DR G. H. PETHYBRIDGE

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OBITUARY NOTICES

DR GEORGE HERBERT PETHYBRIDGE, O.RE., RSc., Ph.D., 1871-1948

In any society in any year, no matter how its ranks may be made repletethrough the recruitment of the enthusiasm and vigour of youth, there willoccur gaps. Some will be hardly perceptible and will close quickly-almostunobserved-but there will be others which will yawn wide open, causinga breach seemingly incapable of repair. Such a gap in the ranks of theBritish Mycological Society and of economic biology has been causedthrough the death of George Herbert Pethybridge.

Geo. H. Pethybridge-to refer to him in terms of his own signature, andto which of us who knew him well will this reference not bring to mind thebold and deliberate stroke of that pen which accomplished so much-wasborn at Bodmin in Cornwall on 1 October 1871. Schooled in Bodmin andLaunceston he decided against the family profession of banking andmatriculated through Owens College, Manchester. He commenced hisscientific studies at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and afterobtaining an honours degree became, for a short time, a schoolmaster.Later he went to Germany and studied at Gottingen under Berthold, wherehe worked in the field of plant physiology and graduated as Ph.D. On hisreturn from Germany he accepted an appointment at the Royal College ofScience, Dublin, where for some twenty years he was destined to playa leading role in the development of economic biology as fostered andadministered by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instructionfor Ireland after its foundation in 1900. In 1908 he was appointed EconomicBotanist and Head of the Seeds and Plant Disease Division of the Depart­ment, a post which he occupied until 1923 when he resigned and his careerin Ireland came to a close.

It was from 1908 to 1923 that Pethybridge achieved what was probablyhis best work as an experimental scientist and for which he will be mostremembered. The outstanding importance of the potato crop in Ireland,emphasized by the tragedy of the famine, made it only natural thatpriority should be given to the study of the diseases of the potato, and itwas to this subject that he gave his greatest attention. He approached theproblem with a precision and thoroughness which was to become socharacteristic of all his work, and deciding rightly that the line of attackmust be made through experimental plant pathology, he insisted upon theestablishment of a field laboratory in a district where potatoes were grownintensively and where the incidence of disease was considerable. Sucha district is Galway in the west of Ireland and it was there, at Clifden, thathis field laboratory was situated. In each of the ten years, 1910-1919,a report was published in the Journal of the Department of Agriculture andTechnical Instruction for Ireland dealing with the work which had been doneand the results obtained. Entitled' Investigations on Potato Diseases'these reports, which are well illustrated with excellent photographs, arewritten in that clear and lucid style which Pethybridge was to make his ownand which was so successful in reducing highly technical matter so that it

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may be readily followed and easily understood. The more scientific aspectsof his work appeared, again so clearly described and well illustrated, ina series of papers published in the Scientific Proceedings of the Royal DublinSociety and of the Royal Irish Academy. In the latter years he was joined byPaul Murphy who was eventually to succeed him and contribute largely tothe study of potato virus diseases. The high lights of this work dealt withthe problem of the overwintering of Phytophthora infestans and the search foroospores; the investigation of pink rot and its cause P. erythroseptica; thediscovery of amphigynous antheridia in the genus Phytophthora; Verticilliumwilt, dry rot, and last but not least, the investigation of the control ofpotato blight by spraying.

The war of 1914-18 brought about a large temporary increase in theacreage of fibre flax and very soon, under conditions of more intensivecultivation and through the difficulty of obtaining adequate supplies offresh seed, the incidence of disease in the crop assumed significant propor­tions. Thus, from 19I7 onwards Pethybridge took flax under his wing andagain, insisting upon the necessity for study in the field, he succeeded inestablishing a field laboratory for the work, this time at Bog Hill, Colerainein Co. Londonderry, the centre of a flax district. Here, ably assisted byH. A. Lafferty (plant pathology) and J. G. Rhynehart (entomology),a great deal of pioneer work was carried out and three annual reportsfollowing upon the same lines as those for potato diseases appeared in theDepartment's Journal from 1920 to 1922. Most outstanding was the workdealing with the life histories of Colletotrichum linicola, the cause of seedlingblight in flax, and Polyspora lini, the cause of stem break and browning. Ithas been the writer's privilege to study and repeat much of the work ofPethybridge and his colleagues, particularly in the case of flax, and apartfrom the ease with which the work can be followed, the accuracy of state­ment and description is unique.

