Lyman Crane Burnett
Only a few men in the Division of Agriculture at Iowa State College have served as long or as faithfully as Lyman C. Burnett. His death marked the end of nearly a half century of accomplishments which directly or indirectly contributed to the welfare of farmers in Iowa and adjoining states.
When he joined our staff in 1906 very little had been accomplished in the development of improved varieties of cereal grains. Production practices also had not been well established. The need for better grain crops and for improved methods in their culture was recognized by Professor Burnett. Attainment of these objectives became his life-long career spent at Iowa State College for 44 consecutive years. His research efforts were productive and he became noted nationally as one of the most outstanding early plant breeders of his time. The first pure-line selections of oats, wheat and barley from his breeding nurseries were replaced by even better new varieties as his work progressed. From his work as a cereal grain breeder fifteen superior varieties of oats, four varieties of wheat, one of barley, and one of corn were introduced and became widely grown on Iowa farms. It is not hard, then, to understand why countless farmers came to know him well for the work he had done and why cereal breeders throughout the country respected him for his achievements. His friendly attitude is best illustrated by his almost universal designation, not as "Professor Burnett" but as "L. C."
The need for interdepartmental cooperation in research soon became apparent to Professor Burnett – a principal steadfastly maintained throughout his career. He also developed close contacts with farm organizations and with the grain industries to bring the results of his research closer to them. Finally in 1938 he conceived and initiated the Community Small Grain Trial program in cooperation with Country Extension Directors in nearly every Iowa County. These trials made it possible for farmers to see and compare the performance of new small grain varieties in their own communities. It is generally recognized that these Community Grain Trials were important factors in the rapid adoption of new crop varieties.
In addition to research work, Professor Burnett obtained a great deal of satisfaction from active participation in campus organizations. Only rarely did he miss a meeting of Sigma Xi in which he served for many years as a member on its Executive Committee. He was one of the charter members of the Osborne Research Club and served as its president in 1927. He also maintained an active interest in honorary societies, Gamma Sigma Delta and Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Burnett was one of the first members of the American Society of Agronomy and continued an active interest in its professional meetings.
Professor Burnett was born in Bancroft, Michigan, March 15, 1881. After graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1903 he became a chemist with the Standard Sugar Company. In 1905 he became a graduate student at Iowa State College and completed the Master's Degree in Agriculture in 1906. He then joined our staff to begin this long period of continuous service.
Early in April he suffered a stroke during a trip to northwest Iowa to inspect a new site for experimental field trials. After a long period of confinement in the hospitals at Cherokee, Ida Grove, and at the College he was able to return to his home where he made a courageous battle to recover and return to his work. He passed away on November 11, 1950.
Surviving him are his wife, Pearl; his son Kenneth of Ida Grove; and two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Garoutte of Adel, and Mrs. Barbara Hugill of Cedar Rapids.
November 30, 1950
Prepared by an Iowa State College faculty committee consisting of H. D. Hughes, C. S. Reddy, E. V. Collins and I. J. Johnson, chairman.
Only a few men in the Division of Agriculture at Iowa State College have served as long or as faithfully as Lyman C. Burnett. His death marked the end of nearly a half century of accomplishments which directly or indirectly contributed to the welfare of farmers in Iowa and adjoining states.
When he joined our staff in 1906 very little had been accomplished in the development of improved varieties of cereal grains. Production practices also had not been well established. The need for better grain crops and for improved methods in their culture was recognized by Professor Burnett. Attainment of these objectives became his life-long career spent at Iowa State College for 44 consecutive years. His research efforts were productive and he became noted nationally as one of the most outstanding early plant breeders of his time. The first pure-line selections of oats, wheat and barley from his breeding nurseries were replaced by even better new varieties as his work progressed. From his work as a cereal grain breeder fifteen superior varieties of oats, four varieties of wheat, one of barley, and one of corn were introduced and became widely grown on Iowa farms. It is not hard, then, to understand why countless farmers came to know him well for the work he had done and why cereal breeders throughout the country respected him for his achievements. His friendly attitude is best illustrated by his almost universal designation, not as "Professor Burnett" but as "L. C."
