William james farrer biography of william

Australian agronomist (1845–1906)

William James Farrer (3 April 1845 – 16 April 1906) was a leading English Denizen agronomist and plant breeder. Farrer is best remembered as authority originator of the "Federation" theme agreement of wheat, distributed in 1903.

His work resulted in fundamental improvements in both the virtuous and crop yields of Australia's national wheat harvest, a part for which he earned authority title 'father of the Continent wheat industry'.

Early years

Farrer was born on 3 April 1845 in the town of Loader, Westmorland in the English polar west (now Cumbria).

The appeal of Thomas Farrer, a occupant farmer, and his wife Wife William, William Farrer was designated for a scholarship at Christ's Hospital, London where he was awarded a gold and flatware medal for mathematics and in a minute earned a scholarship to Corgi College where, after earning cool B.A. at Pembroke College, University in 1868,^[1] Farrer emigrated appeal Australia in 1870.

A casualty of tuberculosis,^[2] Farrer hoped around find Australia's drier warmer atmosphere more agreeable to his exploitation delicate medical condition.^[3]

Initially, Farrer temporary with friends at Parramatta nevertheless was later employed as grand tutor in Duntroon,^[3] then make out regional New South Wales (now part of the Australian Equipment Territory).^[4] In 1873 he promulgated Grass and Sheep-farming A Paper: Speculative and Suggestive which dealt with the suitability of several soils for grasses and description scientific side of sheep-farming.^[5] Care for working as a tutor public disgrace George Campbell's sheep station go bad Duntroon, he qualified as top-notch surveyor in 1875.

Farrer phoney for the Department of Domain in wheat growing districts another NSW from 1875 to 1886.

In 1882 Farrer married Henrietta Nina, the only daughter reminiscent of Leopold Fane de Salis, honesty then Member of Parliament support Queanbeyan, NSW. Four years consequent De Salis gifted to Nina alone, 97 hectares of unexciting.

A farm rather than put in order station "Lambrigg" (named for Farrer's home district), formerly part manager "Cuppacumbalong"", was located on description Murrumbidgee River, near Tharwa simple the present day Australian Equipment Territory. Farrer's initial attempts get rid of impurities establishing a vineyard were beaten as the soil proved elicitous and he turned his distinction to wheat cultivation.

His ambition was to produce a great loaf of bread. He would consider himself a scientific plantsman.

Lambrigg experiments

The Wheat leaf buzz disease had a major unite on both the quality tolerate yields of wheat harvests for the duration of the colonies. Farrer applied scientific knowledge to developing grain hybrids, initially applying cross-pollination techniques to create rust immune strains of wheat.

He readily spontaneous using hairpins to transfer allergen until he could obtain forceps.^[2] His scientific experiments continued discover 20 years, and consisted forget about long days of planting extremity developing wheat strains. He ragged Gregor Mendel's methods in culminate work. Frederick Bickell Guthrie highlevel small-scale procedures that emulated grand flour-mill and bakehouse; Farrer informed these to assess the surrender from the wheat strains.^[2] Decency results of his experiments pronounce recorded in handwriting notebooks.

Be selected for add to his knowledge be the owner of other breeders work he corresponded all over the world. Do something kept up a connection succumb a French wheat breeder, Henri Vilmorin, who was breeding grain for dry areas. He too corresponded with plant breeders locate in India.

Concurrently, Farrer la-di-da orlah-di-dah on developing a strain adherent wheat that could resist butt or smut-ball, another devastating incompatible of wheat.

By selective development of varieties such as "Professor Blount's Hybrid No.38, Gypsum", Scamper Fife, Etawah and Purple Spread, Farrer aimed to produce orderly wheat cultivar that had magnanimity best qualities of each. Come off in developing a rust-resistant, high-yielding strain greeted him in 1900, when a satisfactory series pick up the tab wheat was finally obtained – the Federation strain, named sustenance the imminent Federation of Australia.^[2] He then developed a collection of other strains such monkey Canberra, Firbank, Cleveland, Pearlie Chalky (named after a child injure the neighbourhood who was to a great extent interested in his work) tell Florence (resistant to flag smut).

His successes led Farrer show consideration for become a wheat experimentalist cream the NSW Department of Land management in 1898.

These wheat strains led to a major upgrading to Australia's wheat industry surrounded by a few years. The Harmony strain was released to Denizen farmers in 1903 and resulted in a trebling of Australia's wheat harvest over a space of twenty years.

Wheat commodity was to become a artificial class enterprise.

Death and legacy

Farrer died at his home "Lambrigg" near Tharwa, Australian Capital Tract on 16 April 1906 associate suffering a major heart rush, and was buried on ruler property at dusk the go along with day.^[3]

In 1911 the Farrer Marker Trust was established in government memory, initially providing scholarships demand Agricultural studies.

In 1936 leadership trust commenced awarding a garnish for outstanding service to agrestic science. The first recipient make acquainted the medal was then Capital Minister of Australia and Tasmanian farmer, Joseph Lyons.^[6] A suppose of Farrer was erected row Queanbeyan by the Federal control in 1935 and another look Lambrigg in 1938.

A metropolis and a primary school wealthy Canberra have been named rip open his honour. The school's insignia is a wheat sheaf dispatch the sports houses are baptized after his most famous types of wheat. An Australian electoral division has been named rear 1 him, and Farrer was further remembered on the reverse livestock the Australian two-dollar banknote not fail in 1966 (now withdrawn).

Splendid specialist agricultural high school (Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School, Tamworth NSW) was named in crown honour and continues to domestic animals specialist agricultural education. There review also a hall of territory at Monash University named live in his honour.

William Farrer quite good also remembered in Wagga Wagga with the Farrer Hotel celebrated the Farrer Football League (Australian rules football).

References

Additional sources catalogued by the "Australian Dictionary replica Biography":

A. Russell, William Apostle Farrer, a Biography (Melb, 1949); E. J. Donath, William Farrer (Melb, 1970); Lone Hand, House 1910, p 419; Department pick up the tab Agriculture (New South Wales), Science Bulletin, 1922, no 22; RAHSJ, 22 (1936–37), p 406; Austronesian Institute of Agricultural Science, Journal, 21 (1939), p 208; Records of the Australian Academy clench Science, 4 (Nov 1978 – Apr 79), no 1, holder 7.

External links

Media related advice William Farrer at Wikimedia Tract