Besides his work on the diseases of the potato and flax, Pethybridge'sinvestigations in Ireland covered a wide field as is instanced not only by hisoccasional study of other crop diseases but by his census catalogue of Irishfungi prepared in collaboration with J. Adams, and a study of the vegeta­tion of the district south of Dublin carried out in partnership with R. Ll.Praeger. He was also responsible for the supervision of the Dublin SeedTesting Station which was the first established in the British Isles.

Not much is heard outside Ireland ofPethybridge as a teacher, but that healso excelled in the handling of his classwork in the Royal College ofSciencesoon becomes evident in discussion with those who were once his students.Many of them were outlived by their master but those who still survivespeak with great respect and sometimes almost with awe of their course ofinstruction under Dr Pethybridge. There was obviously no room for back­sliders at the bench of that laboratory and few could have come awaywithout a sound training in the principles of plant pathology. Only theother day, in the course of a somewhat inconclusive discussion at a Con­ference in Northern Ireland, an elderly gentleman who had been his studentarose to announce with emphasis: 'Didn't Pethybridge say" Many diseasesare due to disharmony with environment?'" There were no furthercomments.

Obituary NoticesPethybridge's outstanding work in Ireland was crowned in 1921 when

he was awarded the Boyle Medal by the Royal Dublin Society (Sci. Proc. R.DublinSoc. 16 (N.S.), 226, 1921).

In 1923 he left Ireland and accepted the post of Mycologist to theMinistry of Agriculture and Fisheries at the Plant Pathology Laboratory,Harpenden; later he was appointed Assistant Director of the Laboratory.Here again for thirteen years he was to give of his best to the science towhich he devoted his life. Not so much on the experimental side this­time but rather in advising on technical matters and in encouraging andco-ordinating the work of the Advisory Plant Pathology Service in Englandand Wales. The quality of his writing and his reports retained their highstandard of accuracy and readability and, as in Ireland, he proved himselfa leader and master of his craft.

Pethybridge joined the British Mycological Society in 1919 and washonoured by election to the office of President in 1926, the title of hisaddress being' Mycology and Plant Pathology'. He was an active member ofthe Royal Irish Academy, the Royal Dublin Society, the Royal HorticulturalSociety, the Linnean Society and the Association of Applied Biologists.

Retiring from the service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in1936 he was made G.B.E. in 1937 in recognition of his outstanding work.For some ten years subsequent to his retirement he served as AssistantEditor of the Journal of Pomology and Horticultural Science, an appointmentfor which he was admirably fitted, and vol. 23 of the Journal was dedicatedto him in acknowledgement of his service.

Although officially retired and returned to his native heath at Bodmin,Pethybridge kept up his correspondence and interest and was always readywith advice and assistance when required. His letters still remained full ofthat pointed good humour which permeated the whole of his active lifeand seldom was the discussion of technical matters not accompanied bysome rare tit-bit which revealed a piquant and tantalizing personalityunderlying the plant pathologist. In February 1948 the familiar hand­writing and signature remained as clear and bold as ever; by May thatfirm hand showed signs oflosing its cunning and on 23 May 1948 he died.A valiant Cornishman had passed on but there still remains a treasuredmemory and a sterling example. A.E.M.

List ofPublications

The leaf-spots of Arum maculatum (1903). Irish Nat. 12, 145.An improved simple form of Potometer (1904). Sci. Proc. R. DublinSoc. 10 (N.S.), 149.The vegetation of the district lying south of Dublin (with map) (1905). Proc. R. IrishAcad.

25, 124. (With R. Ll. Praeger.)The causes of 'Blowing , in tins of condensed milk (1906). Econ, Proc. R. DublinSoc. 1,306.Reports on tests made with the new French Potato Solanum commersonii Violet, and the

'Blue Giant' (lg08). J. Dep, Agric. Ire. 8, 247.Dry rot of the potato tuber (lg08). Econ. Proc. R. DublinSoc. 1,547. (With E. H. Bowers.)Potato diseases in Ireland (1910). J. Dep. Agric. Ire. 10,241.A census Catalogue oflrish fungi (rqro). Proc. R. Irish Acad. 28, 120. (With]. Adams.)A bacterial disease of the potato plant in Ireland (1911). Proc. R. Irish Acad. 29, I. (With

P. A. Murphy.)

11-2

Transactions British Mycological SocietyConsiderati ons and experiments on the supposed infection of the potato crop with the

blight fungus (Phytophthoro infistans) by means of mycelium deri ved directly from theplanted tubers (lg I I) . Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 13, (N.S.), [ 2 .

