Bertie Thomas Percival Barker

Bertie Thomas Percival Barker (9 August 1877 – 19 December 1961) was an English horticulturalist, plant pathologist, mycologist, and botanist. He is known for his research in the pomology of apples and the applied science of cider production.

Education and career Barker was born and grew up in Cambridge. After education at The Perse School, he matriculated in 1895 at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. There he graduated with B.A. in 1899 and M.A. in 1902. From 1899 to 1904 he did mycological and botanical research under the supervision of Harry Marshall Ward

In 1904 Barker became the assistant director of the National Fruit and Cider Institute, which was established in 1903 at Long Ashton. He was given the responsibility of doing research on cider-making and cider-orcharding, under the direction of Frederick James Lloyd. In 1905 Lloyd resigned and Barker became the institute's director and sought collaborators from the University of Bristol, about 6.5 km (4 miles) distant. Barker and Joseph Hubert Priestley developed the institute and enhanced its prestige, helping cider production for large-scale factory operations and improved quality control. From 1912 until his retirement in 1943, Barker was the director of the Long Ashton Research Institute and also held an appointment as Professor of Agricultural Biology at the University of Bristol.

In 1952 Barker was awarded the Veitch Memorial Medal

Selected publications

3 chapters in: Long Ashton Research Institution: its origin and development, 1903–1953 by T. Wallace & B. T. P. Barker, pp. 11–27 Cider and cider-making fifty years ago by B. T. P. Barker, pp. 29–44 Cider apple varieties then and now; a survey of vintage-quality trials by B. T. P. Barker & L. F. Burroughs, pp. 45–55