a short history of agricultural education and research

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