Mushroom Growing
To-Day
Fred C.
Atkins
Being a student at the Wageningen University & Research, Pieter frequented this bookstore in Wageningen. They stocked mainly horticultural books.
That was the very FIRST book about mushrooms that Pieter laid his hands on and it helped him solve a major problem early on.
The first pioneering Dutch A.B.C. mushroom growers (in special growing rooms); B. Ambrosius, P. Broekmans and J. Christiaans, had terrible molds that caused enormous production losses. Pieter found in Fred Atkins' book that it was yellow mold and (false) truffle. He then was able to solve their problem!
Printed in the Dutch mushroom journal Champignoncultuur 1957-3 on page 36 uploaded by the ISMS as Pdf.
WHAT TO STEAM WITH IN MUSHROOM CULTIVATION?
By P. J. C. Vedder, assistent State Horticulture Information Service.
~
Pieter was officially still an Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service, specialized in Asparagus.
But Fred Atkins' book kind of changed Pieter's destiny forever!
The 1955 version
JAUTHOR'S NOTE, Yaxley, July 1955
Mentioning other mushroom growers and authors of books and articles: B. A. Noble, Stanley Middlebrook, Coryn Luxmoore, André Sarazin (see mention of blog post below), Guy de Man (see mention of blog post below), Dr. R. L. Edwards, Dr. J. W. Sinden, Dr. E. Hauser, Dr. E. B. Lambert and Dr. A. M. Kligman, McGregor Bulloch, John Stewart-Wood, S. A. F. Sampson, Raymond Thompson etc.
This is Pieter at the time being that Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service. Wearing his Plus Fours to a wedding reception of one of his colleagues.
AbeBooks is offering the very book, only an earlier 1952 version...
In the Dutch Champignoncultuur 1958-6 on page 159 the mushroom farm of Noble-Atkins in Yaxley, UK is shown as they had an excursion from The Netherlands.
In Champignoncultuur 1958-7 on page 180 is a story written by Fred Atkins, translated into Dutch.
My life with the mushrooms
A piece of history of the mushroom cultivation in England
My first contact with growing I had twenty years ago. My father had just invested money in Ben Noble to allow him to build six mushroom houses in Yaxley, a village near Peterborough in the Midlands. The first shot was, of course, a hit; a good harvest! But a period of humid weather had the appearance of a small difficulty as a result, which was shown to me, only as a peculiarity. Six months later, 'the little difficulty' had spread to such an extent that I was asked to join the firm, in the hope that a fresh look would reveal what caused it and how it could be suppressed.
I hesitated because I didn't know anything about mushrooms. Later, I would discover that few people in England knew more about it. I discussed the problem with the spawn manufacturers and with traders in all kinds of horticultural products, but the most valuable help came from the late Dr. W. M. Ware, of Wye College, Kent.
You will wonder what this has to do with the general situation in the mushroom industry in Great Brittain? If you allow me some vanity: I believe it has a lot to do with it, because Ware gave me a copy of his wonderful article about the cause of our disease: Verticillium.
A mycological dictionary and a lot of correspondence with Ware and other people of science opened my eyes and my mind to the wondrous world of microscopic small organisms I had entered.
This in turn aroused the desire for me to talk to other growers about it, but in fact I did not meet a second mushroom grower in the next five years: so fantastic in those days was the mystery that surrounded us. When I finally met two or three other growers, we were overwhelmed by a passionate desire to do something that would bring all growers together. My own company had lost a lot of money because there was no organized contact between the growers and the scientists, and because there was no coordinated research and experiments.
Within a year we had formed the Mushroom Growers' Association for the Mushroom Industry. We were walking around with plans for the MGA Bulletin (Mushroom Growers' Association)...
Page 183
For just over 90,000 Dutch Guilders we received a very satisfactory publicity last year, mainly because the growers are enthusiastic and because we have one grower on our daily board, who is a journalist by profession and another who is a first class cook, whose mushroom pie is so delicious, that he does not dare to advertise it.
Fred C. Atkins (the journalist!)...
Message by Fred C. Atkins in the 1979-9 The Mushroom Journal
Loyal and active till almost to his death...
ATKINS, Fred (1913-1983)
Chairman, Noble Mushrooms, Yaxley, Cambs. Founder member of Mushroom Growers Association of Great Britain and N. Ireland. President, International Commission on Mushroom Science (ISMS).
Times 28 Jan. 1983.
An OBE is a British honor awarded by the Queen to recognize extraordinary contributions to the country.
It is the second-highest ranking in the Order of the British Empire honors.
Obituary as printed in The Mushroom Journal, March 1983
In 2018 Pieter got gifted by one of his Campbell Colleagues this book about COMMERCIAL MUSHROOM GROWING by M.H. Pinkerton
1954 and Printed in Great Britain
Dr. C. A. Thomas and Dr. E. B. Lambert
Dr. A. M. Kligman, Dr. R. L. Edwards and Mr. F. C. Atkins bottom left. Editor of the M.G.A. Bulletin, an indefatigable writer, whose many books, pamphlets, and articles have kept the British Mushroom Growers abreast with all the newest advances in the science of Mushroom Culture.
