Hugh Martin-Leake

Hugh Martin-Leake (28 October 1878 – 29 April 1977) was a British economic botanist who worked in India, primarily on the improvement of indigo and opium cultivation. He served as an economic botanist and as a director of agriculture in the United Provinces.

Early life and education Martin-Leake was born in Hadley, Middlesex to William and Louisa Harriet (born Tennant) Martin-Leake and was educated at Dulwich and Christ College, Cambridge.

Career After receiving a degree, he worked under Marshall Ward on plant diseases in hops.

Pemberanda 1901-1904 He applied for a position of biologist in Bihar and found the position already taken. In 1901, he was asked if he was interested since the previous holder had died from cholera. He took up the position and went to Muzaffarpur. The research station at Pemberanda was placed under Bernard Coventry and Lord Curzon approved the development of agricultural research at Pusa.

India 1915-1919 Martin-Leake was the Principal of Cawnpore Agricultural College from 1915 to 1919. During the First World War, he also served as a captain in the 7th UP Horse IDF.

United Provinces, 1919-1923 While serving as director of agriculture in the United Provinces, Martin-Leake sought to improve the system of agriculture that involved zamindars or land owners merely renting out land to the farmers to one that involved more cooperation. He attempted to improve a course for zamindars at the Cawnpore agricultural college but this was a failure. He helped develop a rocking microtome and a seed-drill which he patented.

Martin-Leake died in 1977.

Works Martin-Leake published several papers as well as some books, notably: Bases of Agricultural Practices and Economics in the United Provinces India (1920) The Foundation of Indian Agriculture (1923) Land Tenure and Agriculture Production in the Tropics (1927) Recent Advances in Agriculture Plant Breeding (1933) with H.H. Hunter Things not Generally Said (1949)