Investigations on potato diseases (second report) ([9 [ 1). ]. Dep. Agric. Ire. 11,4[7.The' Bladder Rust' of Scots Pine ( r91 r). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. II , 500.Investigations on potato diseases (third report ) (r 912). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 12, 334.The methods employed in testing grass seeds ([912). ]. econ, Bioi. 7,41.On the nomenclature of th e organism causing ' Corky ' or ' Powde ry-Scab ' in the potato

tuber Spongospora subterranea (WallL) Johnson (19 (3). ]. R. hort. Soc. 38, 524.Investigations on potato diseases (four th repor t) ( [9 13). ] . Dep, Agric. Ire. 13,445.On the rotting of potato tubers by a new species ofPhytophthorahaving a method of sexual

reproduction hitherto undescribed (19 [3). Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 13 (N.S.), 529.On pure cultures of Phytophthora irfestansde Bary and the development of oospores ([913).

Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 13 (N.S.) 566. (With P. A. Murphy.)Further observa tions on Phytophthora erythroseptica Pethyb. and on the disease caused by it

in the potato plant ( [9 [4). Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 14 (N.S.), [79.Investigations on potato diseases (fifth report ) ( lg I4) . ] . Dep, Agric. Ire. 14,433.Recent advances in our knowledge of th e genus Phytophthora (1914). ]. econ. Bioi. 9, 53.The spread of celery Leaf-Spot Disease by the use of affected seed and its prevention (1914).

]. Dep. Agric. Ire. 14, 687.Investigations on potato diseases (sixth report) (1915). ]. Dept. Agric. Ire. 15, 491.Cultivation of seaweed in Ireland (19 15). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 15, 546.The possible source of orig in of the Leaf-Spot Disease of cultiva ted celery (19 15). ]. R.

hort.Soc. 40, 476.The Verticillium disease of the potato (19 16) . Sci. Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 15 (N.S.), 63.Investigations on potato diseases (seventh report) (1916). ] . Dep, Agric. Ire. 16,564.Further observations on the cause of common dry-rot of the potato tuber in the British

Isles (1917). Sci. Proc. R . Dublin Soc. 15 (N.S.), 193. (With H. A. Lafferty.)Investigations on potato diseases (eighth report) (1917). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 17,595.A disease of flax seedlings caused by a species of Colletotrichum and transmitted by infected

seed (1918). Sci. Proc. R . Dublin Soc. 15 (N.S.), 359. (With H. A. Lafferty. )Investigations on potato diseases (ninth report) (1918). ] . Dep, Agric. Ire. 18,410.A disease of tomato and other plants caus ed by a new species of Phytophthora (1919). Sci.

Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 15 (N.S.), 487. (With H. A. Lafferty.)Heterocarpy in Pieris echioides (1919). Irish. Nat. 28, 25. .Investigations on potato diseases (tenth report) ( [9 [9) . ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 19,271.A destructive disease ofseedling trees of Thuja gigantea Nutt. ( [9 19)' Quart.]. For. 13, 93.Is it possible to distinguish the seeds of wild white clover from those of ordinary white

clover by chemical means during a germination test? (19 19) ' Econ. Proc. R. DublinSoc. 2, 248.

Notes on some saprophyti c species of fungi associated with diseased potato plants andtubers ( Ig lg). Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc. 6, 104.

Investigations on flax diseases ( [g20). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 20, 325 (With H . A. Lafferty.)Investigat ions on flax diseases (second rep ort) (192[) . ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 21, 167. (With

H. A. Lafferty and J. G. Rhynehart. )Some recent work on the potato blight. Rep. Intern. Potato Conj. 1921.

Investigations on flax diseases (third report) (1922). ]. Dep, Agric. Ire. 22, 109. (WithH. A. Lafferty and j. G. Rhynehart .)

