John Stuart Yeates
Encyclopedia
John Stuart Yeates, MBE
, PhD
(11 July 1900 - 24 August 1986), also known as Jack Yeates, was a New Zealand
academic and botanist. The founding head of Agricultural Botany at Massey Agricultural College, he was also an accomplished breeder of azaleas, rhododendrons and lilies
.
in the Taranaki, Yeates attended Stratford District High School
(where he won an Entrance Scholarship (later called the University Entrance Scholarship)) and then Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington
, then part of the University of New Zealand
) in Wellington
. He completed a B.Sc and then a M.Sc in Botany with first class honours. He obtained a Jacob Joseph Scholarhsip. He then completed the first PhD
from the University of New Zealand
. He left for Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he studied chromosomal counts in plants, starting in 1925. He returned to New Zealand in July 1927 and was awarded his Trinity College PhD
in 1931, having completed his research in parallel with his teaching commitments at the newly-created Massey College (now Massey University
, then also part of the University of New Zealand) outside Palmerston North
.
/Phormium tenax (Māori
: harakeke), which at the time was used extensively as fibre for ropes and cloths. One of the key centres for production was the delta of the Manawatu River
, but Yeates travelled extensively looking for quality cultivars which he grew on the Turitea
campus. Flax had long been used for textiles (see Māori traditional textiles
) and it was correctly guessed that the best cultivars were to be found adjacent to historical sites of textile-making. The Great Depression
of the 1930s caused serious damaged the commercial flax industry in New Zealand and it never recovered.
Some of the flax
worked involved chromosome counting
, which he had previously done in his thesis work. The flax Ngaro was found to have 32 rather than the normal 24 chromosome
s.
Later research involved "farm forestry" a movement to introduce trees onto farms for the benefit of livestock, pasture and crops and as a source of income.
He was the founding head of Agricultural Botany at Massey and this was his core teaching area. In 1954 he, with E. O. Campbell, published Agricultural Botany, a textbook based on this teaching.
(which is close to his home in Palmerston North, but has better soil and climate for rhododendron). He was also active in the introduction and breeding of azaleas, rhododendrons and Lilium
hybrids.
The name Melford Hybrids was used for his lily crosses, which he bred initially at his property on Long Melford Rd, in Palmerston North. Of these Journey's End has been commercially successful.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
(11 July 1900 - 24 August 1986), also known as Jack Yeates, was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
academic and botanist. The founding head of Agricultural Botany at Massey Agricultural College, he was also an accomplished breeder of azaleas, rhododendrons and lilies
Lilium
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
.
Early life and education
Born into a farming family in WaitaraWaitara, New Zealand
Waitara is the name of a town and a river in the northern part of the Taranaki Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Waitara is located just off State Highway 3, 15 km northeast of New Plymouth....
in the Taranaki, Yeates attended Stratford District High School
Stratford High School (New Zealand)
Stratford High School is a secondary school in Stratford, Taranaki, New Zealand. It is the only co-educational high school in the Stratford District....
(where he won an Entrance Scholarship (later called the University Entrance Scholarship)) and then Victoria College (now Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
, then part of the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
) in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. He completed a B.Sc and then a M.Sc in Botany with first class honours. He obtained a Jacob Joseph Scholarhsip. He then completed the first PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
. He left for Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he studied chromosomal counts in plants, starting in 1925. He returned to New Zealand in July 1927 and was awarded his Trinity College PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1931, having completed his research in parallel with his teaching commitments at the newly-created Massey College (now Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
, then also part of the University of New Zealand) outside Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
.
Academic work
His early research was on New Zealand flaxNew Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively...
/Phormium tenax (Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
: harakeke), which at the time was used extensively as fibre for ropes and cloths. One of the key centres for production was the delta of the Manawatu River
Manawatu River
The Manawatu River is a major river of the southern North Island of New Zealand.The river has its headwaters to the northwest of Norsewood in the Ruahine Ranges of southern Hawke's Bay. It flows initially eastward before turning south-west near Ormondville, flowing 40 km before turning...
, but Yeates travelled extensively looking for quality cultivars which he grew on the Turitea
Turitea
Turitea is a suburb of Palmerston North in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand. Turitea is located on the southern side of the Manawatu River, past Massey University....
campus. Flax had long been used for textiles (see Māori traditional textiles
Maori traditional textiles
Māori traditional textiles are the indigenous textiles of the Māori people of New Zealand. The organisation Te Roopu Raranga Whatu o Aotearoa, the national Māori weavers’ collective aims to preserve and foster the skills of making and using these materials....
