Abstract
CHARGED as it was with the scientific supervision of the widespread organization for agricultural research which has been developed in Great Britain since 1911 and holding (as many may think unfortunately) but few of the purse strings directly, the policy of the Agricultural Research Council has been to guide and stimulate work in progress at research institutions, rather than to attempt control. As the late Sir William Hardy expressed it, “free” not “directed” research was what it desired to promote. In giving effect to this policy, Sir Edwin Butler proved himself an ideal secretary. An acknowledged leader in his own subject, mycology, he had, as director of institutions in India and Great Britain, gained a wide knowledge of the problems and the methods of the agricultural investigator. He quickly made himself familiar with the work of the research institutes and lie visited them frequently. Nor was he ever an unwelcome visitor, since directors and members of staff alike soon found that in him they had a real friend, always ready to interest himself m their problems, always ready with helpful suggestions. To the Council the contacts thus established were invaluable, as were also his detailed descriptive reports. His conclusions could be accepted with confidence; they were marked by proofs of full understanding, careful weighing of evidence and absolute fairness. His personal qualities made him the best of colleagues and it was with great regret that, because of the verdict of his medical advisers, his resignation from the secretaryship was accepted. But this did not come until he had left behind him a permanent memorial of his tenure of office.
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Agricultural Research Council: Sir Edwin Butler, C.M.G., C.I.E., F.R.S. Nature 147, 506 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/147506a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/147506a0