbeach Agricultural Centre1887 Hollesley Bay Colonial College1963 Holme Lacy College1895 Holmes Chapel College of Agriculture1965 Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA)1911 Home Office Experimental Station1941 Horticultural Advisory Council2008 Horticultural Development Company (HDC)1986 Horticulture Development Council1990 Horticulture Research International (HRI)1938 Houghall Hall1926 Human Slaughter Association1952 Humber Laboratory, Hull1951 Huntingdon Life Sciences1837 Huntingdonshire Agricultural Society S1949 Hurley1928 ICI Agricultural Research Station, Jealott's Hill1930 Imperial Agricultural Bureaux1930 Imperial Bureau of Entomology1930 Imperial Bureau of Dairy Science1920 Imperial Bureau of Mycology, Kew1930 Imperial Mycological Institute1940 Infestation Control Laboratory, Tolworth2011 Innovation in EU Agriculture1848 Institute for Agri-food and Land Use, Belfast1924 Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, Surrey1913 Institute for Animal Nutrition, Aberdeen1896 Institute for Animal Nutrition, Cambridge1924 Institute for Engineering Research1914 Institute for Plant Pathology, Kew125

1881 Institute for Plant Physiology, London1796 Institute for Research in Agricultural Economics, Oxford1924 Institute for Research in Agricultural Engineering, Oxford1881 Institute in Plant Physiology, London1893 Institute of Agricultural History, Reading1966 Institute of Agricultural Management1923 Institute of Agricultural Parasitology1790 Institute of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh1791 Institute of Animal Pathology, London1941 Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics Research1941 Institute of Animal Physiology, Babraham1986 Institute of Arable and Crops Research1872 Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences1938 Institute of British Agricultural Engineering1924 Institute of Engineering Research (within the AFRC)1986 Institute of Food Research, Colney, Norwich1872 Institute of Grassland and Animal Production1872 Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research1985 Institute of Horticultural Research1923 Institute of Parasitology1947 Institute of Professional Soil Scientists1938 Institution of Agricultural Engineering1908 International Institute of Agriculture1930 International Mycological Institute1881 International Pesticide Application Research Centre2011 James Hutton Institute, Scotland1875 Jamieson, Thomas (1829-1914)1928 Jealott's Hill, Berkshire1910 John Innes Horticultural Institution1842 Johnson, Cuthbert (1799-1878)1842 Johnston, James (1796-1855)1896 Journal of Agricultural Science1777 Journal of the Bath and West Society1875 Journal of the British Dairy Farmers Association1842 Journal of the Farmers’ Club1838 Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society1767 Journal of the Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society1776 Kames, Lord of Blair Drummond, Henry Home (1696-1782)1861 Kendal Farmers’ Club1919 Kent Farm and Horticulture Institute1913 Kent Inc. Society for Promoting Experiments in Hort.? Kersewell Agricultural College126

1948 Kesteven Farm Institute, Caythorpe Court1949 Kingston Maurward College1839 Kirkby Lonsdale Agricultural Society S1951 Kirkley Hall Farm Institute1924 Kirton Horticultural Experimental Station,1908 Knaresborough Rural Secondary School1950 Lackham School of Agriculture2003 Lady Emily Smyth Agricultural Research Station1896 Lady Manners School,1898 Lady Warwick Hostel, Reading1982 LAMMA1892 Lancashire College of Agriculture1892 Lancashire County Council Dairy School2010 Land Use Futures1930 Land Use Research Institute2006 Landex1939 Lasswade Poultry Laboratory1843 Lawes Agricultural Trust1843 Lawes, John Bennet (1814-1900)1948 Lawmuir Agricultural School1914 Lea Valley Experimental Horticultural Station1833 Leicestershire Agricultural Society S1887 Lephinmore Experimental Hill Farm1957 Letcombe Radiobiological Laboratory1806 Limagrain1948 Lincolnshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture1948 Lindsey College of Agriculture? Liscombe Experimental Husbandry Farm1830 Liverpool Agricultural Society S? Lleweni Hall Dairy School1911 Llysfasi Farm Institute1890 Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act1923 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine1903 Long Ashton, Bristol1837 Long Sutton and District Agricultural Society S? Longniddry Agricultural Experimental Station1928 Lord Wandsworth College1809 Loudon, John Claudius (1783-1843)? Lough Ash National Model Agricultural School1908 Loughry, Co. Tyrone1896 Low Temperature Research Station, Cambridge1940s Luddington Experimental Horticultural Station1839 Lunesdale Agricultural Society S127

