Editing Patrick Matthew (section)

== Work ==
{{Expand section|date=October 2023}}<!-- In his youth Matthew was much influenced by events of the times, especially exploits of the Royal Navy, and perhaps even influenced by one of the Navy's greatest heroes of the day Admiral Adam Duncan who was the previous Heir to the Estate of Gourdiehill and a close relative of his Mother, Agnes Duncan. Viscount Admiral Adam Duncan, was known for his exploits at the battle of Camperdown and as the acknowledged mentor of Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson. --> 

In managing his orchards, Patrick Matthew became familiar with the problems related to the principles of husbandry in horticulture for food production (and hence, by extension silviculture). In 1831, Matthew published ''[[On Naval Timber and Arboriculture]]'' to mixed reception.<ref name="rvER 1831">Anonymous. Matthew on Naval Timber and Arboriculture. ''Evans and Ruffy's Farmers' Journal and Agricultural Advertizer'', Vol 24 (1831), No. 1218 (Mon 17 January), [https://newspaperarchive.com/london-evans-and-ruffy-farmer-journal-jan-17-1831-p-3]/</ref><ref name="rvE1831">Anon. (1831) Literary Criticism. ''Edinburgh Literary Journal, or Weekly Register of Criticism and Belles Lettres'', Vol 6 (Jul-Dec), No. 138 (Sat 2 July), pp.1-4 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044092648450;view=1up;seq=7</ref>{{sfn|Norman|2013|p=172}}<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hGaWB8KWjwcC&pg=PA457 |title=The United Service Magazine: With which are Incorporated the Army and Navy Magazine and Naval and Military Journal |publisher=H. Colburn |year=1831 |page=457}}</ref><ref name="rvQ1833">Anon. "Article VI: Dry Rot – Mr. Kyan's Patent". Quarterly Review, Vol 49 (1833), pp.125-135 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015074711410;view=1up;seq=139</ref> Notably, the book contains an addendum that discusses [[natural selection]] 28 years before [[Charles Darwin]]'s publication of [[On the Origin of Species]].   <!-- of forestry management as well as management practices used in .  Both became significantly important to his understanding of selection and propagation.  Like Admiral Duncan, Lord Nelson and others, Matthew thought it important to continuously search for, take possession of, and carefully manage the best Naval timber resources throughout the expanding British Empire. -->