) and it was correctly guessed that the best cultivars were to be found adjacent to historical sites of textile-making. The Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
of the 1930s caused serious damaged the commercial flax industry in New Zealand and it never recovered.
Some of the flax
New Zealand flax
New Zealand flax describes common New Zealand perennial plants Phormium tenax and Phormium cookianum, known by the Māori names harakeke and wharariki respectively...
worked involved chromosome counting
Ploidy
Ploidy is the number of sets of chromosomes in a biological cell.Human sex cells have one complete set of chromosomes from the male or female parent. Sex cells, also called gametes, combine to produce somatic cells. Somatic cells, therefore, have twice as many chromosomes. The haploid number is...
, which he had previously done in his thesis work. The flax Ngaro was found to have 32 rather than the normal 24 chromosome
Chromosome
A chromosome is an organized structure of DNA and protein found in cells. It is a single piece of coiled DNA containing many genes, regulatory elements and other nucleotide sequences. Chromosomes also contain DNA-bound proteins, which serve to package the DNA and control its functions.Chromosomes...
s.
Later research involved "farm forestry" a movement to introduce trees onto farms for the benefit of livestock, pasture and crops and as a source of income.
He was the founding head of Agricultural Botany at Massey and this was his core teaching area. In 1954 he, with E. O. Campbell, published Agricultural Botany, a textbook based on this teaching.
Plant breeding
Yeates was a foundation member of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association in 1944 and also its some-time Secretary-Treasurer. He was also crucial in the founding of the national garden of the association (now "Heritage Park") at KimboltonKimbolton, New Zealand
Kimbolton is a rural village north of Feilding in the Manawatu District of the North Island of New Zealand. Kimbolton is named after Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, a village in England which is the site of Kimbolton Castle, once the home of the Duke of Manchester...
(which is close to his home in Palmerston North, but has better soil and climate for rhododendron). He was also active in the introduction and breeding of azaleas, rhododendrons and Lilium
Lilium
Lilium is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though the range extends into the northern subtropics...
hybrids.
The name Melford Hybrids was used for his lily crosses, which he bred initially at his property on Long Melford Rd, in Palmerston North. Of these Journey's End has been commercially successful.
Awards
- 1918 Entrance Scholarship
- 1922 National Research Scholarship
- 1925 First Post-Graduate Scholarship in Science
- 1957 Associate of Honour of the Royal New Zealand Institute of HorticultureRoyal New Zealand Institute of HorticultureThe Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture is New Zealand's only National Horticultural Society.Their mission is to "Encourage and improve horticulture in New Zealand by promoting the understanding, appreciation, conservation and use of plants"....
. - 1969 Lyttel Lily Cup, Royal Horticultural SocietyRoyal Horticultural SocietyThe Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 in London, England as the Horticultural Society of London, and gained its present name in a Royal Charter granted in 1861 by Prince Albert...
- 1977 Member of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) for contributions to horticultureHorticultureHorticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
.
Further reading
- Who's who in New Zealand 3rd Edition (1932)
- Who's who in New Zealand 6th Edition (1956)
- Notable New Zealander's The Pictorial Who's Who 1st Edition (1976)
- John Stuart Yeates by J.E.Godley, Biographical Notes (67) serialised in New Zealand Botanical Society Newsletter 90-92, 2007-2008.
External links
- Heritage Park Heritage Park rhododendron garden, formerly National Garden of the New Zealand Rhododendron Association
- John Stuart Yeates, Massey College. (ca December 1951). Image of Yeates at work, in the collection of the Alexander Turnbull Library
- Mentioned in the letters of John Cawte BeagleholeJohn Cawte BeagleholeJohn Cawte Beaglehole, OM, CMG was a New Zealand historian whose greatest scholastic achievement was the editing of James Cook’s three journals of exploration, together with the writing of an acclaimed biography of Cook, published posthumously...
held by the New Zealand Electronic Text CentreNew Zealand Electronic Text CentreThe New Zealand Electronic Text Centre is a unit of the library at the Victoria University of Wellington which provides a free online archive of New Zealand and Pacific Islands texts and heritage materials. The NZETC has an ongoing programme of digitisation and feature additions to the current...