1930 Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen1930 Macaulay Land Use Research Institute1913 Madryn Castle Farm School1767 Manchester Agricultural Society S1767 Manchester and Liverpool Agricultural Society S1890 Manor Farm Agricultural College, York1902 Marine Biological Sub-station, Lowestoft1929 Marine Scotland1832 Mark Lane Express and Agricultural Journal2001 Marshall Papworth Trust1967 Meat and Livestock Commission1967 Meat Research Institute, Langford, Bristol1857 Mechi, John Joseph (1802-1880)1910 Mendel, Gregor (1822-1884)1945 Merrist Wood, Surrey1892 Midland Agricultural and Dairy College1892 Midland Dairy Institute1995 Milk Development Council1940s Milk Marketing Board1898 Miln, George Peddie1889 Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries1889 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food1896 Molteno Institute for Parasitology, Cambridge1913 Monmouthshire Institute of Agriculture1952 Monsanto1920 Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik1948 Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire1908 Morley Agricultural Foundation1838 Morton, John (1781-1864)1844 Morton, John Chalmers (1821-1888)1921 Moulton College1904 Mountbellew Agricultural College, Galway1893 Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), Reading1953 Mushroom Research Station1892 Myerscough College1981 Mylnefield Research Services1946 National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS)1872 National Agricultural Labourers’ Union1887 National Association for the Promotion of Technical and Secondary Education1950 National Association of Principal Agricultural Education Officers1940s National Bee Unit1960 National College of Agricultural Engineering1908 National Farmers' Union128

1952 National Fruit Collection1913 National Hop Association, Kent1919 National Institute for Agricultural Botany (NIAB)1924 National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Oxford1893 National Institute for Research in Dairying (NIRD)1924 National Institute of Agricultural Engineering1903 National Institute of Fruit and Cider, Long Ashton1926 National Institute of Poultry Husbandry (NIPH)1940s National Milk Records1924 National Poultry Institute1975 National Soil Resources Institute1949 National Vegetable Research Station1790 Neuropathogenesis Unit, University of Edinburgh1857 New Edinburgh Veterinary School1799 Newark Agricultural Society S1909 Newbury and District Agricultural Society S? Newcastle Emlyn Dairy School, Dyfed1896 Newton Rigg, Cumbria1919 NIAB Group1980 Nickerson1908 Norfolk Agricultural Station1888 Norfolk Chamber of Agriculture1949 Norfolk School of Agriculture1881 Normal School of Science, London1843 North British Agriculturalist1854 North East Agricultural Association of Ireland S1904 North of Scotland Agricultural College1840 North Somerset Agricultural Society S1955 North Wyke, Research Station1848 Northamptonshire Agricultural Society S1921 Northamptonshire Farm Institute, Moulton1952 Northern Ireland Horticultural and Plant Breeding Stationc1965 Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science2006 Northern Ireland Official Seed Testing Station2006 Northern Ireland Plant Testing Station1920s Northern Poultry Breeding Station1920s Northop College1951 Northumberland College (of Agriculture)1929 Norwich Food Science Laboratory1914 Norwich Research Park1949 Nottingham Trent University1949 Nottinghamshire Farm Institute1947 Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust1914 Nursery and Market Garden Industries Development Society129

