Farming Books

This book has great information about Dairy Farming. It gives you a good overview of all the factors that a dairy producer would face. However what was very disappointing was the sheer lack of any color pictures. I believe that any text book published in this day and age should have color images rather than black and white ones. Many of the photographs in this book were faded and did not provide a high degree of detail. For a book costing over $100, this was disappointing.

Dairy Cattle Science is a excellent handbook reviewing most aspects concerning dairy farming and consulting. There are very good chapters on nutrition, management and reproduction (breeding) for instance. Ofcourse this book is mainly for US situations but very useful for other parts of the World.

I bought this as the cheaper of the two textbook 'recommendations' (Non Chemical Weed Managament: Principles, Concepts and Technology (Cabi Publishing)) by my UF professor. It is a very good general view and is accompanied by a number of good charts. I cannot in particular say whether one is better than the other, but this one is considerably longer. I cannot also say for sure how it will impact a non-student or be useful for a farmer, but the book states all of the principles very well, if not giving a great description of how to carry them out. Overall a well-written book for the agriculture student.

Este libro lo estabamos esperando desde hace tiempo, pues reune toda la informacion generada hasta el momento sobre el manejo ecologico de las malezas. Es especialmente bueno por la amplitud de su contenido, aborda de manera coherente y extendida el tema. Pronto se convertira en la referencia obligatoria para todos aquellos interesados en el manejo ecologico de arvenses. Solo tengo una queja: EL PRECIO ES ALTO.

Rice's introduction to Byzantine art is particularly useful in that it does not limit itself to the arts of Constantinople only. It focuses first on the Late Antique period (primarily in Egypt), and then goes on to provide worthwhile overviews of artistic developments in Constantinople, Byzantine Italy and the Balkans. And, although he provides little more than a cursory explanation of the complex causes of change in the Byzantine aesthetic, the author's enthusiasm for his subject is evident in his clear, jargon-free descriptions of individual works. Despite being originally published almost 40 years ago, this study still effectively conveys the breadth of Byzantium's artistic influence better than most.

"Not since the world was made was there ever seen or won so great a treasure, or so noble or so rich, ... had there been so much wealth as was found in Constantinople." Robert of Clari, a French crusader, in 1204


A Classic Art Study:
Talbot Rice, an authority on Byzantine Art, who traveled and worked in east Mediterranean countries, and visited Cappadocia and Cilicia, wrote a compelling study, and edited a masterly presentation of almost 250 pieces of art in icons, mosaics, frescoes, Coptic textiles, ivories, jeweled gospel covers, and gave an exposition of the beautiful architecture of the era, which characterizes Orthodox Worship to date.
This study is a rare attestation to the roots of iconography in Coptic mural paintings at the ancient monasteries at Bagawat (5th century), Deir Abu Hennis and Bawit, and those of Suryan monastery. But most beautiful is the Coptic icon of Christ and St. Menas (now in the Louvre)

Byzantine Art:
Byzantine always admired art reflected the splendor and prestige of its court and church, which were often intertwined in Byzantine society and culture. Byzantine art set standards for craftsmanship, and its architecture reflected the Eastern Orthodox worship traditions which thrived in the Eastern part of the post Constantine Roman Empire. The the time frame of Byzantine art consists of a first golden age, started after establishment in 330 the second golden age of Byzantine art, and the late period, ended with the Ottomans in 1453.

Sacred Art:
The Eastern Churches adopted an earnest reflected tone to worship in contrast to the colossal cathedrals of the West. This focus is reflected in Byzantine art, and in architecture as featured in the unique dome style, exemplary in the Hagia Sophia. The figures in those arts appear flat, two dimensional with minimal use of shadowing, to give any three dimensional impression. Figures are almost always presented from the front with somber faces and solemn looks amplified with staring eyes. Faces were rather narrow and dark, with trendy use of a reflecting gold background. Very little attempt, if any, was made for realism in the painting, while mosaic depictions are more impressionists, the Ravenna collection is especially cheerful and beautiful.
In, 'Art a World History' Jo Marceau, concludes that, "Byzantine art displayed the same constancy: in the fifth and sixth centuries, it developed a formal expression that was manifested in thousands of works of art that came to be regarded as sacred and immutable."

Iconoclasm, Art Destruction:
The development of the style of Byzantine Art was achieved during the Fifth and Sixth centuries. During the Eighth and Ninth Centuries, the writing of icons (painting of saints' images) was prohibited by Emperor Leo III in 726, and then after by the iconoclasts who believed iconography was a form of idolatry and that all icons should be destroyed. This spilt the empire into two parties and came to be known as the Iconoclastic Crisis. Icon painting and mosaics were restored again in the Ninth century and thrived until the fall of the Empire to the Turkmen. Sculpture was limited only to then small ivory book covers.

