THE LA WES AGRICULTURAL TRUST 305 



merits with different manurial substances, first with plants in pots, and 

 afterwards in the field. At the outset the researches of De Saussure on 

 vegetation chiefly guided him. Of all his experiments those gave the most 

 striking results in which the neutral phosphate of lime, in bones, bone-ash, 

 and apatite, was rendered soluble by means of sulphuric acid, and the mix- 

 ture was applied for root-crops. The success obtained on a small scale in 1837, 

 1838, and 1839, led to more extensive trials in the field in 1840 and 1841, 

 and subsequently. In 1843 more systematic field experiments were commenced ; 

 and Dr. (afterwards Sir) J. Henry Gilbert became associated with Mr. Lawes 

 in the conduct of the experiments. The foundation of the Rothamsted Experi- 

 mental Station may be said to date from that time (1843). 



The Rothamsted station has from the commencement been disconnected 

 from any external organization, and has been maintained entirely at the 

 cost of the late Sir John Lawes, who set apart a sum of .^100,000, the 

 Laboratory, and certain areas of land, for the continuance of the investiga- 

 tions after his death. In February 1889 Trustees were appointed, and the 

 necessary Trust Deed was executed. In accordance with the provisions of the 

 Deed, a Committee of Management was soon afterwards appointed, and entered 

 upon its duties. The Trustees are Lord Avebury, F.R.S., Lord Walsingham, 

 F.R.S., and the Right Hon. A. Lyttleton, K.C. The Committee consists of 

 nine members, of whom one is the owner of Rothamsted, four are nominated 

 by the Royal Society, one by the Chemical Society, one by the Linnean 

 Society ; and two by the Royal Agricultural Society of England. 



From June 1843 until the death of Sir John Lawes, which occurred in 

 August 1900, Sir J. H. Gilbert was the Director of the Experimental Station 

 and collaborated with Lawes in all the work. Gilbert died in Dec. 1901, and 

 in Oct. 1902 Mr. A. D. Hall, F.R.S., became Director of the Station. 



In 1855 the Laboratory was built with the funds collected by public 

 subscription amongst the agriculturists of England. In 1888 the Sample 

 House was added for the storage of the very large number of samples 

 of experimentally grown crops, soils, &c., that had been accumulated. In 

 1904 a wing was added to the Laboratory by Mr. J. H. Mason, M.P., for 

 bacteriological investigations upon the soil, and further extensions are now 

 (1912) in progress. 



The field experiments were started upon such fields of the Rothamsted 

 Home Farm as were suitable for the purpose, and five of these fields were con- 

 veyed to the Lawes Agricultural Trust by the provisions of the original Trust 

 Deed. In 1911 a long lease was granted by the late Sir Charles Lawes- 

 Wittewronge of further areas of land adjoining the original experimental fields, 

 so that the Station is now in control of a farm of about 300 acres in area. 



The original trust funds have been added to from time to time by various 

 benefactors ; more particularly by the Goldsmiths' Company, which gave in 

 1907 the sum of .10,000 for the endowment of investigations upon soil. The 



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