1921 Oaklands, College, Hertfordshire1973 Oatridge College, West Lothian1783 Odiham Agricultural Society1917 Official Seed Testing Station (OSTS)1916 Official Seed Testing Station, London1919 Olympia Agricultural Research Co., Warwickshire1838 Ormerod, Elenor (1828-1901)1796 Orwin, Charles (1876-1955)1960 Otley College1936 Oxford Farming Conference1811 Oxfordshire Agricultural Society (Trust) S1920s Padeswood Hall Horticultural Centre1871 Palace Leas Plots1939 Penglais Hill Farm, Aberystwyth1836 Penrith Agricultural Society S1900 Percival, John1970 Perry Foundation1954 Pershore College, Worcestershire1940 Pest Infestation Laboratory, Slough1796 Peterborough Agricultural Society S1849 Philanthropic Society Farm School1926 Pibwrlwyd Farm Institute, Carmarthenshire1962 Pig Improvement Company (PIC)1924 Pirbright Experimental Station, Surrey1994 Plant Bioscience Limited (PBL)1896 Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge1937 Plant Protection Limited, Sussex1896 Plant Virus Research Station, Cambridge1894 Plumpton College1984 Potash Development Association1919 Potato Testing Station, Ormskirk1927 Potato Virus Research Station, Cambridge1947 Poultry Research Station, Houghton1944 Processors and Growers Research Organisation1877 Pumpherston Experimental Station1838 Pusey, Philip1955 Pwllpeiran Research and Development Centre1845 Queen’s University of Belfast1973 Rare Breeds Survival Trust1943 Rasberry Disease Investigation Unit130

1890 Reaseheath College, CheshireReports1884 Agricultural Education in North Germany, France … (Jenkins)1887 Agricultural and Dairy Schools (Paget)1908 Agricultural Education (Reay)1915 Agricultural Education for Women Conference (Board or Ag.)1928 The Practical Education of Women for Rural Life (Denman)1943 Educational Reconstruction (Butler)1943 Post-War Agricultural Education (Luxmoore)1943 Agricultural Research in Great Britain (1946 Higher Agricultural Education (Loveday)1953 Working Party on Agricultural Education (Carrington)1963 The Demand for Agriculture Graduates (Bosanquet)1965 Higher Education in Agriculture (Org. for Economic Co-operation and Dev.)1966 Agricultural Education (Pilkington)1973 Agricultural Education in Farm Institutes (Burnham)1973 Joint Advisory Committee on Agricultural Education (Hudson)1988 Review of expenditure by the agricultural departments … (Barnes)1992 The Role of College Farms and Estates in Agricultural Education (DoE)2007 Review of provision for land-based subjects. HEFCE.? Redesdale Experimental Husbandry Farm1924 Research Association of British Flour Millers1875 Research Institute in Plant Physiology, Imperial College1957 Ripley St Thomas School1949 Riseholme Farm Institute1921 Rodbaston, Staffordshire1949 Rosemaund Experimental Husbandry Farm1952 Rosewarne Horticultural Experimental Station1790 Roslin Institute1843 Rothamsted, Hertfordshire1913 Rowett Institute for Animal Nutrition1790 Royal (Dick) Veterinary College1845 Royal Agricultural College1841 Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland1838 Royal Agricultural Society of England1865 Royal Albert Veterinary College1875 Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers1777 Royal Bath and West of England Society1791 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons1784 Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland1767 Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society S131

