Edgar John Allard (c. 1877-1918): First Garden Superintendent at JIHI

Allard came from Maidstone in Kent and started work in the building trade. He ran away and began working as a gardener, unknown to his parents. After jobs in various nurseries, Allard obtained a post at Kew Gardens (1898-99) and then at Cambridge University Botanic Garden (1899-1910). Here he worked as indoor foreman for 5 years and then outdoor foreman. He became a skilful cultivator, successful with many notoriously difficult plants and with species that were new to the garden.

Allard’s qualities included good relations with his workforce- he had to manage a large body of unemployed men at the Botanic Garden in the winter months. Bateson learnt of Allard’s abilities while he was Professor of Biology at Cambridge and had no hesitation in recommending Allard’s appointment when he applied to be JIHI’s Garden Superintendent in 1909. When Allard joined he was given a residence and £200-250 per year. His habits of clean, precise manipulation and recording were perfect for conducting experiments, and his skill in organising the scientific and practical lines of work at the Institution was highly valued.

He was an excellent teacher and perhaps enjoyed talking and demonstrating to his young gardeners more than any other part of his work. Each week he gave a ‘conversation class’ on practical subjects. While at JIHI Allard raised a remarkable series of Calceolaria hybrids (including Calceolaria John Innes); these pretty novelties were exhibited at the Chelsea Show and won awards.