The AGRICULTURAL HISTORY REVIEW

a journal of agricultural and rural history

Volume Contents

Agricultural History Review, Volume 53 Part 1 (2005), pp. 78–96

Organic society: agriculture and radical politics in the career of Gerard Wallop, ninth Earl of Portsmouth (1898-1984)

Philip Conford

Through examining the ideas and activities of G. V. Wallop, ninth Earl of Portsmouth, this article demonstrates a close connection between the emerging organic movement and radical right-wing politics during the 1930s and 1940s. Evidence from his papers reveals that Wallop, a noted farmer and landowner, was instrumental in drawing together leading organic pioneers, and belonged to many of the groups which promoted organic husbandry during the mid-twentieth century. Other important organicists were to be found actively involved in his political initiatives, which were well to the Right of the spectrum. While rejecting the view that commitment to organic husbandry necessarily implies far-Right politics, the article argues that Wallop's espousal of both causes casts serious doubt on the claim that the early organic movement was a-political. 
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