1767 Royal Manchester, Liverpool and North Lancashire Agricultural Society S1843 Royal Northern Agricultural Society S1838 Royal Show1798 Royal Smithfield Club1833 Royal South Buckinghamshire S1854 Royal Ulster Agricultural Society1996 Royal van de Have, Netherlands1791 Royal Veterinary College, London1900 Royal Veterinary College of Ireland1904 Royal Welsh Agricultural Society1956 Rural and Industrial Design and Building Association1956 Rural Design and Building Association1893 Rural History Centre, Reading1949 Rural Science Centre, Lincoln1803 Rusheyford Experimental Society S1910 Sainsbury Laboratory1988 Sand Hutton, York1899 Saxmundham Experimental Field1819 Scarsdale and High Peak Agricultural Society S1990 Scottish Agricultural College1946 Scottish Agricultural Machinery Testing Station1921 Scottish Crop Research Centre1981 Scottish Crop Research Institute1887 Scottish Dairy Institute1904 Scottish Farm Buildings Investigation Unit1861 Scottish Farmer and Horticulturist1929 Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency1951 Scottish Horticultural Research Institute? Scottish Institute of Agricultural Engineering1921 Scottish Plant Breeding Station2012 Scottish Rural University College1981 Scottish Society for Crop Research1919 Seale Hayne, Devon1919 Seed Production Council1891 Sexey’s School, Somerset1946 Shardlow Hall, Derbyshire – ADAS Laboratory1842 Shaw, William (1797-1853)1806 Shiney-Row Agricultural Society S1866 Shropshire Chamber of Agriculture1949 Shropshire Farm Institute, Walford1946 Shuttleworth Agricultural College, Bedfordshire1796 Sibthorp, John (1758-1796)1975 Silsoe College132

1924 Silsoe Research Institute1881 Silwood Park1793 Sinclair, John (1754-1835)1896 Sir William Dunn Institute of Biochemistry, Cambridge1919 Sittingbourne Farm Institute, Kent2009 Skills Ass.t for the Environmental and Land-based Sector1896 Small Animal Breeding Institute, Cambridge1799 Smithfield Cattle and Sheep Society1917 Smithfield Laboratory1826 Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge1967 Society of Feed Technologists1723 Society of Improvers in the Knowledge of Agriculture …1893 Soft Fruit Technology Group, Reading1884 Soil Survey, The1930 Soils Correlation Committee1921 Somerset Farm Institute, Cannington1871 Somerville, William (1860-1932)1901 Sourhope Experimental Hill Farm1894 South Eastern Agricultural College1967 South of England Agricultural Society1899 Sparsholt College1921 Staffordshire Farm Institute1962 Stapledon Memorial Trust1842 Stephens, Henry? Stockbridge House Horticultural Experimental Station2001 Stockbridge Research Centre, North Yorkshire1930 Strawberry Disease Investigation Unit1981 Study of ADAS, Professor Ronald Bell1898 Studley Castle Horticultural and Agricultural College1831 Suffolk Agricultural Association S1945 Surrey Farm Institute, Merrist Wood1892 Sutton Bonington, University of Nottingham? Sutton Bridge Experiment Unit, Spalding1806 Suttons Seeds1889 Swanley Horticultural College1886 Tamworth Agricultural College1889 Technical Instruction Act1827 Templemoyle Agricultural Seminary, Londonderry? Terrington St Clement Experimental Husbandry Farm1919 The Arable Group (TAG)1988 The Barnes Review133

2011 The Future of Food and Farming1890 Theobold, Frederic (1868-1930)1797 Three Counties Agricultural Society1908 TMAF (The Morley Agricultural Foundation)1929 Torry Research Station, Aberdeen2009 Towards a New Professionalism for Food Security1730s Townshend, Viscount Charles (1674-1738)1784 Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society1946 Trawscoed Experimental Husbandry Farm, Aberystwyth1731 Tull, Jethro (1674-1741)1907 Tumor, Algernon (1845-1922)1805 Tyneside Agricultural Society S1805 Tynedale Agricultural Society S1894 Uckfield Agricultural and Horticultural College2010 UK Cross Government Food Research … Strategy2009 UK Food Security Assessment1908 Ulster Dairy School, Loughry, Co. Tyrone1913 UN Food and Agriculture Organisation1952 Unilever1790 Unit of Animal Genetics, Edinburgh1888 Unit of Comparative Plant Ecology, Sheffield1888 Unit of Grassland Ecology, Sheffield1926 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW)1872 University College of Wales, Aberystwyth1884 University College of Wales, Bangor1838 University College, Dublin1927 University College, Exeter1895 University of Aberdeen1912 University of Bristol1896 University of Cambridge1871 University of Durham1914 University of East Anglia1790 University of Edinburgh1862 University of Glasgow1890 University of Leeds1948 University of Lincoln1904 University of Liverpool1881 University of London1926 University of London Animal Welfare Societyc1930 University of Manchester1963 University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne134

