SCIENTIFIC FARMING AT ROTHAMSTED. 83 



to lead to more extensive trials in the field in 1840 and 1841, and sub- 

 sequently." 



Dr. J. H. Gilbert has been associated with Mr. Lawes since June, 

 1843, and has had the direction of the laboratory. 



" In 1843 more systematic field experiments were commenced ; 

 and a barn, which had previously been partially applied to laboratory 

 purposes, became almost exclusively devoted to agricultural investiga- 

 tions. The foundation of the Rothamsted Experiment Station may be 

 said to date from that time (1843). The Rothamsted Station has, up 

 to the present time, been entirely disconnected from any external or- 

 ganization, and has been maintained entirely by Mr. Lawes. He has 

 further set apart a sum of 100,000 and certain areas of land for the 

 continuance of the investigations after his death." 



In 1854 a subscription was made by agriculturists for a testimonial 

 to be presented to Mr. Lawes as an expression of their appreciation of 

 the great value of the services he had rendered to British agriculture. 

 The committee in charge of this fund, instead of expending it in plate 

 as had been intended, devoted it, at the suggestion of Mr. Lawes, to 

 the erection of a new laboratory, so that the facilities for experiment- 

 ing were largely increased. 



The eminent services of Drs. Lawes and Gilbert, in the improve- 

 ment of agriculture and the advancement of science, have been repeat- 

 edly recognized. In 1854 Dr. Lawes was elected a Fellow of the 

 Royal Society, and in 1867 the royal medal was awarded to him con- 

 jointly with Dr. Gilbert, by the council of the society. The gold 

 medal of the Imperial Agricultural Society of Russia was awarded to 

 Dr. Lawes, and last year the Emperor of Germany, by imperial decree, 

 awarded the gold medal of merit for agriculture to Dr. Lawes and Dr. 

 Gilbert jointly, " in recognition of their services for the development 

 of scientific and practical agriculture." 



As a national recognition of the great value of the investigations 

 to which he has devoted his life, Dr. Lawes has this year been created 

 a baronet. 



The number of assistants engaged in the work of experimenting 

 has gradually increased. At first only one laboratory-man was em- 

 ployed, but soon a chemical assistant was needed, and then a computer 

 and record-keeper. 



" During the past twenty-five years the staff has consisted of one 

 or two and sometimes three chemists, and two or three general assist- 

 ants, one of whom is generally employed in routine chemical work, 

 but sometimes in more general work." 



The general assistants superintend the experiments with animals 

 and the field experiments the making of manures and their applica- 

 tion the harvesting and weighing of the crops the selection of sam- 

 ples which are prepared for preservation or analysis, and they also 

 make determinations of dry matter, ash, etc. 