On a Phytophthota parasitic on apples which has both amphigynous and paragynousantheridia ; and on allied species which show the same phenomenon (1922). Sci.Proc. R. Dublin Soc. 17 (N.S.), 29. (With H. A. Lafferty. )

The phytopathological service of England and Wales (1924)' ]. Minist. Agric. 31, 331.(With j. C. F. Fryer.)

Potato Leaf Roll (1924) ' ] . Minist. Agric. 31, 863.Fungusandallieddiseases of crops 1922-1924 (1926). Misc.Publ,Bd Agric.Fish.,Lond., no. 52.Fungus and allied diseases (ex. plant pests and diseases in 1926) (1927). National Farmers'

Union Year Bookfor 1927. p. 162.Notes on Nectria rubi (lg27). Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc. 12,20. (With R. M. Nattrass.)Mycology and plant pathology (Presidential Address) (1927). Trans. Brit. mycol. Soc. 12, 9 I.A new disease of the Dahlia (1928). Gdnrs' Chron. 84, 393.

Obituary NoticesFungus and allied diseases of crops 1925, 1926 and 1927 (1929). Misc. Pub!. Bd Agric.

Fish., Lond., no. 70., Dry pickling' or 'dusting' seed wheat to prevent bunt: resul ts of co-operative trials by

advisory mycologists in England and Wales 1927-28 (1930). J. Minist. Agric., 37,429. (With W. C. Moore.)

A watery wound rot of the potato (1930) . J. Minist. Agric. 37, 335. (With A. Smith.)England and Wales: new and interesting ph ytopathological records for the year 1931

(1932). Int. Bull. Pl. Prot. 6, 2 1.

A suspected virus disease of zonal Pelargonium (1932). Gdnrs' Chron. 92, 378. (With K. M.Smith.)

Fungus and other diseases of crops, 1928-1932. Bull. Min. Agric. Fish., no. 79. (WithW. C. Moore and A. Smith.)

Potato diseases (1934). J. Minist. Agric.4 1 , 125.Snapdragon (Antirrhinum) rust (1934)' J. Minist. Agric. 41 , 336.Marsh spot in pea seeds (1934) . J. Minist. Agric. 41 , 833.Marsh spot in pea seeds: is it a deficiency disease? (1936). J. Minist. Agric. 43, 55.History and connotation of the term ' Blattrollkrankheit' (leaf roll disease) as applied to

certain potato diseases (1939). Phytopath. Z. 12, 283.The Potato blight yesterday and today (1940). Polytech. Rep. (R. Cornwall Polytech. Soc·),9, 48.

MISS GULIELMA LISTER

With the passing of Miss G. Lister, Mycology has lost yet another of itsoutstanding workers, and the Society an old and much-loved friend.

Gulielma Lister was born on 28 October 1860, in the family house atLeytonstone, where she died on 18 May 1949. She came of a Quaker familydistinguished for its learning and artistic ability. Her grandfather, ]. J.Lister, F.R.S., was an eminent physicist and microscopist, and one of heruncles was Lord Lister, the famous surgeon. Her father, Arthur Lister,F.R.S., by trade a wine-merchant, was a keen all-round naturalist anda good draughtsman who eventually was attracted to the study of theMycetozoa, and in 1894 published a monograph which became thestandard work on the group. Her mother was a good amateur artist, whohad studied under David Cox, so that the scientific and artistic abilities ofthe children were derived from both sides.

Gulielma, one of seven children, was educated at home, except for oneyear at Bedford College, and became the constant companion of her fatherin his studies of natural history. In the preface to his work on the MycetozoaMr Lister stated that throughout his studies and in the preparation of thedrawings he had been assisted by his daughter. After his death in 1908 MissLister was responsible for the second (19 I I) and third (1926) editions ofthis standard monograph, in which through her generosity many of theillustrations were reproduced in colour. She became the world authority onthe group and received material from all quarters of the globe.

Miss Lister joined the British Mycological Society in 1903 as one of thefirst 100 Foundation Members, and throughout her life did much to helpthe Society. Until a few years before the last war she was a regularattendant at forays, and with a few enthusiastic helpers always staged a goodshow of her beloved' creepies'. She was twice President, in 19 I 2 and 1932,and in 1924 was made an Honorary Member in recognition of her servicesto Science and to the Society. From the time the Council was establishedMiss Lister's quiet influence was of the greatest value in the conduct of theaffairs of the Society.