BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 



In 1908 he returned to Ceylon at the request of 

 Dr. Willis, as Assistant Director of the Royal Botanic 

 Gardens. Dr. Willis first formed the idea of collecting 

 at Peradeniya a staff dealing with entomology, plant- 

 breeding, mycology, etc., ready to experiment for, 

 and give advice to, the planter and the native culti- 

 vator an idea which has been successfully imitated 

 in India. 



In 1910 R. H. Lock returned to England on short 

 leave, when he married Bella Sidney Woolf, eldest 

 daughter of the late Sidney Woolf, Q.C. He also 

 took his degree of Sc.D. He returned to Ceylon to 

 take up residence in a charming bungalow that 

 Government had built for him in the Peradeniya 

 Gardens an ideal spot to live in. From 1908 to 

 1912 his work was very strenuous. For a considerable 

 period he was Acting-Director of the Gardens in the 

 absence of the Director on leave. At the same time 

 he conducted extensive experiments in rubber-tapping 

 and paddy-breeding. 



The result of the latter research work was a new strain 

 of rice, known as ' Lock's paddy.' This variety is now 

 displacing other varieties throughout the island. He 

 is the only official connected with the Botanic Gardens 

 throughout the hundred years and more of their 

 existence who has given his name to any product. 



But changes were taking place which led eventually 

 to R. H. Lock's resignation of his post. Government 

 decided to create a Department of Agriculture, and 

 to place the Gardens under its administration. Dr. 

 Willis retired, and R. H. Lock was offered the post of 



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