analytical methods or ways of getting over difficulties that have 

 arisen in the course of their work. 



These developments necessitated a considerable extension of 

 the laboratory and of the farm. The first steps consisted in taking 

 over 230 acres of land in 1911 on a 77 years' lease, and this, 

 together with the Trust land, gave a self-contained farm capable of 

 being worked with great advantage to the experiments. Suitable 

 farm buildings and cottages were erected in 1913. A new wing 

 was also added to the laboratory, and this was opened on June 27, 

 1913, by the Rt. Hon. Walter Runciman, M.P., President of the 

 Board of Agriculture. 



In 1914 the old laboratory, which had for some time revealed 

 certain structural defects, was taken down and a new laboratory 

 was begun, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir J. B. 

 Lawes in 1814 and of Sir J. H. Gilbert in 1817. Altogether these 

 improvements cost over £"21,000, of which ,£"10,000 was given in 

 grants from the Development Fund and over ^"9,000 collected 

 by public subscription ; of this ,£"6,000 was obtained as the Lawes 

 and Gilbert Centenary Fund in 1914. 



The field experiments, which began in 1843, have on some of 

 the plots been continued without break or alteration up to the 

 present day ; on the Broadbalk Wheat Field certain rearrangements 

 were made in 1852, in which year also the Barley experiments on 

 the Hoos Field began. The leguminous crops on the Hoos Field 

 were started in 1848, the experiments on Roots have been continued 

 on the same field since 1843, and on the same plan since 1856. The 

 grass plots began in 1856, and the rotation experiments in 1848. 



It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of continuing the 

 experimental plots at Rothamsted without any change, as nowhere 

 else in the world do such extensive data exist for studying the effect 

 of season and manuring upon the yield and quality of the crop, and 

 for watching the progressive changes which are going on in the soil. 

 Year by year these plots are found to throw light upon new problems 

 in Agricultural Science ; in all directions they continue to provide 

 material for investigations upon points which were not contemplated 

 in the original design of the experiments, so that it is impossible to 

 foresee when and how they will not become useful and provide 

 indispensable material for the solution of problems undreamt of at 

 the present time. 



The maintenance, however, of the old data throws a heavy 

 burden on the Experimental Station. There are 210 plots, and 

 every year 243 samples have to be taken with proper precautions 

 and put into store for future reference. In addition, many analytical 

 determinations are made. During the past and the present season 

 complete soil samples are being taken for analysis, to enable a 

 comparison to be instituted with the set of samples taken in 1894, 

 and thus to study the soil changes that have gone on during the 

 last twenty years. A complete botanical analysis of the grass plots 

 is also in hand. 



It should be remembered that the object of the Rothamsted 

 Experiments is to study the soil and the crop, and only indirectly to 

 find the most paying method of manuring; hence neither the nature 

 nor the quantities of material applied are to be taken as indicating 

 the manures which should be used in practice. 



