James G. Horsfall, Date of Birth, Date of Death

James G. Horsfall

American biologist

Date of Birth: 09-Jan-1905

Date of Death: 22-Mar-1995

Profession: botanist, mycologist

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

James Gordon Horsfall (January 9, 1905 – March 22, 1995) was an American biologist, a plant pathologist and an agriculturist. Horsfall was most noted for the discovery of several organic fungicides which changed the way crops' fungus diseases are treated worldwide.
Prior to his discovery these diseases were treated either with heavy metals which were poisonous to humans or somewhat ineffective sulfur based compounds.
The Horsfall-Barratt scale devised by him, and still in use, allows for the easy assessment of crop damage level based on the extent of leaf damaged by fungal or bacterial infections in the field on a 12-point scale.
Horsfall was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. The New York Times called Horsfall a "leading plant pathologist".