The Lawes Agricultural Trust. 155 



THE LAWES AGRICULTURAL TRUST.* 



MR. (now SIR) JOHN BENNET LAWES was the founder of the Roth- 

 amsted Experimental Station. He commenced experiments with 

 different manuring substances, first with plants in pots, and after- 

 wards in the field, soon after entering into possession of his hereditary 

 property at Rothamstedf in 1834. At the outset the researches of 

 De Saussure on vegetation chiefly guided him. Of all the experi- 

 ments so made, those in which the neutral phosphate of lime, in. 

 bones, bone-ash, and apatite, was rendered soluble by means of sul- 

 phuric acid, and the mixture applied for root-crops, gave the most 

 striking results. The results obtained on a small scale in 1837, 1838,. 

 and 1839, were such as to lead to more extensive trials in the field in 

 1840 and 1841, and subsequently. 



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 investi- 

 gations. The foundation of the Bot hams ted Experimental Station 

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



The Rothamsted station has from the commencement been entirely 

 disconnected from any external organisation, and has been maintained 

 entirely at the cost of Sir John Lawes. Within the last few years 

 he has further set apart a sum of 100,000, the Laboratory, and 

 certain areas of land, for the continuance of the investigations 

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

 the necessary Trust Deed was executed ; and in accordance with 

 the provisions of the Deed, a Committee of Management was soon 

 afterwards appointed, and entered upon its duties. 



The Trustees are : 



Sir JOHN LTJBBOCK, Bart., F.E.S. | LORD WALSINGHAM, F.R.S. 

 Sir JOHN EVANS, K.C.B., Treasurer of the Royal Society. 



The Committee consists of nine Members, who are at present : 



Sir JOHN EVANS, Treas. R.S. (Chairman) -> Nominated by : 



Dr. HUGO MULLEB, F.R.S. (Treasurer) I The Eoyal gockity 



Professor M. FOSTER, Sec. R.S j 



W. T. THISELTON DYER, Esq., C.M.GK, F.K.S.. . . J 



* This statement is abridged from the Rothamsted " Memoranda " for 1896. 



f Rothamsted is in Hertfordshire, twenty-five miles from London, on the Mid- 

 land Railway; Station, Harpenden. Postal address Rothamsted, St. Albans. 

 Telegraphic address Harpenden. 



