BIOGKAPHICAL INTRODUCTION xxxi 



notably for the researches which, throughout a period of fifty 

 years, have been earned on by them at the Experimental Farm, 

 Rothamsted." 



Something must now be said as to the personality of the 

 remarkable man whose life's work we have attempted to 

 describe. He possessed an extremely vigorous constitution, 

 and when past 85, exhibited but few of the infirmities of old 

 age. His holiday was always spent in Scotland, and deer 

 stalking and salmon fishing were then his chief occupations. 

 At home, all his leisure time was spent on the farm. He was 

 a keen observer, and knew the experimental fields better than 

 anyone else. His interest in agricultural problems never 

 tired, he was continually finding fresh subjects for inquiry. 

 While gifted with a full share of the scientific imagination, he 

 was thoroughly practical in his conclusions. His long 

 experience as a farmer, and the careful attention to economy 

 learnt in business, were of great use to him when he brought 

 the results of scientific investigation before the agricultural 

 world. He took a broad, statesman-like view of all agricultural 

 questions, and was looked up to by the English farmer as his 

 safest guide and his highest authority. 



Sir John Lawes seldom took part in public functions, he 

 was not seen at meetings of scientific societies, and took no 

 active part in politics ; excepting the hours unavoidably spent 

 on his London business, he lived as far as possible a country 

 life. It was, however, in no sense a secluded life; his 

 correspondence was very large, and the visitors to the 

 Rothamsted experiments were extremely numerous and of all 

 nationalities. They found at Rothamsted a genial host and 

 a ready guide to the fields, where the lessons taught by the 

 experimental crops were described in brief and pithy sentences 

 by one who knew thoroughly the whole history of each plot. 



Sir John Lawes by no means confined his attention to 

 science, agriculture, and business ; he was a man of active 

 benevolence. The agricultural labourers of Harpenden found 

 in him their best friend. He began to provide allotment 