The need for interdepartmental cooperation in research soon became apparent to Professor Burnett – a principal steadfastly maintained throughout his career. He also developed close contacts with farm organizations and with the grain industries to bring the results of his research closer to them. Finally in 1938 he conceived and initiated the Community Small Grain Trial program in cooperation with Country Extension Directors in nearly every Iowa County. These trials made it possible for farmers to see and compare the performance of new small grain varieties in their own communities. It is generally recognized that these Community Grain Trials were important factors in the rapid adoption of new crop varieties.
In addition to research work, Professor Burnett obtained a great deal of satisfaction from active participation in campus organizations. Only rarely did he miss a meeting of Sigma Xi in which he served for many years as a member on its Executive Committee. He was one of the charter members of the Osborne Research Club and served as its president in 1927. He also maintained an active interest in honorary societies, Gamma Sigma Delta and Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Burnett was one of the first members of the American Society of Agronomy and continued an active interest in its professional meetings.
Professor Burnett was born in Bancroft, Michigan, March 15, 1881. After graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1903 he became a chemist with the Standard Sugar Company. In 1905 he became a graduate student at Iowa State College and completed the Master's Degree in Agriculture in 1906. He then joined our staff to begin this long period of continuous service.
Early in April he suffered a stroke during a trip to northwest Iowa to inspect a new site for experimental field trials. After a long period of confinement in the hospitals at Cherokee, Ida Grove, and at the College he was able to return to his home where he made a courageous battle to recover and return to his work. He passed away on November 11, 1950.
Surviving him are his wife, Pearl; his son Kenneth of Ida Grove; and two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Garoutte of Adel, and Mrs. Barbara Hugill of Cedar Rapids.
November 30, 1950
Prepared by an Iowa State College faculty committee consisting of H. D. Hughes, C. S. Reddy, E. V. Collins and I. J. Johnson, chairman.
Lyman Crane Burnett
Only a few men in the Division of Agriculture at Iowa State College have served as long or as faithfully as Lyman C. Burnett. His death marked the end of nearly a half century of accomplishments which directly or indirectly contributed to the welfare of farmers in Iowa and adjoining states.
When he joined our staff in 1906 very little had been accomplished in the development of improved varieties of cereal grains. Production practices also had not been well established. The need for better grain crops and for improved methods in their culture was recognized by Professor Burnett. Attainment of these objectives became his life-long career spent at Iowa State College for 44 consecutive years. His research efforts were productive and he became noted nationally as one of the most outstanding early plant breeders of his time. The first pure-line selections of oats, wheat and barley from his breeding nurseries were replaced by even better new varieties as his work progressed. From his work as a cereal grain breeder fifteen superior varieties of oats, four varieties of wheat, one of barley, and one of corn were introduced and became widely grown on Iowa farms. It is not hard, then, to understand why countless farmers came to know him well for the work he had done and why cereal breeders throughout the country respected him for his achievements. His friendly attitude is best illustrated by his almost universal designation, not as "Professor Burnett" but as "L. C."
The need for interdepartmental cooperation in research soon became apparent to Professor Burnett – a principal steadfastly maintained throughout his career. He also developed close contacts with farm organizations and with the grain industries to bring the results of his research closer to them. Finally in 1938 he conceived and initiated the Community Small Grain Trial program in cooperation with Country Extension Directors in nearly every Iowa County. These trials made it possible for farmers to see and compare the performance of new small grain varieties in their own communities. It is generally recognized that these Community Grain Trials were important factors in the rapid adoption of new crop varieties.
In addition to research work, Professor Burnett obtained a great deal of satisfaction from active participation in campus organizations. Only rarely did he miss a meeting of Sigma Xi in which he served for many years as a member on its Executive Committee. He was one of the charter members of the Osborne Research Club and served as its president in 1927. He also maintained an active interest in honorary societies, Gamma Sigma Delta and Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Burnett was one of the first members of the American Society of Agronomy and continued an active interest in its professional meetings.
