fbpx
Wikipedia

James Kirkham Ramsbottom

February 06, 2023

James Kirkham Ramsbottom (11 October 1891 – 9 February 1925) was an English botanist. He became interested in the field after he was recommended to pursue an outdoor career for his health. After a short period at the Chelsea Physic Garden Ramsbottom studied at the RHS Garden Wisley. Coming first in their diploma examinations Ramsbottom became a research student at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in 1913. He studied leaf blotch disease in irises and became assistant editor of the Gardeners' Magazine.

In March 1916 Ramsbottom was appointed to lead a study into a mysterious disease, known as "rootless disease", that was affecting narcissus bulbs and threatened the destruction of the nascent daffodil growing industry. The disease had been known for around 30 years but its cause was not certain with a number of pests or fungi suspected. By April 1917 Ramsbottom was able to prove the disease was caused by an infestation of the Ditylenchus dipsaci nematode and developed a treatment involving dipping the affected bulbs in hot water. The treatment saved the daffodil-growing industry and remains the basis for the modern-day treatment of the disease. Ramsbottom continued to work on the treatment and was invited to lecture in the United States. He died in New York by either falling or jumping from a 19th-storey window in the Hotel McAlpin.

Early life

 
A depiction of irises at Wisley in 1905

Ramsbottom was born in Manchester on 11 October 1891.[1] Because of poor health he had been advised to seek an outdoor career.[2] He worked as a gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London before studying at the RHS Garden Wisley from 1911.[1] He gained first place in the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) diploma examination and won a gold medal for scholarship. He became an RHS research student in 1913, studying Irises leaf blotch disease.[3] An account of his study was published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1915.[1] From 1914 to 1916 he served as an assistant editor of the Gardeners' Magazine.[1]

Narcissus stem and bulb nematode

 
A study of a Narcissus showing flower, stem and bulb

By 1916 the nascent British daffodil (narcissus) growing industry was in danger of collapse. The industry had been devastated for the previous ten years by a mysterious plague predominantly affecting the bulb of the plant.[4] The cause of the plague, which became known as "rootless disease", was unknown though some suspected it was caused by waterlogged soil or the actions of narcissus bulb fly (Merodon equestris) maggots, eelworms (nematodes), mites or a fungus.[5][4] There was no known cure and hundreds of acres of crops were lost. Growers faced bankruptcy, with one losing almost £12,000 of bulbs in a single season.[4]

The disease was not new, and was first noted at an 1887 conference of the Royal Horticultural Society, but became more widespread following the exchange of bulbs of hybridised varieties among growers, common in the early period of the industry. It had also reached narcissus growers in the Netherlands.[6] During the early part of the First World War (1914–18) the RHS had declined to investigate the disease as it was focussed on improving domestic food production.[7] By 1916 attitudes had relaxed a little and it was suggested that the society study the disease at a March meeting of the RHS Narcissus and Tulip Committee.[7][5] Ramsbottom was appointed to lead the study and the RHS requested that growers send him samples of affected bulbs, leading to him receiving hundreds within weeks.[5] Ramsbottom said at the time: "many bulb growers look upon the disease as 'one of nature's gifts' and are of the opinion that the bulbs will ultimately right themselves. Suffice it to say that if the bulbs are left to themselves, the bulb industry will soon cease to exist".[8]

Ramsbottom dissected the bulbs to produce thousands of microscope slides which he studies for pathogens. He noted that while many contained fungal infections all of the bulbs he checked showed the presence of the nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci, first discovered by Friedrich Adalbert Maximilian Kuhn in 1858.[4] Ramsbottom demonstrated that the mites and flies present were not the initial pathogen but were attracted by the rotting caused by the action of the nematode.[7]

Having found the cause Ramsbottom trialled different treatments to determine their effectiveness against the nematode and impact on the viability of the bulb. He trialled a number of liquid and gaseous chemicals, including formaldehyde, before concluding that immersion of the bulbs in a hot water bath at 110 °F (43 °C) for 2-4 hours was effective and left the bulbs unharmed.[5] This method had been used in the pre-war period to treat infestations of fly maggots.[7] He also advised growers to cut daffodils higher up the stem to avoid reinfection by nematodes moving from the soil into the stem.[5]

