750 



Research in Brewing. 



[Nov., 



RESEARCH IN BREWING. 



Brevvii>jg and farming are interdependent. The brewer 

 obtains his raw material from the farmer, and the farmer 

 relies on the brewer for one of his principal markets ; the condi- 

 tion of the one industry cannot therefore fail to be a matter 

 of concern to the other. Any progress, too, achieved in either 

 industry as a result of research must be of benefit to the other. 

 Research into questions relating to hops and malting barley is 

 ground common to the two industries, and growers of these 

 products cannot afford to be ignorant of the research work 

 recently initiated by the brewing industry. Moreover, an 

 account of the organisation and finances of this work is not 

 without value to those engaged in the development of research 

 work on purely agricultural subjects. 



Initiation of the Scheme. — The history of the brewing re- 

 search scheme is a short one. In 1918 funds were allocated 

 to the Department for Scientific and Industrial Research, and 

 thereafter research associations began to be formed by most 

 of the leading manufacturing industries. It was quickly 

 realised that the fermentation industries could 'not do 

 otherwise than fall into line with the general movement. The 

 Institute of Brewing, after consultation with representative 

 brewing firms and with the Brewers' Society, was encouraged 

 to proceed with a scheme for research work, it being decided 

 from the outset to work on independent lines without any 

 assistance by way of Government grants. 



Finance. — To obtain funds for the work a new class of mem- 

 bers (Research Fund Members) of the Institute was estab- 

 lished. This new form of membership is open to corporate 

 bodies and firms or partnerships (as such) and individuals 

 carrying on business as brewers of beer or vinegar, maltsters, 

 distillers, manufacturers of cider and wine, and barley and hop 

 growers. These members were invited to pay such subscrip- 

 tions as might appear to them to be appropriate to their capital 

 interests (with a minimum annual subscription of ten guineas) , 

 the subscription being credited to a special research fund 

 account and used for scientific investigation and research 

 for the benefit of the fermentation industries generally. 



By the end of 1919 the Research Fund membership was 136 

 with an annual subscription list of £4,357; by 31st December, 

 1920, these had been brought to a total of 197 members with 

 an annual subscription list of d65,046. 