Dr. James W. Sinden reviews Guide to Muhroom Growing by Fred C. Atkins
Published in The Mushroom Journal, January 1975
The Mushroom Journal 1978-10 click link
Mac also did the cartoon for husband Pieter in 1971 at Imperial College in London, see link below post.
~
F. C. Atkins deserves a lot of honor as he accomplished so much!
Pieter counted him among his very special friends.
Above is a letter, received after Pieter sent him a copy of his newly released English book.
Fred had an excellent and very polished writing style; using great courtesy.
Something the younger generation(s) are lacking nowadays...
I myself, have not had the honor of meeting or knowing him in person...
P.J.C. Vedder's 1987 Design for NEW COMPOSTING SYSTEM (Phase I) | mention of Pieter's grades at wur.nl - Wageningen University & Research
Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England | previous post that mentions Pieter being still Assistent at State Horticulture Information Service specialized in Asparagus
1982 Sinden Award for Pieter at The Hotel Majestic, Harrogate, England | 1st non British to receive this prestigious award
1965 Pieter visiting French Mushroom Grower André Sarazin near Historic Compiègne | Together with Belgian spawn representative Guy de Man Pieter visited André Sarazin
1978 - P.J.C. Vedder's Modern Mushroom Growing Book Published in English | letter from Fred C. Atkins upon receiving Pieter's English book with inscription and Mac's cartoon from husband Pieter
What a wonderful selection of history you have there. Well done and thank you and your husband for a lifetime of dedication. So many of us take things for granted; not knowing the expertise and hard work of others like you.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Dearest Victor,
DeletePieter very fondly remembers Fred C. Atkins, he was a very special man and did so much for the mushroom industry as an indefatigable writer and true gentleman!
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, Every field has a number of leaders who must cooperate and coordinate with each other in order for advancement to take place. This has certainly happened in the mushroom industry, and Pieter and you also have taken leading roles. I found it very interesting how Pieter got his start in mushrooms. As someone working in the larger field of agriculture, he kept up with developments, and found a way to use his unique intuition to solve a major issue in the field. I think that this would be pretty good career advice for anyone.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThis was such a true leader and a valuable one in the broadest sense.
Yes, following your intuition and both of us have often said, I wonder how many did start out with their study and ended up with the job they first thought of? But it also takes more courage for making that detour and opening doors yourself.
Hugs,
Mariette
post interessante,buon pomerggio!
ReplyDeleteCara Olga,
DeleteGrazie e soprattutto è onorare una persona molto speciale nell'industria dei funghi!
Abbracci,
Mariette
How extremely fortuitous it was that the very first book your husband chose was so fundamentally important in his research Mariette, luck like that is quite rare ✨
ReplyDeleteDearest Grace,
DeleteWell, if you are studying you try to soak up as much available knowledge as you can. Books have always been a wonderful tool, even in today's world as you can take them everywhere with you.
Hugs,
Mariette
Como persona responsable y amante de su trabajo, se supo documentar muy bien.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Querida Antónia,
DeleteSí, él sabía muy bien cómo documentarse a sí mismo de una manera significativa y beneficiosa para los demás! La mayoría hoy en día sólo utilizan fotos y palabras para elevar su propio ego inflado ... Triste hecho.
Abrazos,
Mariette
Such a remarkable journey and discovery, Mariette. Thanks for the history lesson!
ReplyDeleteDearest Martha Jane,
DeleteYes Fred C. Atkins journey was a remarkable one and he made the utmost out of it, using his excellent journalistic skills. This is living proof again that the written word will last and carry on much farther than you ever dreamed possible.
It sure helped Pieter finding his course and destination in following this kind role model.
Hugs,
Mariette
A bloody good read
ReplyDeleteDearest Jo-Anne,
DeleteIt sure is for the mushroom industry people and above all, for honoring this exceptional gentleman!
Hugs,
Mariette
So Impressive - Sending Positive Vibes And Big Hugs
ReplyDeleteCheers
Dearest Travis,
DeleteIt is quite soothing to know that in this world there lived and still are living some very kind people. Those that really left their mark and meant a lot to so many!
They ought to be mentioned and honored as it will be a hard thing for the younger generation to live up to those standards. That fine magazine died off after he retired as the editor. Sure if you only publish about gatherings with photos that resemble very much the ego centric selfie culture we're seeing all around us. Most have nothing to share, nothing to pass on and seem to be afraid of reaching out for helping others!
Their loss...
Hugs,
Mariette
Like that caricature of Fred and Stanley.
ReplyDeleteDearest Haddock,
DeleteYes, Mac certainly is a great artist for capturing their character so well. As he also did with my husband Pieter's.
Hugs,
Mariette