Ramsbottom's findings were to have been presented at the RHS Daffodil Show on 17 April 1917 but was cancelled; many daffodil shows in this period were abandoned because of the disease.[6][4] Ramsbottom's paper was read at a meeting of the RHS on 8 May 1917 and published, as "Investigations on Narcissus Disease", in the society's journal in 1918.[5][1] Ramsbottom went on to prove the effectiveness of his treatment in commercial stocks in 1919, in the process probably saving many early varieties such as the 'Carlton'.[7] A further paper on stem and bulb disease "Contributions from the Wisley laboratory. 31. Experiments on the control of eelworm disease of narcissus" appeared in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1919.[9]

Ramsbottom's study saved the daffodil industry from destruction.[7][10][11] Ditylenchus dipsaci is now known as the stem and bulb nematode because of its means of infection, proven by Ramsbottom, and it remains the most significant pest in daffodils.[4][12] Ramsbottom's treatment for the infection remains the basis of modern nematode control in daffodil though by the 1960s a slightly higher temperature of 114–115 °F (46–46 °C) was preferred.[6]

Later career and death

 
A 1914 depiction of the Hotel McAlpin

Following his study of the disease Ramsbottom spent five years experimenting with and perfecting apparatus for the commercial treatment of bulbs and worked closely with many growers. Because of his efforts he was awarded the RHS Peter Barr Memorial Cup in 1924.[6] In 1924 he served as assistant editor of the The Gardeners' Chronicle.[1]

Ramsbottom's study on the stem and bulb nematode led to him becoming famous in horticultural circles in the United States.[12] He travelled there on a lecture tour but died in New York on 9 February 1925 either by falling or jumping from the 19th floor of the Hotel McAlpin.[1][12][13][14]

The 1967 Daffodil Yearbook describes Ramsbottom's death as "a grievous loss to the narcissus industry that no man can measure".[6] Fiona Davison of the RHS said in 2018 that "we wouldn't have the richness of daffodils and narcissus if it wasn't for him ... He's completely forgotten now."[15] The RHS exhibits Ramsbottom's equipment at the Wisley laboratories and has also erected a plaque in his memory.[5] The daffodil variety 'J.K. Ramsbottom' is named after him.[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Desmond, Ray (25 February 1994). Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors, flower painters and garden designers. CRC Press. p. 571. ISBN 978-0-85066-843-8.
  2. ^ Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. Robert Hardwicke. 1925. p. 85.
  3. ^ Fletcher, Harold Roy (1969). The Story of the Royal Horticultural Society, 1804-1968. Oxford U. P. for the Royal Horticultural Society. p. 283. ISBN 978-0-19-212944-4.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Tompsett, Andrew (2006). Golden Harvest: The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Alison Hodge Publishers. p. 68. ISBN 978-0-906720-46-2.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Offord, Catherine (1 February 2019). "Flower Preservation, 1916". The Scientist: 64.
  6. ^ a b c d e "How Ramsbottom Gave New Life to the Narcissus" (PDF). Daffodil Yearbook. III: 1–7. 1967.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Tompsett, Andrew (2006). Golden Harvest: The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Alison Hodge Publishers. p. 70. ISBN 978-0-906720-46-2.
  8. ^ The Daffodil Journal. American Daffodil Society. 1976. p. 232.
  9. ^ Hanks, Gordon R. (18 April 2002). Narcissus and Daffodil: The Genus Narcissus. CRC Press. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-203-21935-5.
  10. ^ Daffodils. Royal Horticultural Society. 1981. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-906603-19-2.
  11. ^ Biggs, Matthew (6 May 2019). RHS A Nation in Bloom: Celebrating the People, Plants and Places of the Royal Horticultural Society. White Lion Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7112-3935-7.
  12. ^ a b c Tompsett, Andrew (2006). Golden Harvest: The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Alison Hodge Publishers. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-906720-46-2.
  13. ^ "[Untitled]". The Western Daily Press. 11 February 1925. p. 5.
  14. ^ "Jumps 19 Floors". Dayton Daily News. 9 February 1925. p. 4.
  15. ^ "Nation's botanical treasures to go on display". BBC News. 15 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Narcissus &s;J.K. Ramsbottom&s; (3)". RHS Gardening. Retrieved 20 January 2023.