1892 University of Nottingham1796 University of Oxford1919 University of Plymouth1893 University of Reading1888 University of Sheffield1913 Usk College of Agriculture1780 Vaughan Trust, Charter School and Farm Insitute1791 Veterinary College of London1873 Veterinary College, Edinburgh1917 Veterinary Laboratories Agency1876 Voelcker, Augustus (1822-1884)1840 von Liebig, Justus (1803-1873)1949 Walford College of Agriculture, Shropshire1939 War Agricultural Executive Committee1878 Warington, Robert (1838-1907)1971 Warriner School, Oxfordshire2004 Warwick Horticulture Research International1948 Warwickshire Institute of Agriculture1932 Waterperry Horticultural School, Oxfordshire1874 Webb, Professor Henry (1846-1893)1960 Weed Research Organisation, Oxford1949 Wellesbourne, Warwickshire1970 Welsh Agricultural College, Aberystwyth1970 Welsh Institute of Rural Studies, Aberystwyth1904 Welsh National Agricultural Society S1872 Welsh Plant Breeding Station1908 Welshpool County School for Boys1887 West of Scotland Agricultural College1799 Westmorland County Agricultural Society S1902 Weymouth, Fisheries Experimental Station1889 Wilkinson, Fanny ‘Rollo’ (1855-1951)1889 Wilson, Sir Jacob (1802-1905)1950 Wiltshire Farm Institute, Lackham1876 Woburn Experimental Station, Bedfordshire1961 Wolverhampton Technical Teachers Training College1806 Wolsingham Agricultural Society S1899 Women's Agricultural and Hort. International Union1898 Women’s Agricultural Times1899 Women's Farm and Garden Association135

1915 Women's Institute1903 Workers’ Educational Association1940 Worlesdon Research Station, Surrey1890 Worleston Dairy Institute, Cheshire1669 Worlidge, John (1640–1700)1946 Worshipful Company of Farmers1852 Wren Hoskyns, Chandos (1812-1876)1880 Wrightson, Professor John (1840-1916)1893 Writtle, College, Essex1881 Wye College, Kent1943 Yorkshire Agricultural Adventurers1838 Yorkshire Agricultural Society S1890 Yorkshire College of Science1948 Yorkshire Institute of Agriculture1921 Young Farmers' Clubs1768 Young, Arthur (1741-1820)1996 Zeneca Seeds136

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A SHORT HISTORY OFAGRICULTURAL EDUCATIONAND RESEARCHCarrie de SilvaA chronological record of some of the key institutions and events in agriculturaleducation in the UK.Matters covered include : teaching institutions from technical and vocational through to the universitysector research bodies, whether within universities or independent agricultural societies reports shaping agricultural education and research trusts funding education and researchlegislation providing an impetus and framework… and more.This publication will be updated periodically, thus comments, queries, correctionsand suggestions for improvements to future editions are most welcome. Pleasesend any such comments to the author at the address below or by email tocdesilva@harper-adams.ac.uk.Copies of this book can be purchased for £15. Orders, accompanied by a chequemade payable to C S de Silva, to be sent to the author at the address below.HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITYNewport, Shropshire, TF10 8NBTelephone : 01952 820280 www.harper-adams.ac.uk Fax : 01952 814783