ABSTRACT
In England the Rothamstead Research Station was opened in 1843, and at about the same time a widespread interest in soil chemistry developed. The impulse spread to India, and after the Orissa Famine of 1866 the establishment of a Government of India Agricultural Department was considered, but it was ultimately decided to concentrate available finance on irrigation for the time being. In Bombay a Director of Agriculture was appointed in 1883, but the Bombay Government, like the Government of India, felt that more knowledge must be collected before practical work could be done. In 1903 the vision and determination of Lord Curzon led to the foundation of the great Pusa research station and to the elevation of the Imperial Department of Agriculture into an adequately staffed and financed organisation. In 1890 a Superintendent of Experimental Farms was appointed and this was the starting point of real progress in the Presidency.