February 06, 2023
james, kirkham, ramsbottom, october, 1891, february, 1925, english, botanist, became, interested, field, after, recommended, pursue, outdoor, career, health, after, short, period, chelsea, physic, garden, ramsbottom, studied, garden, wisley, coming, first, the. James Kirkham Ramsbottom 11 October 1891 9 February 1925 was an English botanist He became interested in the field after he was recommended to pursue an outdoor career for his health After a short period at the Chelsea Physic Garden Ramsbottom studied at the RHS Garden Wisley Coming first in their diploma examinations Ramsbottom became a research student at the Royal Horticultural Society RHS in 1913 He studied leaf blotch disease in irises and became assistant editor of the Gardeners Magazine In March 1916 Ramsbottom was appointed to lead a study into a mysterious disease known as rootless disease that was affecting narcissus bulbs and threatened the destruction of the nascent daffodil growing industry The disease had been known for around 30 years but its cause was not certain with a number of pests or fungi suspected By April 1917 Ramsbottom was able to prove the disease was caused by an infestation of the Ditylenchus dipsaci nematode and developed a treatment involving dipping the affected bulbs in hot water The treatment saved the daffodil growing industry and remains the basis for the modern day treatment of the disease Ramsbottom continued to work on the treatment and was invited to lecture in the United States He died in New York by either falling or jumping from a 19th storey window in the Hotel McAlpin Contents 1 Early life 2 Narcissus stem and bulb nematode 3 Later career and death 4 ReferencesEarly life Edit A depiction of irises at Wisley in 1905 Ramsbottom was born in Manchester on 11 October 1891 1 Because of poor health he had been advised to seek an outdoor career 2 He worked as a gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London before studying at the RHS Garden Wisley from 1911 1 He gained first place in the Royal Horticultural Society s RHS diploma examination and won a gold medal for scholarship He became an RHS research student in 1913 studying Irises leaf blotch disease 3 An account of his study was published in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1915 1 From 1914 to 1916 he served as an assistant editor of the Gardeners Magazine 1 Narcissus stem and bulb nematode Edit A study of a Narcissus showing flower stem and bulb By 1916 the nascent British daffodil narcissus growing industry was in danger of collapse The industry had been devastated for the previous ten years by a mysterious plague predominantly affecting the bulb of the plant 4 The cause of the plague which became known as rootless disease was unknown though some suspected it was caused by waterlogged soil or the actions of narcissus bulb fly Merodon equestris maggots eelworms nematodes mites or a fungus 5 4 There was no known cure and hundreds of acres of crops were lost Growers faced bankruptcy with one losing almost 12 000 of bulbs in a single season 4 The disease was not new and was first noted at an 1887 conference of the Royal Horticultural Society but became more widespread following the exchange of bulbs of hybridised varieties among growers common in the early period of the industry It had also reached narcissus growers in the Netherlands 6 During the early part of the First World War 1914 18 the RHS had declined to investigate the disease as it was focussed on improving domestic food production 7 By 1916 attitudes had relaxed a little and it was suggested that the society study the disease at a March meeting of the RHS Narcissus and Tulip Committee 7 5 Ramsbottom was appointed to lead the study and the RHS requested that growers send him samples of affected bulbs leading to him receiving hundreds within weeks 5 Ramsbottom said at the time many bulb growers look upon the disease as one of nature s gifts and are of the opinion that the bulbs will ultimately right themselves Suffice it to say that if the bulbs are left to themselves the bulb industry will soon cease to exist 8 Ramsbottom dissected the bulbs to produce thousands of microscope slides which he studies for pathogens He noted that while many contained fungal infections all of the bulbs he checked showed the presence of the nematode Ditylenchus dipsaci first discovered by Friedrich Adalbert Maximilian Kuhn in 1858 4 Ramsbottom demonstrated that the mites and flies present were not the initial pathogen but were attracted by the rotting caused by the action of the nematode 7 Having found the cause Ramsbottom trialled different treatments to determine their effectiveness