David Talbot Rice:
Talbot Rice was University of Edinburgh Fine arts professor, and an eminent Byzantinist. He joined the Oxford Field Museum excavation at Kish, Iraq, after graduation in 1925. He first visited Mount Athos with Byzantinist Robert Byron in 1926. In 1932, Rice was appointed a lecturer, at the University of London.
Rice married Tamara Abelson, a Russian-born Oxford archaeologist. In 1935 Rice published his 'Byzantine Art,' still used primer on the topic. G. Roberton edited in 1975, "Studies in Memory of David Talbot Rice"

I ordered this book, sight unseen, for a tractor pull fan. He really liked the book, so I'm happy. But I expected something different, and since there was no photo, I assumed it would be a coffee-table book; I was mostly going on the price. I guess it's a big pricey because it's from Great Britain? Still, the person I got the book for seemed very happy with it.

By the way, the book is loaded with pictures with excellent captions!

This book showed many pictures when it explained the history of the sport. The history was detailed and very interesting. The pictures were crisp. Good for anyone who actually pulls tractors or is a fan!

It's obvious Sandie Shores put a lot of effort, time and heartfelt advice into this reference book, and it contains a lot of useful advice for the beginning grower.

I've been referring to this book for several years now; I have grown herbs for many years and built a greenhouse business around it. I would like to comment on a few shortcomings of this book, in hopes that those individuals choosing to go into the culinary herb growing field will refer to additional sources of information, rather than relying strictly on this one source.

- One major problem is Ms. Shores' lack of emphasis toward maintaining *healthy* plants and how this effectively prevents disease and pests to begin with. She instead talks about how to deal with pests and diseases. The more I study disease and pest control, the more I find increased emphasis on maintaining healthy plants as the best defense. Growers are now becoming aware of techniques that increase brix in plants which is a natural pest fighter, and improving and restoring healthy soil conditions through organic practices and remineralization, or even adopting simplified and effective hydroponic techniques (e.g., VertiGro). Some of these effects can be sought through the use of Sonic Bloom, mineral dust, OceanGrown, composting, and using a TDS meter to measure solids in your water supply. I have found that by greatly increasing the plant's health I have been able to effectively fight disease and pests rather than resort to time-consuming and redundant spraying which only makes me feel like I'm sometimes fighting a losing battle.

- I have found contradictory or missing information compared to other resources. I had to discover through another reference that I was overwatering my bay laurel trees; there is no mention in her book that they require less water than other plants. In fact, there is no mention on how much water to give bay laurel at all.

- She says mint doesn't do well in containers--I have personally found that is the only way to grow them (otherwise they are too much work) and they do very well. Refer to "Bountiful Container" by McGee and Stuckey on how to successfully grow mint in containers.

- There is no mention of White Dalmatian Sage, the best sage for culinary use.

- Ms. Shores claims that French Tarragon must be allowed to go dormant in the winter. However, "Bountiful Container" describes a method where you can continue to grow it through the winter.

- Ms. Shores says oregano is a slow grower; McGee and Stuckey say it's a rapid grower. I think it depends on the growing environment, but it can be a rapid grower given the proper conditions.

- There is no mention of fusarium oxysporum under the basil section, an untreatable, devastating fungus that can potentially wipe out your entire sweet basil crop and persist in the soil for up to 12 years. I had to find a short description of it under the soil-borne diseases section. I feel this is such an important aspect to growing basil, a very popular culinary herb, that there should have been a lot more emphasis on becoming aware of and identifying this disease. Shane Smith's book, Greenhouse Gardeners Companion, says it's believed that fusarium oxysporum now infects most of the world's supply of basil seeds. He recommended buying fusarium-resistant (Nufar) seeds and named the sources where you can buy them.

- This book lacks a simplified reference to identifying plant problems. I tried looking up black spots on the basil leaves in this book but could not find any advice. Greenhouse Gardener's Companion has an excellent reference chart for looking up this kind of information.

- Very puzzling, at the time of writing this review, her recommended sources for packaging supplies listed in her appendix and her website did not carry the suggested items. I've found other very useful vendors on the web that provide the supplies I needed, like clamshell packages and plastic bags for delivery.

- Sometimes there was confusion whether she was talking about growing in the greenhouse versus field growing, or container growing versus bed growing.

- If you're just starting out and will seek outside funding for your new herb business, the most important step is creating a detailed business plan. Even though there is a chapter devoted to business planning, there's no specific, helpful guidance on how to develop one. And here's some practical advice I've discovered on my own that you also won't find in this book: if you don't have experience as a grower professionally for many years, you won't even be considered for a bank or SBA loan. Smart Money magazine confirmed this with an article of theirs--banks will fund only 2% of new businesses, SBA only 6%, while 50% of new businesses will buy capital expenditures through the use of personal credit cards.

