Stockbridge, Levi

Stockbridge, Levi (1820–1904) agriculturalist; born in Hadley, Mass. His early interest in improving agriculture was fostered on his family's farm. He was active in local and state civic affairs serving three terms in the state legislature (1855, 1870, 1883), 12 years on the State Board of Agriculture, and 22 years as state cattle commissioner (1869–91). In 1867 he joined the newly opened Massachusetts Agricultural College (now the University of Massachusetts) to teach and supervise the farm. From 1880 to 1882 he presided over the College, after which he retired. His experiments in fertilizers led to the development of Stockbridge Formulas, and his investigations into plant leaching and the value of soil mulch were published in "Experiments in Feeding Plants" (1876).