author
Charles Morton Aikman
1861–1902
A Scottish chemist who wrote practical, readable books about farming, dairying, and soil fertility at a time when agricultural science was rapidly changing. His work helped bring chemistry out of the laboratory and into everyday farm life.
1 Audiobook
Manures and the principles of manuring
by Charles Morton Aikman
About the author
Born in Partick, Glasgow, in 1861, he studied science at the University of Glasgow, specializing in organic chemistry. He earned an MA in 1883, a BSc in 1885, and later a DSc, and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh while still a relatively young man.
His career blended teaching with practical science. He lectured in chemistry at Glasgow University and, in 1893, became Professor of Chemistry at Glasgow Veterinary College. Much of his writing focused on agriculture and dairy science, with books including Manures and the Principles of Manuring and Milk: Its Nature and Composition.
What makes his work stand out is its usefulness: he wrote for readers who wanted clear guidance on crops, fertilizers, and farm management, not just theory. He died in 1902 at the age of 41, leaving behind a body of scientific writing that reflects the growing importance of modern agricultural chemistry in late Victorian Scotland.