I've stopped producing plants for cutting and instead grow herb and vegetable plants and container gardens to sell directly to the consumer. There is more satisfaction (and more money) in this, and when I discovered that wholesale distributors were selling basil in the middle of summertime for $5.50/lb, I knew I couldn't compete with those prices and pay myself a wage. Ms. Shores' book correctly states you will not get rich selling fresh cut herbs.

Ms. Shores does give excellent, useful advice on building and maintaining a greenhouse, and how to efficiently harvest herbs for packaging and selling.

Other fantastic growing references: "Bountiful Container," "The Green Thumb Garden Handbook," "Secrets to a Successful Greenhouse and Business," "Herbs in Pots," "Fresh Culinary Herb Production," "Basil: An Herb Lover's Guide," and ATTRA on the web.

I gained a lot of insight from this book and have been marking pages and referring to it constantly. I even followed the pattern mentioned for building raised beds and it is working out great. I would have liked to see more about growing organically.

It is definitely a great source for growing your own herbs. Highly recommended.

Plant biology for the beginning horticulture student. A broad survey of topics a horticulture student should know something about, including genetics, plant anatomy and biology, botanical terminology, basic techniques of propagation and culture, etc. If you have studied botany, plant physiology and general biology, you don't need this book. I work in landscaping and found the book short on practical information that is specific to horticulture.

I find the product very, very good because it answers all my questions about the horticulture.

People interested in the history of western agriculture should read this. I found it very interesting to compare the Southern Idaho irrigation projects he describes with what was happening along the mid-Columbia with private small irrigation projects during that period, through my own family, described in "Orchards of Eden" White Bluffs on the Columbia, 1907-1943" Also good to compare with the Autobiography of a woman who actually lived that life of irrigated wheat farming in Idaho during that period, "Sagebrush People" probably out of print now, too bad. Dr. Donald Worster's book "Rivers of Empire" is highly critical of what was done to the natural world in the effort to green the desert, and I tend to sympathize with what he says, while Fiege takes the postion that irrigation has learned to live in harmony with nature. But what happened to those small farmers in the meantime? The good life got swept away in corporate farming I am afraid.

Irrigated Eden

In summary water along the Snake River in Idaho is unpredictable, not quantifiable, fickle and limited. Even in the 1920s when there were no uses competing with ariculture it had to be rationed. The surface water, ground water and aquifer commingle freely and as such should be jointly monitored and managed with "honest" diligence. When it comes to the water there is no such thing as partitioned individual water rights anywhere along the Sanke River in Idaho because we are all inextricably woven together in one tub and an action by one entity will affect everyone else in the tub. What one man passes another man drinks.Mark Fiege has done an excellent job of quantifying both the temporal and philosophical circumstances surrounding the acquisition and use of water for agriculture along the Snake River in Idaho up until about 1920. This book is a great place for one to begin to understand the genesis of water acquisition and husbandry for agriculture in Sountern Idaho. The first two thirds of the book and the notes are the best features of the book. The last third tends to drift away into a philosophical stretch without any real conclusions. Mark should now write a book that brings the use of water along the Sanke River in Southern Idaho up to the present time and weave together all of the contemporary competing uses for that water. Based on his research Mark should take the next step and make some recommendations for the future husbandry of our water. Mark has only done the first half of the job because the story is exponentially dynamic and just beginning. Finnish the story.

People do not realize the importance of the family farm in their everyday lives. This book tells the details of the political workings behind the infamous farm bill.

An excellent index makes this a winner.

This book generally looks at the political issues and concerns surrounding passage of the 1996 Farm Act. It takes the reader to developments and dealings in Congress back to 1994, giving the reader more than just floor debates or reports. Probably the best aspect to the book is that it does provide the reader with the context and concerns of both the Republicans and Democrats throughout the lengthy time the legislation was being debated. Simply put, this is background for legislative history of the Farm Act.

What I really think this book lacked was reference to the concerns or direct input outside the political realm. The legislation was intended to restructure programatic problems within the government, in order to ultimately benefit the family farm and the wider agricultural community. And despite mention of some concerns, I felt this was mostly a discussion of politics, not farming. Just be aware of what your are buying: a book on politics, not an informative book on impact to farming.

Dan Rhodes is the sheriff of a small Texas town that sounds a lot like Alvin, Texas, where author Bill Crider resides. Crider conjures up an hilarious mental pictures when he describes Lige Ward chaining himself up to the local Wal-Mart in protest for being put out of his small business. That is followed by a portable john bobbing down a river and being shot at by three very inebriated young men. All the hilarity stops when a dead body is discovered inside the john. Crider throws in the requisite red herrings as the sheriff looks into the life of the victim and tries to find the killer. He has to deal with stolen emus, guinea hens, and roosters before he finally discovers the perpetrator. Sheriff Rhodes can always be counted on for a laugh and a good read.