Professor Burnett was born in Bancroft, Michigan, March 15, 1881. After graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1903 he became a chemist with the Standard Sugar Company. In 1905 he became a graduate student at Iowa State College and completed the Master's Degree in Agriculture in 1906. He then joined our staff to begin this long period of continuous service.
Early in April he suffered a stroke during a trip to northwest Iowa to inspect a new site for experimental field trials. After a long period of confinement in the hospitals at Cherokee, Ida Grove, and at the College he was able to return to his home where he made a courageous battle to recover and return to his work. He passed away on November 11, 1950.
Surviving him are his wife, Pearl; his son Kenneth of Ida Grove; and two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Garoutte of Adel, and Mrs. Barbara Hugill of Cedar Rapids.
November 30, 1950
Prepared by an Iowa State College faculty committee consisting of H. D. Hughes, C. S. Reddy, E. V. Collins and I. J. Johnson, chairman.
Only a few men in the Division of Agriculture at Iowa State College have served as long or as faithfully as Lyman C. Burnett. His death marked the end of nearly a half century of accomplishments which directly or indirectly contributed to the welfare of farmers in Iowa and adjoining states.
When he joined our staff in 1906 very little had been accomplished in the development of improved varieties of cereal grains. Production practices also had not been well established. The need for better grain crops and for improved methods in their culture was recognized by Professor Burnett. Attainment of these objectives became his life-long career spent at Iowa State College for 44 consecutive years. His research efforts were productive and he became noted nationally as one of the most outstanding early plant breeders of his time. The first pure-line selections of oats, wheat and barley from his breeding nurseries were replaced by even better new varieties as his work progressed. From his work as a cereal grain breeder fifteen superior varieties of oats, four varieties of wheat, one of barley, and one of corn were introduced and became widely grown on Iowa farms. It is not hard, then, to understand why countless farmers came to know him well for the work he had done and why cereal breeders throughout the country respected him for his achievements. His friendly attitude is best illustrated by his almost universal designation, not as "Professor Burnett" but as "L. C."
The need for interdepartmental cooperation in research soon became apparent to Professor Burnett – a principal steadfastly maintained throughout his career. He also developed close contacts with farm organizations and with the grain industries to bring the results of his research closer to them. Finally in 1938 he conceived and initiated the Community Small Grain Trial program in cooperation with Country Extension Directors in nearly every Iowa County. These trials made it possible for farmers to see and compare the performance of new small grain varieties in their own communities. It is generally recognized that these Community Grain Trials were important factors in the rapid adoption of new crop varieties.
In addition to research work, Professor Burnett obtained a great deal of satisfaction from active participation in campus organizations. Only rarely did he miss a meeting of Sigma Xi in which he served for many years as a member on its Executive Committee. He was one of the charter members of the Osborne Research Club and served as its president in 1927. He also maintained an active interest in honorary societies, Gamma Sigma Delta and Phi Kappa Phi. Professor Burnett was one of the first members of the American Society of Agronomy and continued an active interest in its professional meetings.
Professor Burnett was born in Bancroft, Michigan, March 15, 1881. After graduation from the University of Nebraska in 1903 he became a chemist with the Standard Sugar Company. In 1905 he became a graduate student at Iowa State College and completed the Master's Degree in Agriculture in 1906. He then joined our staff to begin this long period of continuous service.
Early in April he suffered a stroke during a trip to northwest Iowa to inspect a new site for experimental field trials. After a long period of confinement in the hospitals at Cherokee, Ida Grove, and at the College he was able to return to his home where he made a courageous battle to recover and return to his work. He passed away on November 11, 1950.
Surviving him are his wife, Pearl; his son Kenneth of Ida Grove; and two daughters, Mrs. Dorothy Garoutte of Adel, and Mrs. Barbara Hugill of Cedar Rapids.
November 30, 1950
Prepared by an Iowa State College faculty committee consisting of H. D. Hughes, C. S. Reddy, E. V. Collins and I. J. Johnson, chairman.
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