series of articles to ‘The Field ’ on the chemistry of ensilage, at the time when
its novel introduction into farm practice was attracting attention both home
and abroad. Under the auspices of the Jersey Royal Agricultural Society he
found ample scope for investigations relating to soils and fertilisers used in the
intensive system of farming and market gardening prevailing on the island.
The consumption of artificial fertilisers in Jersey was then, as it still is, very
large in relation to the area of ground under cultivation. Toms found that
local knowledge of the origin, composition and properties of fertilisers was
often vague and their use empirical and often illogical, while the prices paid
for them were sometimes disproportionate to their productive value. Toms
initiated field experiments on the manuring of the staple crops of the Island,
mainly potatoes and tomatoes, and the lessons derived from them were disseminated with a clarity and simplicity which led to a demand for his advice,
as well as to an insistence on proper guarantees of composition by the vendors
of fertilisers and on the checking of these by analysis. Later, such ‘quality
assurance’ became legally compulsory.
His attention as States Analyst was also demanded in relation to water
supplies, gas, building materials and other miscellaneous directions. As an
instance of his versatility it should be mentioned that as long ago as 1878 he
carried out an investigation for ‘The Field’ into the comparative composition
of various explosives used for ‘sporting’ purposes, finding that the excessive
violence of certain brands of wood powder was due to a faulty proportion
between two varieties of nitrocellulose (or ‘gun cotton’) used in its composition. Later, it was found that a mixture of gun cotton, nitro-glycerine and
Vaseline (‘cordite’) yields a much more predictable propellant.
22 Woodland
Toms was the consummate professional. He was elected a Fellow of the
Chemical Society in 1875 and an Associate of the Institute of Chemistry at
the time of its formation in 1878, becoming a Fellow in 1883. He was an
original member of the Society of Chemical Industry, and joined the Society
of Public Analysts in 1884 at the time of his Jersey appointment.
There are many ‘echoes’ of Frederick Woodland Toms in the career
choices that Robert subsequently exercised. The fact that R. C. Chirnside,
who wrote Robert’s obituary
23 in 1976, makes fulsome reference to the
‘kindness’ of Woodland Toms bears testament to his influence. For example,
whereas many pupils in Robert’s position would have been content with their
school chemistry laboratory, Woodland Toms permitted him the use of the
Laboratory of the Official Analyst in St. Helier, an indulgence which culminated in Robert’s successful analysis of a sample of cement and, we suspect,
a quiet determination to become a professional chemist. We shall also see that
it is quite ironic that Robert’s early career was influenced by a man who not
1 Robert Le Rossignol
13
its novel introduction into farm practice was attracting attention both home
and abroad. Under the auspices of the Jersey Royal Agricultural Society he
found ample scope for investigations relating to soils and fertilisers used in the
intensive system of farming and market gardening prevailing on the island.
The consumption of artificial fertilisers in Jersey was then, as it still is, very
large in relation to the area of ground under cultivation. Toms found that
local knowledge of the origin, composition and properties of fertilisers was
often vague and their use empirical and often illogical, while the prices paid
for them were sometimes disproportionate to their productive value. Toms
initiated field experiments on the manuring of the staple crops of the Island,
mainly potatoes and tomatoes, and the lessons derived from them were disseminated with a clarity and simplicity which led to a demand for his advice,
as well as to an insistence on proper guarantees of composition by the vendors
of fertilisers and on the checking of these by analysis. Later, such ‘quality
assurance’ became legally compulsory.
His attention as States Analyst was also demanded in relation to water
supplies, gas, building materials and other miscellaneous directions. As an
instance of his versatility it should be mentioned that as long ago as 1878 he
carried out an investigation for ‘The Field’ into the comparative composition
of various explosives used for ‘sporting’ purposes, finding that the excessive
violence of certain brands of wood powder was due to a faulty proportion
between two varieties of nitrocellulose (or ‘gun cotton’) used in its composition. Later, it was found that a mixture of gun cotton, nitro-glycerine and
Vaseline (‘cordite’) yields a much more predictable propellant.
22 Woodland
Toms was the consummate professional. He was elected a Fellow of the
Chemical Society in 1875 and an Associate of the Institute of Chemistry at
the time of its formation in 1878, becoming a Fellow in 1883. He was an
original member of the Society of Chemical Industry, and joined the Society
of Public Analysts in 1884 at the time of his Jersey appointment.
There are many ‘echoes’ of Frederick Woodland Toms in the career
choices that Robert subsequently exercised. The fact that R. C. Chirnside,
who wrote Robert’s obituary
23 in 1976, makes fulsome reference to the
‘kindness’ of Woodland Toms bears testament to his influence. For example,
whereas many pupils in Robert’s position would have been content with their
school chemistry laboratory, Woodland Toms permitted him the use of the
Laboratory of the Official Analyst in St. Helier, an indulgence which culminated in Robert’s successful analysis of a sample of cement and, we suspect,
a quiet determination to become a professional chemist. We shall also see that
it is quite ironic that Robert’s early career was influenced by a man who not
1 Robert Le Rossignol
13