Life just hasn't been the same since the Wal-Mart came to Blacklin County, Texas. Now that the chain store and a big grocery sit out on the edge of the town of Clearview, the downtown area is littered with abandoned storefronts. Elijah Ward once owned one of those local shops, and now he's chained himself to Wal-Mart's exit door as a protest. Sheriff Dan Rhodes takes Ward and his wife into custody, knowing full well that they have a valid point but will soon be released and may even protest Wal-Mart again. Alas, they never get the chance, as they are both found dead within the span of a few days. "Lige" Ward's body is found in a porta-potty that three young drunks have launched into a creek in order to shoot holes into it. A day later, Rhodes finds Rayjean Ward lying in the middle of a cockfighting ring in the woods behind her home. And though the Wal-Mart manager has been seen in a place where he shouldn't have been, these recent incidents all come down to some pretty fowl business: roosters, emus, guinea hens, and illegal cockfighting. Can Rhodes figure everything out and soon restore order to his rural Texas community?

This seventh episode in the series is an average one, a continuation of what readers will be familiar with from the previous books. It's nice to see that Ivy, the new Mrs. Dan Rhodes, is having a positive influence on her husband. He evens asks for her advice during the investigations and is surprised but thrilled when one of Ivy's hunches turns out to be right. Is it women's intuition, or is Ivy rising to the occasion of being a sheriff's wife? Either way, her presence is welcome.

The title of David Grene's autobiography reflects the twin passions of his life. He was (I betray the source of my own familiarity with him by giving this half of his life pride of place) a classicist who spent nearly all of his career at the University of Chicago. He is perhaps best known as the co-editor of Chicago series of complete Greek tragedies, but he is widely published otherwise. I will always think of him primarily for his translation of Herodotus, published in 1988: I'm wearing out the second copy of the book that I've owned. Grene divided his time between teaching and farming. He grew up in Ireland but bought his first farm in Lemont, Illinois, in 1940. In later decades he divided his year between Chicago and a farm he owned in Ireland.

Grene wrote his memoirs between 1993 and 2002. He died on September 10th of the latter year. The resulting book is brief, but rich in subject matter. Grene writes about his family's origins and the influence on his life and the peculiarities of his Aunt Mary; he discusses the architecture and ambience of the Dublin of his youth and the theater--for which he felt a great affection--and various stages of his professional career (including his thoughts about classical pedagogy).

On the farming side of things, Grene writes about his experiences working as a boy on his cousins' farm in Tiperary.

"That spring there were twenty men employed in Grenepark; the farm was and is over four hundred acres, and very little mechanization was then to be had and almost no system of contracting. Today I doubt if it needs more than five or six men to run it. The laborers in 1929 had, for years, earned twenty-five shillings a week--one pound five. ...Nicholas decided that, at the rate he was paying, the place would go bankrupt. So he did a most unusual thing then; he called the men together, explained the situation, and told them that if they could all take ten shillings he'd be very glad to keep them. The alternative was to reduce the total staff to ten men at a pound a week. They were to decide. They unanimously decided to take the cut and stay."

And he reminisces about farming in the Midwest in the 1940s, a discussion which leads to his discussing some of the characters he knew during the period. Among these was a certain Louis Jacobs, a Lithuanian Jew who'd emigrated to America in 1910:

"He had a little house in town and was himself funny and appealing in a very special sort of way. There was a convent in Lemont with a farm run by nuns with some male help, and they used Louis to do their trucking. He told me one day that Mother Superior had spoken to him and said, 'Mr. Jacobs, I saw you last week trucking stock on a Sunday and that isn't right.' 'No,' said Louis, 'but you know, Sister, that isn't my Sabbath.' 'Ah, but Mr. Jacobs, I saw you trucking livestock on the day before.'"

Grene returns repeatedly in the book to twin themes, the joy to be had from--the rightness of--working a small farm, and the inherent benefit of the bond that develops between man and animal when working a farm.

Grene comes across in these pages as an extraordinary man whose great intellect was coupled with humility and wide-ranging curiosity. His writing is dense, but precise and thoughtful, as if each sentence was polished until it carried its burden of meaning as perfectly as possible. It is an old-fashioned sort of writing, perhaps, but then Mr. Grene lived an old-fashioned sort of life.

-- Debra Hamel

Growing up on a small farm in eastern PA about 70 years ago, has left fond memories and a cognizance that one's young experiences play into evertday life. During a 40 year career , I lived in Europe and traveled the wine country meeting farmers . The bond was immediate regardless of language . We understood the earth and the sense of intimacy in a handful of cool, damp soil .
This book delved into those aspects to some extent and led the reader through a career in education . I related easily to his horse experiences (I now breed horses), but somewhat selfishly, expected a more intimate touch . An very enjoyable read without question . I have passed it on to my Brother , an educator in the humanities and a hose owner . It's the blood.