against the nematode and impact on the viability of the bulb He trialled a number of liquid and gaseous chemicals including formaldehyde before concluding that immersion of the bulbs in a hot water bath at 110 F 43 C for 2 4 hours was effective and left the bulbs unharmed 5 This method had been used in the pre war period to treat infestations of fly maggots 7 He also advised growers to cut daffodils higher up the stem to avoid reinfection by nematodes moving from the soil into the stem 5 Ramsbottom s findings were to have been presented at the RHS Daffodil Show on 17 April 1917 but was cancelled many daffodil shows in this period were abandoned because of the disease 6 4 Ramsbottom s paper was read at a meeting of the RHS on 8 May 1917 and published as Investigations on Narcissus Disease in the society s journal in 1918 5 1 Ramsbottom went on to prove the effectiveness of his treatment in commercial stocks in 1919 in the process probably saving many early varieties such as the Carlton 7 A further paper on stem and bulb disease Contributions from the Wisley laboratory 31 Experiments on the control of eelworm disease of narcissus appeared in the Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society in 1919 9 Ramsbottom s study saved the daffodil industry from destruction 7 10 11 Ditylenchus dipsaci is now known as the stem and bulb nematode because of its means of infection proven by Ramsbottom and it remains the most significant pest in daffodils 4 12 Ramsbottom s treatment for the infection remains the basis of modern nematode control in daffodil though by the 1960s a slightly higher temperature of 114 115 F 46 46 C was preferred 6 Later career and death Edit A 1914 depiction of the Hotel McAlpin Following his study of the disease Ramsbottom spent five years experimenting with and perfecting apparatus for the commercial treatment of bulbs and worked closely with many growers Because of his efforts he was awarded the RHS Peter Barr Memorial Cup in 1924 6 In 1924 he served as assistant editor of the The Gardeners Chronicle 1 Ramsbottom s study on the stem and bulb nematode led to him becoming famous in horticultural circles in the United States 12 He travelled there on a lecture tour but died in New York on 9 February 1925 either by falling or jumping from the 19th floor of the Hotel McAlpin 1 12 13 14 The 1967 Daffodil Yearbook describes Ramsbottom s death as a grievous loss to the narcissus industry that no man can measure 6 Fiona Davison of the RHS said in 2018 that we wouldn t have the richness of daffodils and narcissus if it wasn t for him He s completely forgotten now 15 The RHS exhibits Ramsbottom s equipment at the Wisley laboratories and has also erected a plaque in his memory 5 The daffodil variety J K Ramsbottom is named after him 16 References Edit a b c d e f g Desmond Ray 25 February 1994 Dictionary Of British And Irish Botanists And Horticulturists Including plant collectors flower painters and garden designers CRC Press p 571 ISBN 978 0 85066 843 8 Journal of Botany British and Foreign Robert Hardwicke 1925 p 85 Fletcher Harold Roy 1969 The Story of the Royal Horticultural Society 1804 1968 Oxford U P for the Royal Horticultural Society p 283 ISBN 978 0 19 212944 4 a b c d e f Tompsett Andrew 2006 Golden Harvest The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hodge Publishers p 68 ISBN 978 0 906720 46 2 a b c d e f g Offord Catherine 1 February 2019 Flower Preservation 1916 The Scientist 64 a b c d e How Ramsbottom Gave New Life to the Narcissus PDF Daffodil Yearbook III 1 7 1967 a b c d e f Tompsett Andrew 2006 Golden Harvest The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hodge Publishers p 70 ISBN 978 0 906720 46 2 The Daffodil Journal American Daffodil Society 1976 p 232 Hanks Gordon R 18 April 2002 Narcissus and Daffodil The Genus Narcissus CRC Press p 125 ISBN 978 0 203 21935 5 Daffodils Royal Horticultural Society 1981 p 37 ISBN 978 0 906603 19 2 Biggs Matthew 6 May 2019 RHS A Nation in Bloom Celebrating the People Plants and Places of the Royal Horticultural Society White Lion Publishing p 103 ISBN 978 0 7112 3935 7 a b c Tompsett Andrew 2006 Golden Harvest The Story of Daffodil Growing in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Alison Hodge Publishers p 71 ISBN 978 0 906720 46 2 Untitled The Western Daily Press 11 February 1925 p 5 Jumps 19 Floors Dayton Daily News 9 February 1925 p 4 Nation s botanical treasures to go on display BBC News 15 July 2018 Narcissus amp s J K Ramsbottom amp s 3 RHS Gardening Retrieved 20 January 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Kirkham Ramsbottom amp oldid 1137718070, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.